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Spanish Grammar Flashcards

1
Q

If a word ends in a vowel or the consonant n or s, and does not have a written accent, then the word is stressed on the penultimate (next to last) syllable.

A

CAma (bed) pasaPORte (passport)

esCRIben (they write) LUnes (monday)

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2
Q

What are subject pronouns?

A

Subject pronouns is the term used to refer to the following set of words:

I, you, he, she, it we they

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3
Q

The THREE uses of definite articles

A
  1. To designate a noun in a general or collective sense
  2. To designate a noun in a specific sense
  3. Used in Spanish with titles of much respect such as SR.
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4
Q

Definite Articles used to designate a noun in a general or collective sense

A

El jamón es una carne popular

Las tartas son dulces

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5
Q

Definite Articles used to designate a noun in a specific sense

A

Los bocadillos del bar La Chula son deliciosos

La tortilla de patata es mi merienda favorita

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6
Q

Definite Articles used in Spanish with titles of much respect such as Sr.

A

El Sr. Herrera toma un cafe

La professor Martinez habla español

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7
Q

What are the three uses of the verb SER

A
  1. With an adjective to describe something or someone
  2. With an adjective of nationality
  3. With the preposition de to indicate place of origin
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8
Q

The verb SER used with an adjective to describe something or someone

A

El pollo es rico

Las tartas son deliciosas

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9
Q

The verb SER used with an adjective of nationality

A

Me llamo Antonio, vivo en Texas, per soy Mexicano

Soy Valeria Herrera del Castillo y soy venezolana

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10
Q

With the preposition de to indicate a place of origen

A

Mi nombre es Alejandra, y soy de Colombia

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11
Q

When to use Estar

A

When talking about food and drink in English we use the words ‘to be’to describe taste and appearance. In Spanish, the verb estar is used to express these ideas.

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12
Q

Uses of Estar

A

El pollo está rico
The chicken tastes delicious

La tortilla de patata está salada
The potato omelette tastes salty

Los churros están frescos
The pastries taste/ look fresh

El café está caliente
The coffee feels warm

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13
Q

Hay is often used with nouns that are preceded by an indefinite article or number

A

Hay una cama en mi cuarto

There is a bed in my room

Hay tres camas en mi cuarto

There are three beds in my room

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14
Q

When these nouns are referred to in a general or generic way, or in the negative, the indefinite article is often ommitted.

A

Hay libros en la biblioteca

There are books in the library

No hay estereo en mi cuarto

There is no stereo in my room

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15
Q

To ask to whom something belongs?

A

De + quién(es) + ser + noun?

eg De quién es el libro?

Whose book is it?

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16
Q

How to use gustar when you are using it in the second and third person singular

A

When we use le gusta or les gusta, it may be less clear as to who the action is pleasing. Therefore, when we initiate a discussion about someone’s likes or dislikes, you should either include a proper name or pronoun. The person’s name or pronoun must be preceeded by the proposition “A”. You cannot say: Juan le gusta estudiar pintura. You must say: A Juan le gusta estudiar pintura.

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17
Q

Gustar

A

Use gusta if what is pleasing is singular and gustan if it is plural

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18
Q

Tener que + infinitivo

A

To inquire about or say what you or someone else HAS TO DO

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19
Q

Tener ganas de + infinitivo

A

To inquire about or say that you or someone else FEELS LIKE DOING.

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20
Q

Tengo que comer

A

I have to eat

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21
Q

Tengo ganas de viajar este verano

A

I feel like travelling this summer

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22
Q

Saber

A

To know a fact, to have knowledge of, to know how to do something

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23
Q

Conocer

A

To know a person (having met or heard about him or her), to be familiar with a place or thing.

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24
Q

Saber conjugation

A 
Yo Sé
Tu sabes
El sabe
Nosotros sabemos
Ellos saben
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Conocer conjugation
``` Yo conozco Tu conoces El conoce Nosotros conocemos Ellos conocen ```
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Examples using Saber
Sé muy poco de Roberto I know very little about Robert Como es? What is he like
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Examples using Saber
Sabe dónde está la estación de policía Do you know where the police station is?
28
Examples using Saber
Sé contar hasta diez en español I know how to count to ten in Spanish
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Examples using Conocer
Conozco bien a mi hermana I know my sister well Conocemos Mexico. Visitamos Mexico en julio We visited Mexico in July Enrique no conoce la música de Juanes Enrique is not familiar with Juanes' music
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The direct object pronoun and its use with the verb conocer
Only when the direct object of a verb is a specific human being or an animal that is personalised, is it preceded by the preposition a. There is no equivalent in english. Escuchas a tu madre? - Do you listen to your mother?
31
The direct object pronoun and its use with the verb conocer
Note that when the definite article in the masculine singular form follows the personal a, the contraction al is used. Admiras al presidente? - Do you admire the president?
32
When pensar is followed directly by an infinitive
In this case the meaning changes to "to plan to do something" or "intend to do something" Eg: Pienso trabajar este verano I plan to work this summer
33
When pensar is followed by en....pensar en
In this case it means "to think about" En que piensas? - What are you thinking about? Pienso en mi familia - I am thinking about my family
34
The meaning of Empezar + infinitive
To begin to do something e.g.: Empiezo a trabajar el lunes I begin to work on Monday
35
The meaning of sonar con
To dream about doing something Sueño con tener luna casa grande I dream of having a big house
36
The meaning of Volver + infinitive
Volver a + infinitive means to do something again e.g.: Por fin vuelvo a estudiar español At last I am studying Spanish again
37
To express the immediate future in Spanish
IR + a + infinitive Qué vas a hacer esta tarde? What are you going to do this afternoon Voy a estar en case I am going to be home Que van a hacer este fin de semana? What are you going to do this weekend? Vamos a viajar We are going to travel
38
Reflexive Verbs
In most cases reflexive verbs are used when 'the doer' of the action and 'the receiver' of the action are the same. In other words, reflexive verbs express actions that the subject does to himself, herself, or itself or that the subjects do to themselves. Yo can easily identify the reflexive verbs in the infinitive form by looking for the pronoun se (levantarse, peinarse).
39
Reflexive Verbs
When the verb is conjugated, the reflexive pronoun precedes it; with an infinitive, the pronoun is attached to the end of it. Me levanto a las seis y media todas las mañanas Mañana quiero levantarme a las seis y media
40
El presente progresivo: Para expresar acciones que tienen lugar (take place) en este momento.
In Spanish, when you want to show an action is in progress at the moment you are speaking, you use the present progressive. We use the verb estar plus another verb ending in -ndo. This -ndo form of the verb is known as the present participle (in Spanish, el gerundio).
41
Examples using el gerundio
Que estás haciendo ahora mismo? What are you doing right now? Estoy estudiando I am stuydying Que están haciendo tus amigos en este momento? What are your friends doing at this moment? Están mirando un programa de la tele They are watching a TV programme
42
To compare objects (singular)
Tanto/a + singular noun + como Esta mañana hay tanta niebla como ayer por la mañana. It's AS foggy this morning AS it was yesterday morning Hace TANTO calor en Puerto Rico COMO en la Republica Dominicana It is AS hot in Puerto Rico AS in the Dominican Republic
43
To compare objects (plural)
Tantos/as + plural + como Hoy hay TANTAS nubes en San Juan COMO en Santo Domingo There are AS many clouds in San Juan today AS in Santo Domingo Hoy no están cayendo TANTOS rayos COMO ayer There is not AS much lightning today AS yesterday
44
To compare qualities or manner
Tan + adjetive/ adverb + como Ir a la playa es TAN divertido COMO acampar en las montañas Going to the beach is AS fun AS camping in the mountains Puerto Rico es TAN caluroso COMO Cuba Puerto Rico is AS hot AS Cuba En verano llueve TAN intensamente en Cuba COMO en la Republica Dominicana In the summer it rains AS intensely in Cuba AS in the Dominican Republic
45
To compare actions
verb + tanto como Me gusta la primavera TANTO COMO el verano I like spring AS MUCH AS fall En agosto llueve TANTO COMO en septiembre In August it rains AS MUCH AS in September
46
To compare objects, qualities, or actions
más/ menos + noun/ adjective/ adverb + que Esta semana hay MÁS / MENOS nubes QUE la semana pasada This week is MORE/ LESS cloudy than last week Hoy hace MÁS/ MENOS frío que ayer Today it's colder/ LESS cold THAN yesterday Esta tarde está nevando MÁS/ MENOS intensamente QUE esta mañana. This afternoon it's snowing MORE/ LESS intensely THAN this morning
47
The use of Superlatives
To convey in Spanish, the idea expressed in English by -est, the most, or the least, use the following construction: Definite Article + Noun + Más/ Menos + Adjective
48
Examples using Superlatives
la semana mas seca the dryest week el invierno menos frío the least cold winter el verano más caluroso the hottest summer el mes menos lluvioso the least rainy month
49
Expressions to use with sports
Hacer + name of sport Jugar + name of sport Practicar + name of sport There is no specific rule to guide you in selecting an appropriate expression. You must learn which verb is used with which sport. That said PRACTICAR may be used with virtually any sport.
50
Expressions to use with sports
Hacer is used in the following cases......hacer.....pesas, patina, surf Jugar a is used in the following cases.....jugar al.....básquestbol, béisbol, fútbol, fútbol americano, golf, hockey sobre hilo, vólibol Practicar may be used with nearly any of the terms. It generally refers to sports that you play on a regular basis: practicar al.......básquetbol, béisbol, esquí, fútbol, fútbol americano, golf, hockey sobre hielo, surf, tenis, vólibol.
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To speak about an action that has happened in the immediate past
Acabar de + infinitive
52
A select group of AR verbs undergo spelling changes when conjugated in the preterite. This spelling change affects only the first person singular: the YO form. The remaining forms are regular. In the preterite c becomes qu
Buscar - Busqué Explicar - Expliqué Pescar - Pesqué Practicar - Practiqué Sacar - Saqué Tocar - Toqué
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Spelling change in the preterite g becomes gu
Llegar - Llegué Jugar - Jugué Pagar - Pagué
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Spelling change in the preterite z becomes c
Empezar - Empecé Abrazar - Abracé Comenzar - Comencé Utilizar - Utilicé
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IR verbs in the preterite change from e to i in the third person singular and plural forms.
Sentir - Sintío, sintieron Divertir - divirtió, divirtieron Preferir - prefirió, prefirieron Sugerir - sugirió, sugirieron
56
Direct Object
A DIRECT OBJECT is a person or thing that receives the action of a verb or shows the result of the action and answers the question "what" or "whom". An action verb with a direct object is called a transitive verb.
57
When the direct object of a verb is a specific human being or an animal that is personified, it is preceded by the personal a. There is no equivalent in English
Conocemos a los Smith We know the Smith's Escuchas a tu madre? Do you listen to your mother Admiras al presidente? Do you admire the president
58
In Spanish, as in English, whenever possible, speakers replace nouns with pronouns in order to avoid repetition. When the direct object is referred to again in conversation, speakers can use the direct object pronouns to take the place of direct object nouns. The pronouns agree with the direct object they refer to in number (singular and plural) and, in the third person, also in gender (masculine and feminine).
The direct object pronouns in Spanish: ``` me - me te - you (informal singular) lo - (formal singular), him, it (m) la - you (formal singular), her, it (f) nos - us os - you (informal pl) los - you (formal pl), them (m + m, f) las - you (formal pl), them (f) ```
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The direct object pronouns are used to refer to both people and things:
Compró Marta una casa Did Marta buy a house Si, la compró ayer Yes, she bought it yesterday Conocen a Juan? Do you know Juan Si, lo conocemos Yes, we know him
60
With Conjugated Verbs When the main verb of the sentence is a conjugated verb, the direct object pronoun is placed immediately in front of the conjugated verb.
Pronombre de complemento directo + verbo conjugado Did you hear Juan's message Escuchaste al mensaje de Juan? Yes I heard it yesterday Si lo escuché ayer
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With Infinitives The direct object pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive
Infinitivo + pronombre de complemento directo Gracias por invitarme a tu casa Thank you for inviting me to your house
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With both a conjugated verb and an infinitive or present participle When a conjugated verb and an infinitive or present participle are used together in a sentence, the direct object pronoun can be placed in EITHER of the following positions
in front of the conjugated verb + infinitive or present participle pronombre de complemento directo + verbo conjugado + infinitivo/ gerundio Are you going to pay the bill? Vas a pagar la cuenta Yes, I am going to pay it Si, la voy a pagar I am paying it now La estoy pagando ahora
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With both a conjugated verb and an infinitive or present participle When a conjugated verb and an infinitive or present participle are used together in a sentence, the direct object pronoun can be placed in EITHER of the following positions
attached to the end of the infinitive or present participle Vas a pagar la cuenta? Are you going to pay the bill? Si, voy a pagarla Yes I am going to pay it Estoy pagandola ahora I am paying it now
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Conjugate ESTAR in the preterite
``` Estuve Estuviste Estuvo Estuvimos Estuvieron ```
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Conjugate ANDAR in the preterite
``` Anduve Anduviste Anduvo Anduvimos Anduvieron ```
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Conjugate PODER in the preterite
``` Pude Pudiste Pudo Pudimos Pudieron ```
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Conjugate PONER in the preterite
``` Puse Pusiste Puso Pusimos Pusieron ```
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Conjugate SABER in the preterite
``` Supe Supiste Supo Supimos Supieron ```
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Conjugate TENER in the preterite
``` Tuve Tuviste Tuvo Tuvimos Tuvieron ```
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Conjugate HABER in the preterite
``` Hube Hubiste Hubo Hubimos Hubieron ```
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Conjugate QUERER in the preterite
``` Quise Quisiste Quiso Quisimos Quisieron ```
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Conjugate VENIR in the preterite
``` Vine Viniste Vino Vinimos Vinieron ```
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Conjugate CONDUCIRin the preterite
``` Conduje Condujiste Condujo Condujimos Condujeron ```
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Conjugate DECIR in the preterite
``` Dije Dijiste Dijo Dijimos Dijeron ```
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Conjugate TRAER in the preterite
``` Traje Trajiste Trajo Trajimos Trajeron ```
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Conjugate LEERin the preterite
``` Leí Leíste Leyó Leímos Leyeron ```
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Conjugate OIR in the preterite
``` Oí Oíste Oyó Oímos Oyeron ```
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Conjugate CREER in the preterite
``` Creí Creíste Creyó Creímos Creyeron ```
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The present perfect tense is used to talk about an action that has happened already, either in the general past or quite recently in relation to the moment of speaking. The equivalent in English IS TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING.
Han viajado últimamente Have you travelled lately Hemos ido a Honduras We've gone to Honduras
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The present perfect tense is used to talk about an action that has happened already, either in the general past or quite recently in relation to the moment of speaking. The equivalent in English IS TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING. Sometimes it may be used to suggest that the effects of a past event carry over into the present: "I've always done it that way (and still do)"
Siempre he comprado la ropa aquí I have always bought clothes here (and I still do)
81
To describe injuries in Spanish, you will use a number of reflexive verbs plus the relevant body part. Consider the verbs on the other card
Cortarse un/el dedo, la cara, etcétera To cut oneself, one's finger, face, etc Hacerse una herida To wound oneself Lastimarse un/el pie, una/la rodilla, etcétera To hurt oneself, one's foot, knee, etc Romperse una/la pierna, un/el brazo, etcétera To break one's leg, arm, etc Torcerse(ue) un/el tobillo, etcétera To sprain one's ankle etc
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To express hurting a body part
the reflexive verb + an article (definite or indefinite) + the body part
83
Use the definite article when you are referring to a specific body part: la pierna = one leg in particular; la cara = the only face etc
Maria tuvo un accidente y se lastimó el pie Maria had an accident and hurt her foot
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Use the idefinite article when you are describing injuries in general: un brazo = an arm; un dedo = a fingir etc
Juan se cayó y se rompió un brazo Juan fell and broke an arm
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The imperfect tense is used most commonly to express habitual past actions that you and other people used to (would) do
Qué deportes jugaba Jorge de niño? What sports did Jorge use to play as a boy Jugaba al fútbol y al basquetbol He used to play soccer and basketball Qué hacías los veranos? What would you do/did you use to do in the summer? Me reunía con mi familia I would / I used to get together with my family
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Uses of the imperfect tense to describe and express situations in the past To describe the physical attributes of people and things in the past
Ella era alta y tenía los ojos azules She was tall and had blue eyes Los veranos siempre eran muy divertidos Summers were always lots of fun
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Uses of the imperfect tense to describe and express situations in the past To describe the mental states, feelings, and general health in the past
Ayer estaba muy cansado. Tenía mucho sueño Yesterday I was very tired. I was very sleepy No estaba muy contento I wasn't very happy To no me sentía bien I wasn't feeling well
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Uses of the imperfect tense to describe and express situations in the past To express someone's age in the past
Ella tenía 50 años He was fifty years old
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Uses of the imperfect tense to describe and express situations in the past To tell the time in the past
Eran las 3:30 It was 3:30
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Uses of the imperfect tense to describe and express situations in the past With the verb haber to describe what people and/or things were at a place in the past
En la fiesta había mucha comida There was a lot of food at the parte Había 30 alumnos en la clase There were thirty students in the class
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The Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to indicate that something had already happened before something else occurred. Similar to English, this tense requires another action in the past as a reference point, whether it is stated or not, in order to make sense.
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The Past Perfect Tense (example)
Carlos no miró las noticias en la televisión porque ya había leído el periódico Carlos didn't watch the news on TV because he had already read the newspaper Los meseros ya habían servido la cena cuando llegamos al banquete de bodas The waiters had already served dinner when we arrived at the wedding reception
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In Spanish the pronouns nos, os, and se can be used to express actions that people do to each other. These types of actions, which involve at least two people, are referred to as reciprocal actions.
Nos vemos mañana We'll see each other tomorrow Os encontraréis en el concierto? Will you meet up with each other at the concert Teresa y Juan se miran y se saludan Teresa and Juan look at each other and greet each other Ellos son amigos y se conocen bien They are friends and know each other well Se quieren mucho? Do you/ they really love each other?
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Another common use of se is to express an action with no specific subject (person or persons performing the action). This is called an impersonal action. The equivalent in English is you, people, they, or one. The se impersonal is formed y placing se before the third person singular form of the verb se come, se habla, se trabaja etc.
Se habla español aquí You (people, they, one) speak/s Spanish here Se escucha mucha música latina en los Estados Unidos You (people, they, one) hear/s a lot of Latin music in the United States En esta banda se trabaja mucho People work a lot in this band
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In Spanish to discuss future events we can use the verb ir + a + infinitive. In addition to this structure, there are other verb structures that you may use to refer to future plans and events
ir + a + otro verbo en infinitivo querer + otro verbo en infinitivo pensar + orto verbo en infinitivo tener (muchas) ganas de + otro verbo en infinitivo
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ir + a + otro verbo en infinitivo
Este fin de semana Cristina y Enrique van a tener mucho tiempo libre
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querer + otro verbo en infinitivo
Está claro que Enrique y Cristina quieren pasarlo bien estos días
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pensar + orto verbo en infinitivo
El sábado por la tarde piensan ir a un bar
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tener (muchas) ganas de + otro verbo en infinitivo
Enrique y Cristina tienen muchas ganas de ver el museo del prado en Madrid
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Spanish has a future tense that similar to the future tense in English, expresses what will happen. In Spanish, however, this tense is more likely to be used in writing than in everyday conversation. When speaking, you are more likely to use and hear the alternatives you already know.
Visitaremos el volcán mañana Will we visit the volcano tomorrow Sí, llamaré por teléfono para confirmarlo Yes, I'll call to confirm it
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Although the two preposition por and para often correspond to the English preposition "for", they are used to convey very specific meanings in Spanish.
Por is normally conveys the idea or cause Para normally conveys the idea of a destination or a goal
102
In Spanish, the most frequently used relative pronoun que. It is like the equivalent of the English words, that, which, who, and whom. It may refer to people, places, or things, which mat be feminine or masculine, singular or plural.
Prefiero los programas de intercambio que duran un año académico I prefer exchange programmes that last an academic year El consejero es el hombre que trabaja en esa oficina The advisor is the man who works in that office El programa de idiomas que escogí está en Panamá The language programme that I chose is in Panama
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The relative pronouns quien and quienes refer only to people (there is no masculine/ feminine distinction ). They are used after the personal "a" or prepositions and, in those instances, are the equivalent of whom.
El profesor de español a quien vimos el otro dia es de Nicaragua The Spanish professor (whom/that) we saw the other day is from Nicaragua. La chica con quien hablé en la Oficina de Relaciones Internacionales es una estudiante de intercambio The girl with whom I spoke in the Office of International Relations is an exchange student.
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When the relative pronouns refer to an abstract idea, lo que is used. Lo que translates into English as what or the thing that.
No comprendí lo que me dijo I didn't understand what he told me What (The thing that) you need is a foreign internship Lo que necesitas son practicas profesionales en el extranjero
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What three pronouns can be used to express reciprocal actions
Nos Os Se
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En
As a reference to a location itself
107
De/ Desde
As a reference to a starting point or place of origin
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A/ Hasta
As a reference to a final destination
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A/ Hacia/ Para
As a reference to a movement toward a place
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Entre
As a reference to the distance between the location and another place
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The Preterite Describes what three things:
1. An action that has been started or completed within a definitive time frame 2. The action only occurred once 3. The action was repeated a specific number of times
112
The Imperfect Describes what three things:
1. Habitual actions that are often repeated an unspecified number of times in the past 2. To justify why someone did or did not do something 3. To express simultaneous actions
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When do we use the Subjunctive
W E I R D O Wishes and Desires Expressions or Emotions Impersonal Expressions Recommendations and Requests Doubt or Denial Ojalá

Spanish (39 decks)

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