Linciatura

Spanish Verbs and Essential Grammar Review

Prepared by: Professor Carmen L. Torres-Robles Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures Purdue University Calumet Revised: 1 /2003 Layout by: Nancy J. Tilka

CONTENTS
Spanish Verbs
Introduction Indicative Mood
® simple & compound tenses: present, past, future, conditional

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Subjunctive Mood
® simple & compound tenses:present, past

Ser / Estar

Essential Grammar
Pronouns Possesive Adjectives and Pronouns Prepositional Pronouns Por versus Para Comparisons / Superlatives Preterite / Imperfect Subjunctive Mood Commands Passive Voice 20 23 25 27 31 34 37 42 46

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Spanish Verbs

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INTRODUCTION VERBS (VERBOS)
MOODS (MODOS)
There are three moods or ways to express verbs (actions) in Spanish. 1. IndicativeMood (objective) 2. Subjunctive Mood (subjective) 3. Imperative Mood (commands)

INFINITIVES (INFINITIVOS)
A verb in the purest form (without a noun or subject pronoun to perform the action) is called an infinitive. The infinitives in English are characterized by the prefix “to” + “verb form”, the Spanish infinitives are identified by the “r” ending. Example estudiar, comer, dormir to study,to eat, to sleep

CONJUGATIONS (CONJUGACIONES)
Spanish verbs are grouped in three categories or conjugations. 1. Infinitives ending in –ar belong to the first conjugation. 2. Infinitives ending in –er belong to the second conjugation. 3. Infinitives ending in –ir belong to the third conjugation. (estudiar) (comer) (dormir)

VERB STRUCTURE (ESTRUCTURA VERBAL)
Spanish verbs are divided intothree parts. (infinitive: estudiar) 1. Stem or Root 2. Theme Vowel 3. "R" Ending (estudi-) (-a-) (-r)

CONJUGATED VERBS (VERBOS CONJUGADOS)
To conjugate a verb, a verb must have an explicit subject noun (ex: María), a subject pronoun (yo, tú, usted, él, ella, nosotros(as), vosotros(as), ustedes, ellos, ellas), or an implicit subject, to indicate the performer of the action.

*ATTENTION*
Subjectpronouns are not used as frequently in Spanish as in English. They are used mainly for emphasis or clarification in Spanish since the ending of the conjugated verb often indicates the subject performing the action.

TENSES (TIEMPOS)
Actions (verbs) can be expressed either in the present, past, future, or conditional tenses. They appear in either simple or compound forms.

REGULAR/IRREGULARVERBS (VERBOS REGULARES/IRREGULARES)
Verbs that do not require changes in their stems are considered regular. Verbs requiring spelling or stem changes are considered irregular.
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INDICATIVE MOOD (SIMPLE TENSES) PRESENT TENSE
REGULAR VERBS
The present tense endings for regular verbs are as follows: -ar conjugation -o -amos -as -áis -a -an hablar (to speak) hablo hablamos hablas habláis hablahablan -er conjugation -o -emos -es -éis -e -en comer (to eat) como comemos comes coméis come comen vivo vives vive -ir conjugation -o -imos -es -ís -e -en vivir (to live) vivimos vivís viven

IRREGULAR VERBS
1. Irregular “yo” Form The verbs listed below are irregular only in the yo form. Example infinitive hacer (to make; to do) poner (to put) traer (to bring) salir (to leave; to go out)valer (to be worth) caer (to fall) infinitive conocer desaparecer obedecer producir conducir traducir (to know) (to disappear) (to obey) (to produce) (to drive) (to translate) go hago pongo traigo salgo valgo caigo + z + co conozco desaparezco obedezco produzco conduzco traduzco gu fi go distingo cer fi zo convenzo

Example

Example Example

infinitive distinguir(to distinguish) infinitiveconvencer (to convince)

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Example

infinitive coger (to pick, take) escoger (to choose) proteger (to protect) dirigir (to manage) exigir (to demand)

g fi jo cojo escojo protejo dirijo exijo

2. Stem-Changing Verbs The following verbs are irregular in the stem when conjugated, except* in the nosotros and vosotros forms. Example e fi ie cerrar (to close) cierro cierras cierra cerramos*...