grammar
24 posts
- Ir conjugation in every tense, with ir a and irseEvery form of the Spanish verb ir in tables, from voy and fui to iba, vaya and andá, with ir a + infinitive, irse, the prepositions that go with ir, and the differences in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Ser conjugation in every tense, with when to use each formEvery form of the Spanish verb ser in tables, from soy and sos to fui, era, sea and fuera, with when to use ser, fixed phrases, and the differences in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Spanish accent marks and the rules for where they goHow Spanish stress works, when a word needs a written accent, the accents that separate tú and tu, sí and si, qué and que, and the accents on question words, with the few spellings that differ between Spain and Latin America.
- Spanish commands for tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes and vosHow to form Spanish commands, affirmative and negative, for tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes and vos, with the irregular forms, where pronouns go, and how commands sound in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- The Spanish conditional tense, from hablaría to me gustaríaWhen to use the Spanish conditional for hypotheticals, polite requests, advice and reported speech, how to form it, the irregular stems, and the si clauses that go with it.
- Spanish object pronouns lo, la, le and se lo, and where they goHow to choose between lo, la, los, las, le and les, why le lo becomes se lo, and where the pronouns go with infinitives, gerunds and commands, with the differences between Spain and Latin America.
- The Spanish future tense and ir a + infinitiveWhen to use the simple future (hablaré) and when to use ir a + infinitive (voy a hablar), how to form both, the twelve irregular stems, and how the choice differs between Spain and Latin America.
- The Spanish present perfect, he comido, in Spain and Latin AmericaWhen to use the present perfect (he comido) and when the preterite (comí), how the choice differs between Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina, and how to form it with haber and the irregular participles.
- Spanish reflexive verbs, from me levanto to se llamaWhen to use reflexive verbs in Spanish, how to conjugate them, where the pronoun goes, and the verbs that change meaning with se, with notes for Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Tener conjugation in every tense, with tener que and tener hambreEvery form of the Spanish verb tener in tables, from tengo and tenés to tuve, tendré and tuviera, with tener que, age, and the tener expressions for hunger, cold, fear and more, and notes for Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Por vs para: choosing the meaning you needCompare purpose, cause, recipient, exchange and movement in Spanish. Learn fixed expressions without forcing every use into one rule.
- How to remember Spanish noun genderUse endings as clues and learn nouns with examples of agreement. El agua remains feminine, and some words vary in gender or meaning.
- Is Spanish hard to learn?For an English speaker, no. Spanish is in the easiest group of languages to learn. Here is what comes free, what takes practice, and where to start.
- Spanish subjunctive: four useful patterns to start withStart with wishes, doubt, reactions and future time clauses. Understand the examples without treating the subjunctive as a rule about unreal events.
- How gustar works: who likes what?In me gusta el café, the coffee is the grammatical subject. Understand agreement, pronouns and useful related patterns without changing the natural translation.
- What the subjunctive changes about a Spanish sentenceThe subjunctive can refer to real events as well as wishes and possibilities. Read the whole construction to understand what the speaker is doing.
- Why Spanish word order can differ from EnglishA Spanish subject can follow the verb or remain unstated. Use agreement, pronouns and context to follow the sentence without assuming words can move anywhere.
- Spanish grammar patterns that are useful to know earlySpanish has demanding verb forms, but questions, negation and other common patterns can be straightforward. Learn the pattern and its limits together.
- Preterite vs imperfect: two ways to describe the pastCompare Spanish past events, habits and background descriptions. The tense reflects how an event is presented, whatever its length.
- What usted means in Colombia and SpainUsted can express respect, distance or familiarity, depending on the speakers and setting. Compare its grammar and social uses without relying on a national rule.
- Practising Spanish conjugations beyond the tableUse verb tables to check forms, then practise choosing and producing them in sentences. Start with language you need and vary the person and time.
- How to turn Spanish grammar study into useful practiceUse explanations, examples and feedback together. Knowing a rule and using it in a sentence are related tasks, and both deserve practice.
- A practical order for learning Spanish verb formsStart with forms that let you describe your life, plans and past experiences. Use this sequence as a guide and adjust it to what you need to say.
- Ser vs estar: characteristics, states and locationUse clear examples to choose between ser and estar. Permanent versus temporary is not a reliable rule, and some adjectives change meaning with the verb.