Spanish Grammar Concepts

Sustantivos y Artículos (Nouns and Articles)

• Masculine Nouns: Typically end with the vowel -o.
• Feminine Nouns: Usually end with the vowel -a.
• Exceptions: Some nouns ending in -a are masculine and some ending in -o are feminine.
• Nouns ending in -dad, -tad, -tud, -ión, -umbre, and -ie: Generally feminine.
• Nouns ending in a consonant: Can be either masculine or feminine.
• Pluralization:
  • Add -s for nouns ending in a vowel.
  • Add -es for nouns ending in a consonant.
  • For nouns ending in -z, change z to c and add -es.

Adjetivos (Adjectives)

• Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe.
• Making plural:
  • For adjectives ending in a vowel: add -s.
  • For adjectives ending in a consonant: add -es.
  • Change z to c and add -es for adjectives ending in -z.
• Some adjectives remain the same for both masculine and feminine forms.
• Placement
  • After a series of nouns, use masculine plural form.
  • Before a series of nouns, use masculine singular form.
  • To distinguish, place the adjective before the noun.
• Special Forms Before Masculine Singular Nouns:
  • uno becomes un
  • bueno becomes buen
  • malo becomes mal
  • primero becomes primer
  • tercero becomes tercer
  • alguno becomes algún
  • ninguno becomes ningún

Personal "a"

• Used in four scenarios:
  • To precede a direct object that is a person.
  • Before alguien, nadie, alguno, ninguno.
  • Before domestic animals.
  • When the direct object is a geographical name used with the verb conocer.
• Exceptions
  • Not used with the verb tener
  • Not used when the person is not specific.

Por vs Para

• Por: Used for reason, movement through or along, duration, means of communication or transport, exchange, and gratitude/apologies.
• Para: Used for a final destination, purpose, deadline, recipient, comparison, employment.

Complementos Directos (Direct Objects)

• A direct object receives the action of the verb and usually follows the verb.
• A direct object pronoun replaces a noun.
• Spanish direct object pronouns: me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las.
• Placement: Before a conjugated verb or attached to an infinitive, gerund, or command.

IOP - Indirect Object Pronoun

• Answers to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done.
• Identified with a or para.
• Replaces an indirect object noun.
• Pronouns: me, te, le, nos, os, les.
• Placement: Before a conjugated verb or attached to an infinitive or gerund.
• Used with verbs like gustar, encantar, doler, interesar, aburrir, fascinar, etc.
• Conjugated in two ways (singular/plural):
  • e.g., gustar: me gusta/me gustan

Double Object Pronouns

• Order: Indirect Object Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun + Verb
• If le or les is followed by lo/la/los/las, change to se.

Pretérito

• Usage: To highlight start/completion of past actions, narrate past actions within a time period, emphasize sequence, or summarize attitudes/beliefs.
• Conjugation:
  • -ar Verbs:
    • yo: -é, tú: -aste, él/ella/ud: -ó, nosotros: -amos, vosotros: -asteis, ellos/ellas/uds: -aron
  • -er/ir Verbs:
    • yo: -í, tú: -iste, él/ella/ud: -ió, nosotros: -imos, vosotros: -isteis, ellos/ellas/uds: -ieron

Imperfecto

• Usage: Background information, ongoing past actions, repetitive actions, descriptions.
• Conjugation:
  • -ar Verbs:
    • yo: -aba, tú: -abas, él/ella/ud: -aba, nosotros: -ábamos, vosotros: -abais, ellos/ellas/uds: -aban
  • -er/ir Verbs:
    • yo: -ía, tú: -ías, él/ella/ud: -ía, nosotros: -íamos, vosotros: -íais, ellos/ellas/uds: -ían
• Irregular Verbs:
  • ir: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, ibais, iban
  • ser: era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran
  • ver: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veían

Subjuntivo

• Formation:

  1. Start with the yo form of the present indicative.
  2. Drop the -o ending.
  3. Add the subjunctive endings.

• Subjunctive Endings:

  • -ar: yo (-e), tú (-es), él/ella/ud (-e), nosotros (-emos), vosotros (-éis), ellos/as/uds (-en)
  • -er/-ir: yo (-a), tú (-as), él/ella/ud (-a), nosotros (-amos), vosotros (-áis), ellos/as/uds (-an)

• Irregular Verbs:

  • dar: dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den
  • estar: esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén
  • haber: haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan
  • ir: vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan
  • saber: sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan
  • ser: sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean

• RED represents:

  • R: Request/Recommendation
  • E: Emotion
  • D: Doubt/Denial