study spanish notes

7/31/2019 Study Spanish Notes

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Study Spanish Notes:

Uses of ser

the hour, day, and date

place of originoccupationnationalityreligious or political affiliationthe material something is made ofpossessionrelationship of one person to anothercertain impersonal expressionswhere an event is taking placeessential qualities

Uses of estar

geographic or physical locationstate or conditionmany idiomatic expressionsprogressive tenses

Ser and estar (contrasting uses)

When a noun follows the verb, use serWhen an adjective follows the verb, decide between "essence" and "condition"

To tell where something is from, use serTo tell where something is located right now, use estarTo tell where an event is taking place, use ser

List of affirmative words and their negative counterparts:

algo (something)nada (nothing)

alguien (somebody)nadie (nobody)

algn (-o, -a, -os, -as) (some, something)ningn (-o, -a, -os, -as) (no, none)

siempre (always)nunca (never)jams (never, ever)


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tambin (also)tampoco (neither, not either)

o . . . o (either . . . or)ni . . . ni (neither . . . nor)

Alguno and ninguno drop the -o before a masculine singular noun.

Tienes algn libro?No, no tengo ningn libro.

Ninguno(-a) is generally used in the singular.

Tienes algunas revistas?No, no tengo ninguna.

Tienes algunos libros?No, no tengo ninguno.

The plural of ninguno(-a) is used only when the noun it modifies exists only in plural, or isnormally used in plural.

Ningunas vacaciones a Alaska son completas sin una excursin a Mt. McKinley. No vacation to Alaska is complete without a trip to Mt. McKinley.

In this example "ningunas" is used because "vacaciones" is normally used in plural form.

Here are all of the possessive adjectives:mi(s)my

tu(s)your (fam. sing.)

su(s)his, her, your (formal), their

nuestro(-a, -os, -as)our

vuestro(-a, -os, -as)your (fam. pl.)


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Note that these possessive adjectives are not used with articles of clothing or body parts. Rather,the definite article is used.

Me gusta el vestido nuevo.I like my new dress

Me duele el brazo.My arm hurts.

Tener que + infinitive is one way to express obligation or necessity. This expression can betranslated as "someone has to do something." Tener is conjugated according to the subject of thesentence.

Tengo que comer las verduras.I have to eat the vegetables.

ngel tiene que leer el peridico.ngel has to read the newspaper.

Ellos tienen que comprar una revista.They have to buy a magazine.

Hay que + infinitive is used to express the idea of "one must do something" or, "it is necessaryto do something." It is a more general expression and since there is no subject, the verb form hayis always used.

Hay que tomar un taxi.It is necessary to take a taxi.

Hay que estudiar mucho.One must study a lot.

These examples illustrate the contrasting uses of these two expressions:

Mara tiene un examen el lunes. Ella tiene que estudiar.Mara has a test on Monday. She has to study.

No es fcil aprender el espaol. Hay que practicar mucho.It isn't easy to learn Spanish. It is necessary to practice a lot.


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tener prisato be in a hurry

tener miedo a/de + nounto be afraid of something

tener miedo a/de + infinitive

to be afraid to do somethingtener celosto be jealous

tener confianzato be confident

tener raznto be right

tener xitoto be successful

tener la culpato be guilty

tener suerteto be luckytener lugar

to take placetener ganas de

to feel liketener en cuenta

to take into account

Weather expressions:

Hace fresco. (Its brisk.)

Hay niebla. (Its foggy.)

Hay neblina. (Its misty.)

Hay luna. (The moon is out.)

Hay humedad. (Its humid.)

Hay lluvias torrenciales.(Its pouring.)

Hay un vendaval. (There is a windstorm.)

Hay granizo. (Its hailing.)

Hay lloviznas. (Its sprinkling.)

Other weather expressions use the verb estar along with an adjective:


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Est oscuro.It's dark.

Est nublado.It's cloudy.

Est lluvioso.

It's raining.Other weather expressions simply use a single verb:

Llueve.It is raining/it rains (from the verb llover: to rain)

NievaIt is snowing or it snows (from the verb nevar: to snow)

TruenaIt is thundering or it thunders (from verb tronar: to thunder)

LloviznaIt is drizzling or it drizzles (from verb lloviznar: to drizzle)

Here are some common ways to ask about the weather:

Qu tiempo hace? Qu clima hace? Cmo est el clima en ...? Cmo est el tiempo? Cmo est el clima hoy?

In Spanish, when the direct object is a person, it is preceded by the preposition "a."

Tu amigo lleva a mi hermana a la fiesta?

The personal "a" may also be used if the direct object is a domesticated animal, especially a pet,provided that the speaker attaches some sort of personal feelings towards the animal.

La mujer acaricia a su perro. (acariciar)The woman pets her dog.

El perro persigue a la gata. (perseguir)The dog chases the cat.

The personal "a" is not used when the direct object is not a person or is an animal for which nopersonal feelings are felt.

Bebo la leche. (beber)I drink the milk. -- milk is neither a person nor an animal

Miro la jirafa. (mirar)I look at the giraffe. -- no personal feelings are felt towards the giraffe


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The personal "a" is not used after the verb tener, or the verb form hay. This is true even if thedirect object is a person.

Tengo dos hermanos. (tener)I have two brothers.

Hay cinco chicas.There are five girls.

If the direct object is an indefinite person, the personal "a" is not used. The result is that theperson becomes "depersonalized."

Necesito mdico.I need (any) doctor. (or)I need medical assistance.

Necesito jardinero.I need (any) gardener. (or)I need someone to tend my garden.

Contractions:

Le llamo al medioda. (because medioda is masculine!)

volver a + infinitive = to do something again

Vuelvo a leer el libro.I read the book again.

Cristina vuelve a conversar con mi mam.Christina speaks with my mom again.

Ordinal numbers usually precede the noun. However, if the noun they refer to is royalty, a pope,or a street, they come after the noun.

Carlos Quinto("Quinto" comes after "Carlos" - royalty)

el quinto libro("quinto" comes before "libro")

la Calle Sexta("sexta" comes after "calle" - street)

la sexta pluma("sexta" comes before "pluma")


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Inequality is expressed by using one of the following formulae:

ms (menos) + adjective + que

ms (menos) + adverb + quems (menos) + noun + que

If the comparative is followed by a number, use de rather than que.

Hay menos de veinte alumnos en la clase.There are less than twenty students in the class.

l tiene ms de noventa aos.He is more than ninety years old.

Note that when the sentence is negative, que is used even with numbers, to convey the meaning"only."

Tengo ms de cinco dlares.(I have more than five dollars.)

but

No tengo ms que cinco dlares.(I only have five dollars.)

Hay ms de veinte estudiantes en la clase.(There are more than twenty students in the class.)

but

No hay ms que veinte estudiantes en la clase.(There are only twenty students in the class.)

To form the comparisons of equality using adjectives or adverbs, use the following formula:

tan + adjective (adverb) + como

El libro es tan bueno como la pelcula.(The book is as good as the movie.)

El chico es tan alto como la chica.(The boy is as tall as the girl.)

To form comparisons of equality with nouns, use the following formula:


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tanto(-a,-os,-as) + noun + como

Juan tiene tanto dinero como Mara.(as much money as)

l tiene tanta paciencia como ella.(as much patience as)

Tiene tantos libros como ella.(as many books as)

Tiene tantas plumas como ella.(as many pens as)

When actions (not things) are being compared, and there is no adjective, use the followingformula:

verb + tanto + como

Sus estudiantes aprenden tanto como mis estudiantes.(learn as much as)

Rosario cocina tanto como Josefina.(cooks as much as)

Las naranjas cuestan tanto como las manzanas.(cost as much as)

When actions (not things) are being compared, and there is an adjective, use the followingformula:

verb + tan + adjective (masculine form) + como

Aquse trabaja tan duro como ah.(work as hard as)

El niojuega tan poco como la nia.(plays as little as)

Ellos duermen tan poco como ella.(sleep as little as)

The relative superlative construction is similar to the comparative.


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definite article + noun + ms (menos) + adjective + de

Here are some superlative examples.

Juan es el chico ms inteligente de la clase.John is the smartest boy in the class.

Bill Gates es el hombre ms rico de los EEUU.Bill Gates is the richest man in the U.S.

The absolute superlative for adjectives has three possible forms.

muy + adjectivesumamente + adjective

adjective + simo (-a, -os, -as)muy guapovery handsome

sumamente guapoextremely handsome

guapsimoindescribably handsome

*16. Elaine and Teresa are the tallest of the group.

Elena y Teresa son las ms altasdel

grupo.

Subject Pronouns Obj. Prep. Pronounsyo m

t ti

l l

ella ellausted usted

nosotros/as nosotros/as

vosotros/as vosotros/as

ellos/as ellos/asustedes ustedes


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Note: Only m and ti are different from the subject pronouns.

Use this second set of pronouns to replace the noun that comes immediately after a preposition.

Juan habla de m.

Juan speaks of me.Hablo con ellos.I speak with them.

Pablo compr un anillo para ella.Pablo bought a ring for her.

Whenever mfollows the preposition con, the two words combine to form conmigo.

Por qu no vienes conmigo?

Why don't you come with me?Whenever ti follows the preposition con, the two words combine to form contigo.

No voy contigo, voy con ellos.I'm not going with you, I'm going with them.

Whenever you want to say "with him, with her, with you (formal), with them, with you-all(formal)" there are two possibilities. If the pronoun is referring to the subject of the sentence, useconsigo. If the pronoun does not refer to the subject of the sentence, use con + the appropriatepronoun.

Pronoun does refer to the subject

He took the pens with him(self).l llev las plumas consigo.

Why don't you take a book with you(rself)?Por qu no lleva un libro consigo?

Pronoun does not refer to the subject

They live with him.Ellos viven con l.

I don't want to talk to you.No quiero hablar con usted.

There are six special prepositions that are followed by subject pronouns rather than objectpronouns.


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entrebetween

exceptoexcept

incluso

includingmenosexcept

segnaccording to

salvoexcept

Examples:

Entre t y yo, esta comida es horrible.Todos beben agua, incluso yo.Segn t, la chica es bonita.

When you have both a direct object pronoun and an indirect object pronoun in the samesentence, the indirect object pronoun comes first.

Ellos me los dan.They give them to me.IO pronoun: meDO pronoun: los

Ella te la vende.She sells it to you.IO pronoun: teDO pronoun: la

Whenever both pronouns begin with the letter "l" change the first pronoun to "se."

le lo = se lole la = se lale los = se los

le las = se lasles lo = se loles la = se lales los = se losles las = se las

In negative sentences, the negative word comes directly before the first pronoun.


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No se lo tengo.I don't have it for you.

Nunca se los compro.I never buy them for her.

When the pronouns are attached to the infinitive, make the sentence negative by placing thenegative word directly before the conjugated verb.

Ella debe explicrmelo.Ella no debe explicrmelo.

Quiero decrtelo.No quiero decrtelo.

Necesitas envirsela a ellos.

No necesitas envirsela a ellos.

When the pronouns come before the conjugated verb, make the sentence negative by placing thenegative word directly before the pronouns.

Ella me lo debe explicar.Ella no me lo debe explicar.

Te lo quiero decir.

No te lo quiero decir.Se la necesitas enviar a ellos.No se la necesitas enviar a ellos.

Now that you know how to correctly use the verb gustar, here is a list of verbs that operate in thesame manner:

aburrir

to borefascinarto be fascinating to

bastarto be sufficient

importarto be important to

caer bien (mal)


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to (not) suitinteresar

to be interesting todar asco

to be loathsome

molestar to be a botherdisgustar

to hate somethingparecer

to appear to bedoler (o:ue)

to be painfulpicar

to itchencantar

to "love" somethingquedarto be left over, remain

faltarto be lacking something

volver (o:ue) locoto be crazy about

To form the present participle of -ir stem changing verbs, change e:i and o:u in the stem, andthen add -iendo to the stem of the verb.

servir: sirviendopedir: pidiendodecir: diciendo

dormir: durmiendomorir: muriendopoder: pudiendo

Sometimes when forming the present participle it is necessary to change the spelling of a wordso that it agrees with the way it is pronounced. We call this an "orthographic" change. Here are

some common examples:caer: cayendocreer: creyendohuir: huyendoir: yendoinfluir: influyendoor: oyendo


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traer: trayendoleer: leyendoseguir: siguiendo

The following examples illustrate the rules for forming the present participle.

hablar: hablando (-ar)comer: comiendo (-er)vivir: viviendo (-ir)decir: diciendo (e:i)dormir: durmiendo (o:u)leer: leyendo (orthographic)seguir: siguiendo (orthographic)

caber (to fit)yo quepo

dirigir (to direct)yo dirijo

fingir (to pretend)yo finjo

distinguir (to distinguish)yo distingo

Saber vs Conocer

saber: to know (facts, information, how to do something, something by heart)conocer: to know (to be familiar with people, places, things)

Pedir vs Preguntar

pedir: to ask (for an object or a service)preguntar: to ask (a question, request information)

100. cien200. doscientos300. trescientos

400. cuatrocientos500. quinientos600. seiscientos700. setecientos800. ochocientos900. novecientos1000. mil


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there is a masculine and a feminine form for the number one:

un libroone book

una pluma

one pen

This is also true for the numbers 200, 300, 400, etc.

doscientos librosdoscientas plumas

cuatrocientos seorescuatrocientas seoras

When there is exactly 100 of something, and the number is used with the noun, use the shortenedform "cien."

cien dlarescien gatascien perroscien pesetas

(504)quinientos cuatro

note: no y needed

To say something occurs at a specific time, use the formula a + la(s) + time.

La fiesta empieza a las nueve.The party begins at nine o'clock.

El banco abre a las ocho y media.The bank opens at half past eight.

A.m. and p.m. distinction: de la maana, de la tarde and de la noche.

When no specific time is mentioned, use the expressions por la maana, por la tarde, por lanoche.

Siempre leo el peridico por las maanas.I always read the newspaper in the morning.

la noche anterior, anteanochethe night before last


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al mediodaat noon

en puntoexactly, on-the-dot

"Por" has many uses, and so it is the more problematic of the two.

Rule: to express gratitude or apologyModel: Gracias por la ayuda.(Thanks for the help.)

Rule: for multiplication and divisionModel: Dos por dos son cuatro.(Two times two equals four.)

Rule: for velocity, frequency and proportionModel: Voy al restaurante cinco veces por semana.(I go to the restaurant five times per week.)

Rule: meaning "through," "along," "by" or "in the area of"Model: Andamos por el parque.(We walk through the park.)

Rule: when talking about exchange, including salesModel: l me dio diez dlares por el libro.

(He gave me ten dollars for the book.)Rule: to mean "on behalf of," or "in favor of,"Model: No vot por nadie.(I didn't vote for anyone.)

Rule: to express a length of timeModel: Yo estudi por dos horas.(I studied for two hours.)

Rule: to express an undetermined, or general time, meaning "during"

Model: Se puede ver las estrellas por la noche.(One can see the stars during the night.)

Rule: for means of communication or transportationModel: Prefiero viajar por tren y hablar por telfono.(I prefer to travel by train and speak by phone.)


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Rule: in cases of mistaken identity, or meaning "to be seen as"Model: Me tienen por loco.(They take me for crazy.)

Rule: to show the reason for an errand (with ir, venir, pasar, mandar, volver, and preguntar)

Model: Paso por ti a las ocho.(I'll come by for you at eight o'clock.)

Rule: when followed by an infinitive, to express an action that remains to be completed, use por+ infinitiveModel: La cena est por cocinar.(Dinner has yet to be cooked.)

Rule: to express cause or reasonModel: El hombre muri por falta de agua.The man died for lack of water.

Rule: "estar por" means to be in the mood, or inclined to do somethingModel: Estoy por tomar caf.(I'm in the mood for drinking coffee.)

Rule: in passive constructionsModel: El libro fue escrito por Octavio Paz.(The book was written by Octavio Paz.)

"Por" also appears in many idiomatic expressions:

por adelantadoin advance

por ahorafor now

por allaround there; that way

por amor de Diosfor the love of God

por aquaround here; this way

por casualidadby chance


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por cientopercent

por ciertocertainly

por completocompletely

por dentroinside

por desgraciaunfortunately

por ejemplo

for examplepor esotherefore

por favorplease

por finfinally

por lo generalgenerally

por lo vistoapparently

por medio deby means of

por lo menosat least

por lo tantoconsequently

por mi parteas for me


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por ningn ladonowhere

por otra parteon the other hand

palabra por palabraword for word

por primera vezfor the first time

por separadoseparately

por supuesto

of coursepor suertefortunately

por todas parteseverywhere

por todos ladoson all sides

por ltimofinally

"Para" -- in contrast, has relatively fewer uses.

Rule: to indicate destinationModel: El hombre sali para Madrid.(The man left for Madrid.)

Rule: to show the use or purpose of a thingModel: El vaso es para agua.

(The glass is for water.)Rule: to mean "in order to" or "for the purpose of"Model: Para hacer una paella, primero dore las carnes.To make a paella, first saut the meats.


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Rule: to indicate a recipientModel: Este regalo es para ti.(This gift is for you.)

Rule: to express a deadline or specific time

Model: Necesito el vestido para el lunes.(I need the dress by Monday.)

Rule: to express a contrast from what is expectedModel: Para un nio lee muy bien.(For a child, he reads very well.)

Rule: "estar para" to express an action that will soon be completedModel: El tren est para salir.(The train is about to leave.)

The following adjectives have irregular forms for the comparative and the superlative:Adjective: bueno (good)Comparative: mejor (better)Superlative: el/la mejor (best)

Adjective: malo (bad)Comparative: peor (worse)Superlative: el/la peor (the worst)

*words ms and menos are not used with the irregular comparatives

With the irregular superlatives, the definite article is used.

Este libro es bueno.This book is good.

Ese libro es mejor.That book is better.

Aquel libro es el mejor.That book over there is the best.

Adjective: grande (big)

Comparative: mayor (older; greater)Superlative: el/la mayor (the oldest; the greatest)

Adjective: pequeo (small)Comparative: menor (younger; less)Superlative: el/la menor (youngest; least)


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When referring to size, grande and pequeo follow the normal rules for comparative andsuperlative forms. That is, they do not use the irregular forms menor and mayor.

Esta casa es grande.This house is big.

Esa casa es ms grande.That house is bigger.Aquella casa es la ms grande.

That house over there is the biggest.

When referring to age, use the irregular forms mayor and menor.

Juan es menor que Mara.Juan is younger than Maria.

Mara es la mayor de la familia.

Maria is the oldest of the family.When referring to the concepts "less" or "greater", use the irregular forms mayor and menor.

El agua es de mayor importancia que la comida.Water is more important than food.

La comida es de menor importancia que el agua.Food is less important than water.

The wordsjoven and viejo are used for non-comparative descriptions of age.

El nio es joven.The boy is young.

El abuelo es viejo.The grandfather is old.

The demonstrative adjectives also have four forms:

este libro (this book)estos libros (these books)

esta pluma (this pen)estas plumas (these pens)

ese libro (that book)esos libros (those books)esa pluma (that pen)esas plumas (those pens)


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aquel libro (that book over there)aquellos libros (those books over there)aquella pluma (that pen over there)aquellas plumas (those pens over there)

Here are the corresponding demonstrative pronouns:este (this one - masculine)estos (these ones - masculine)esta (this one - feminine)estas (these ones - feminine)

ese (that one - masculine)esos (those ones - masculine)esa (that one - feminine)esas (those ones - feminine)

aquel (that one over there - masc.)aquellos (those ones over there - masc.)aquella (that one over there - fem.)aquellas (those ones over there - fem.)

Each demonstrative pronoun also has a neuter form. They do not change for number or gender,and they are used to refer to abstract ideas, or to an unknown object.

esto (this matter, this thing)eso (that matter, that thing)

aquello (that matter/thing over there)Hace + time + que + present tense form of the verb

Hace un ao que estudio espaol.I have been studying Spanish for one year.

Hace dos aos que ellas estudian ingls.They have been studying English for two years.

To make it negative, Hace + time + que + no + present tense form of the verb.

Another way to use the verb "hacer" to express how long something has been taking place is touse the following formula:

Present tense form of the verb + desde hace + time

Estudio espaol desde hace un ao.I have been studying Spanish for one year.


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Ellas estudian ingls desde hace dos aos.They have been studying English for two years.

Negative = No + present tense form of the verb + desde hace + time

The possessive pronouns are similar to the possessive adjectives, but they are normally used withthe definite article.

mineel mo / la malos mos / las mas

yours (familiar)el tuyo / la tuyalos tuyos / las tuyas

yours (formal), his, hersel suyo / la suyalos suyos / las suyas

oursel nuestro / la nuestralos nuestros / las nuestras

yours (formal), theirsel suyo / la suyalos suyos / las suyas

The definite article is usually omitted when the possessive pronoun comes after the verb ser:

El carro grande es mo. The big car is mine.

El carro pequeo es suyo. The small car is hers.

El suyo, la suya, los suyos, las suyas can be clarified as follows:

El carro grande es suyo. The big car is his. (unclarified)

El carro grande es de l. The big car is his. (clarified)La casa pequea es suya. The small house is hers. (unclarified)

La casa pequea es de ella. The small house is hers. (clarified)

Los carros grandes son suyos. The big cars are theirs. (unclarified)


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Los carros grandes son de ellas. The big cars are theirs. (clarified)

Las casas pequeas son suyas. The small houses are theirs. (unclarified)

Las casas pequeas son de ellos. The small houses are theirs. (clarified)

Whenever a verb directly follows a preposition, it remains in the infinitive form. For reflexiveverbs, the ending -se changes to agree with the subject. Observe the differences in the followingsentences, all of which are about counting burros before falling asleep.

Antes de dormirme, yo cuento burros.

Antes de dormirte, t cuentas burros.

Antes de dormirse, la chica cuenta burros.

Antes de dormirnos, nosotros contamos burros.Antes de dormiros, vosotros contis burros.

Antes de dormirse, los chicos cuentan burros.

In Spanish, these intransitive constructions frequently employ the reflexive form.

The sun dried the clothes. (transitive)El sol sec la ropa.

The clothes dried in the sun. (intransitive)La ropa se sec al sol.

For some verbs, the meaning changes when they are used reflexively.

aburrir - to boreaburrirse - to be bored

acordar - to agreeacordarse de - to remember

acostar - to put to bedacostarse - to go to bed

casar - to perform a marriage ceremonycasarse con - to become married to someone

despedir - to firedespedirse de - to say goodbye


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dormir - to sleepdormirse - to fall asleep

ir - to goirse - to go away, to leave

morir - to die (abruptly, as of an accident, war, etc.)morirse - to die (as from natural causes; also "to die" figuratively)

negar - to denynegarse a - to refuse

parecer - to seemparecerse a - to resemble

poner - to put

ponerse - to put onprobar - to try, to tasteprobarse - to try on

quitar - to take awayquitarse - to take off

A few verbs are always used reflexively.

arrepentirse (e:ie) - to repent

atreverse a - to daredarse cuenta de - to realizejactarse de - to boastquejarse de - to complain aboutsuicidarse - to commit suicide

Feminine singular nouns that begin with an emphasized a or ha use the masculine form of thearticle.

el aguael hacha

el hambreel guila

This rule only applies to the singular form of the noun. The plural form uses the feminine article.

el agualas aguasel hacha


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las hachasel hambrelas hambresel guilalas guilas

The definite article is used with some countries and cities, and is not used with others. Here aresome examples where it is used:

la Argentinael Brasilel Canadel Ecuadorla Floridala Habanala India

el Japnel Paraguayel Perel Salvadorel Uruguay

The definite article is always used with compound geographic names.

la Amrica Centralla Amrica del Surlos Estados Unidos

la Gran BretaaThe definite article is used when talking about a person, but it is not used when talking directlyto a person.

El seor Gmez es profesor.Seor Gmez, es usted profesor?

La seorita est muy bonita.Seorita! Usted est muy bonita esta noche.

The definite article is used when reflexive verbs are followed by body parts, clothing or othervery personal possessions.

Mara se lava la cara.l se pone el traje.


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Verbs that end in -gar change g to guVerbs that end in -car change c to quVerbs that end in -zar change z to c

Some common orthographic changing verbs for the preterite tense in these categories are:

-gar -car -zarcegar aparcar almorzarcolgar buscar autorizar

ugar clarificar cazar

llegar clasificar comenzar

pagar destacar cruzar

plegar empacar empezar

regar ustificar forzarrogar practicar organizar

tragar sacar simbolizar

vagar tocar tropezarse

For verbs that end in -aer, -eer, -or, and -oer, the l/ella/usted forms use the ending "y" (ratherthan i) and the third person plural uses the ending "yeron" (rather than ieron). The remainingforms gain a written accent over the letter "i."

creer

cre

crestecreycremoscresteiscreyeron

Other verbs like creer include:

caerleeror

poseerproveerroer

Exceptions to this rule include:


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traeratraerdistraer

Verbs that end in -uir change in the same way, but the written accent over the letter "i" onlyoccurs in the yo form.

huir

huhuistehuyhuimoshuisteis

huyeronOther verbs like huir include:

construircontribuirdestruirfluirincluirinfluir

like traer:atraerdetraerdistraerextraermaltraerretraersustraer

Verbs that end in -ucir are irregular and conjugated as follows:

producir

produjeprodujisteprodujoprodujimos


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produjisteisprodujeron

Other verbs in this category include:

aducirconducircoproducirdeducirinducirintroducirreducirtraducir

When two adverbs modify the same verb, only the second one uses the -mente ending. Note thatthe first adverb is the same as the feminine singular form of the adjective.

Juan trabaja lenta y cuidadosamente.Juan works slowly and carefully.

El chico le habl clara y cortsmente.The boy spoke to him clearly and courteously.

El autor escribi rpida y fcilmente.The author wrote quickly and easily.

Subjunctive

conviene que ...it is advisable that ...

es menester que ...it's necessary that ...

es preciso que ...it's necessary that ...

estar contento queto be happy that ...

ms vale que ...it's better that ...


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negar que ...to deny that ...

no estar convencido de que ...to not be convinced that ...

no imaginarse que ...to not imagine that ...

no parecer que ...to not seem that ...

no suponer que ...to not suppose that ...

puede ser que ...

it may be that ...sin que ...without ...

temer que ...to fear that ...

Relative Pronouns

Que

"Que" is the Spanish equivalent of the English words: who, whom, which, and that.

El hombre que es pobre ... (person, subject)The man who is poor ...

Los libros que son extensos ... (thing, subject)The books which are long ...

La seorita que conoc ... (person, object)The young lady whom I met ...

La carta que leste ... (thing, object)The letter that you read ...

Quien

The relative pronoun "quien" is used only to refer to people, and has a plural form "quienes."(There is no masculine/feminine distinction.)


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Mi to, quien es profesor, viene a visitarme hoy da.My uncle, who is a professor, is coming to visit me today.

La chica, con quien fui al cine, es mi novia.The girl, with whom I went to the movies, is my girlfriend.

Quien estudia bastante, gana buenas notas.He who studies hard earns good grades.

When the relative pronoun refers to a person and is in the direct object position, either "que" or"a quien" may be used. Each is correct. Notice that the "personal a" is used with "quien" but isnot used with "que."

La seorita que conoc anoche es la hermana de Raquel.

La seorita a quien conoc anoche es la hermana de Raquel.

When the relative pronoun occurs after a preposition and refers to a person, "quien" must beused. After a preposition, "que" is only used to refer to things.

Los chicos, con quienes fuimos a la playa, son nuestros amigos. The boys, with whom we went to the beach, are our friends.

El libro en que pienso es extenso, no es corto.The book I'm thinking of is long, not short.

El Que

The relative pronoun "el que" (and its related forms) is used to refer to both people and things.Note that there are four forms to accomodate singular and plural, masculine and feminine: el que,la que, los que, las que.

Mi ta, la que es profesora, viene a visitarme hoy da.My aunt, the one who is a professor, is coming to visit me today.

Las mesas, las que son de plstico, son baratas.The tables, the ones that are made of plastic, are cheap.

Mi to, el que es taxista, llegar pronto.My uncle, the one who is a taxi driver, will arrive soon.

Mis pantalones, los que son viejos, son muy cmodos. My pants, the ones that are old, are very comfortable.

Another set of relative pronouns can be used in place of el que, la que, los que, and las que:


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el cual la cual los cuales las cuales

* reserved for written Spanish or formal oratory.

When the relative pronoun refers to an abstract idea, use "lo que."

Lo que quieres no existe.That which you want does not exist.

No comprendo lo que ocurre.I do not understand that which is happening.

Past Participle

The past participle can be combined with the verb "ser" to express the passive voice. Use thisconstruction when an action is being described, and introduce the doer of the action with the

word "por."La casa fue construida por los carpinteros.The house was built by the carpenters.

La tienda es abierta todos los das por el dueo.The store is opened every day by the owner.

Note that for -er and -ir verbs, if the stem ends in a vowel, a written accent will be required.

creer - credo

or - odoNote: this rule does not apply, and no written accent is required for verbs ending in -uir.(construir, seguir, influir, distinguir, etc.)

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