Spanish grammar

Spanish Grammar · Level x by Alba MonederoSpanish Grammar · Level x by Alba Monedero

Fechas / Dates

1. Días de la semana / Days of the week

LUNES – MONDAYMARTES – TUESDAYMIÉRCOLES – WEDNESDAYJUEVES – THURSDAYVIERNES – FRIDAYSÁBADO – SATURDAYDOMINGO – SUNDAY

2. Meses / Months

ENERO - JANUARYFEBRERO - FEBRUARYMARZO - MARCHABRIL - APRILMAYO - MAYJUNIO - JUNEJULIO - JULYAGOSTO - AUGUSTSEPTIEMBRE - SEPTEMBEROCTUBRE - OCTOBERNOVIEMBRE - NOVEMBERDICIEMBRE - DECEMBER

3. Las cuatro estaciones / The four seasons

INVIERNO – WINTERPRIMAVERA – SPRINGSUMMER – VERANOOTOÑO – AUTUMN

Spanish Grammar · Level x by Alba Monedero

! TIPS1. When talking about dates, we use the preposition de before months and years.

• El siete de diciembre de 1997.

• We use only the ordinal number to refer the 1st = Primero. For all the other dates, we use the cardinal number 2nd = Dos / 3rd = Tres / 4th = Cuatro…

2. We don’t use the cap letter for the months or neither the days of week or seasons.3. The years in Spanish are said as it follows

• 1997: Mil novecientos noventa y siete = Nineteen ninety seven (direct translation: One thousand nine hundred ninety seven)

• 1756: Mil setecientos cincuenta y seis = Seventeen fifty six (direct translation: One thousand seven hundred fifty six)

• 2003: Dos mil tres = Two thousand three (direct translation is the same)

Fechas / Dates


Letter Spanish spelling English spelling Sounda a ah Antoniob be be Barcelonac ce theh Carmend de deh Dolores / Daniele e eh Enrique / Españaf efe Eh (feh) Franciag ge heh Geronah hache aah cheh historiai i ee Inésj jota hota Josék ka cah kilol ele ele Lorenzoll elle eh li eh Llobregat

El alfabeto / The alphabet


m eme eh (meh) Madridn ene eh (neh) Navarra / nuevoñ eñe eh ni eh ñoñoo o oh Oviedop pe peh Parísq qu cooh queridor erre eh (reh) Ramóns ese eh (seh) sábadot te teh Tarragonau u ooh Ulisesv uve ooh beh Valencuaw uve doble ooh beh doh bleh Washingtonx equis eh kees Xiquenay i griega ee gree eh gah Yagüe / yeguaz zeta theh tah Zaragoza

! TIPS: There are no different sounds for the letters in Spanish. They are always spelled the same way in all words.


Número cardinales / Cardinal Numbers

NUMBER SPELLING

1 uno

2 dos

3 tres

4 cuatro

5 cinco

6 seis

7 siete

8 ocho

9 nueve

10 diez

11 once

12 doce

13 trece

14 catorce

30 trenta

34 trenta y cuatro

40 cuarenta

45 cuarenta y cinco

50 cincuenta

60 sesenta

70 setenta

80 ochenta

90 noventa

15 quince

16 dieciséis

17 dieciesiete

18 dieciocho

19 diecinueve

20 veinte

21 ventiuno

22 veintidós

23 veintitrés

24 veinticuatro

25 veinticinco

26 veintiseis

27 veintisiete

28 veintiocho

29 veintinueve


! TIPS1. Careful with UNO! Uno and all the numbers ending in –uno change with a noun to

agree in gender• Un parque, una idea • Veintiún caballos, veintiuna sillas, treinta y un hombres, treinta y una calles

2. From 11 to 15 all the numbers ends in –CE (once, doce, trece, catorce, quince)

3. From 16 to 19 we use a contraction within diez and the number (dieciséis…)

4. From 21 to 29 we use a contraction within veinte and the number.5. The following numbers have accent: dieciséis, veintiún, veintidós, veintitrés, veintiséis

6. From 30 to 90 ends in –nta and have an Y between the tens and units.


NUMBERS SPELLING

100 cien

101 Ciento uno

105 Ciento cinco

110 Ciento diez

119 Ciento diez y nueve

120 Ciento veinte

122 Ciento veintidós

167 Ciento sesenta y siete

200 Dos cientos

300 Tres cientos

320 Tres cientos veinte

346 Tres cientos cuarenta y seis

1.000 mil

1.008 Mil ocho

1.016 Mil dieciséis

1.034 Mil treinta y cuatro

1.100 Mil cien

1.111 Mil ciento once

1.118 Mil ciento dieciocho

1.120 Mil ciento veinte

1.135 Mil ciento treinta y cinco

1.200 Mil doscientos

1.300 Mil trescientos

1.347 Mil trescientos cuarenta y siete

1.400 Mil cuatrocientos

1.500 Mil quinientos

2.000 Dos mil

2.150 Dos mil ciento cincuenta

3.000 Tres mil

10.000 Diez mil

100.000 Cien mil

1.000. 000 Un millón


! TIPS1. Cien is used on its own, before a larger number and before a noun.

• 100 = Cien• 100.000.000: cien millones• Cien espejos, cien personas (ATT! No matter the gender!)

2. Ciento is used before a number smaller than 1000• 180: ciento ochenta

It varies on its number and gender agree with the noun: setecient-os gramos, setecientas latas

3. We don’t use Y between hundreds and tens: ciento seis, ciento setenta, doscientos diz, quinientos veintidós.

4. % = por ciento. We use the article, define and undefine, before: 30% = el/un treinta por ciento

5. Mil, on the other way, NEVER changes and NEVER uses the article un (but it can use uno to speak about uncertain number).

6. Un millón and un billón has regular plurals: unos millones, unos billones. They are used followed by de and a noun: un millón de euros, un billón de caramelos….


Números ordinales / Ordinal NumbersNUMBER SPELLING

1º Primero / primer

2º Segundo

3º Tercero / tercer

4º cuarto

5º quinto

6º sexto

7º séptimo

8º octavo

9º noveno

10º décimo

11º onceavo

12º doceavo

13º treceavo

14º catorceavo

! TIPS1. Primero and tercero drop the -o before a

masculine singular noun: el primer autobús, el tercer hombre.

2. From 11th onwards, we use the termination –avo. But it is more common to use the cardinal number after a noun: el piso quince, el ejercicio veintidós.

3. For sovereigns and popes, ordinal numbers are used after the name: the Queen Elisabeth II, La Reina Isabel segunda.

4. There is not common to use ordinal numbers in dates as in English, archaic form.

5. Umpteenth = enésimo


La hora / The timeHOUR SPELLING

9:00 Las nueve en punto

9:10 Las nueve y diez

9:15 Las nueve y cuarto / Las nueve y quince

9:20 Las nueve y veinte

9:30 Las nueve y media / Las nueve y treinta

9:40 Las nueve menos veinte / Las nueve cuarenta

9:45 Las nueve menos cuarto / Las nueve cuarenta y cinco

9:50 Las nueve menos diez / Las nueve cincuenta


! TIPS1. The use of 24H is widespread in Spain, specially for timetables and schedules.2. There is no translation or use for o’clock.3. To indicate am and pm it is usually said the part of the day: de la mañana, del

mediodía, de la noche…4. We always use the phrase “son las…” to say the time: son las tres y cuarto. In 1

o’clock we say it in singular: “es la una y media”.5. Y is used for minutes pass the hour and MENOS for minutes to the hour.6. The most common to indicate the quarters and the half hour in Spain is to use the

formula: la una y cuarto, las cinco y media, las once menos cuarto, instead of saying the time.

7. To refer to 12 am it is said: “Es mediodía”, and for 12pm it is said: “Es medianoche”


Pronombres de sujeto / Subject pronounsSPANISH ENGLISH

1a SING YO I

2A SING TÚ YOU

3A SING ÉL / ELLA / ELLO HE / SHE / IT

1A PLU NOSOTROS WE

2A PLU VOSOTROS YOU

3A PLU ELLOS THEY

! TIPS1. Unlike in English, yo is not written in capital letters.2. Tú and él have diacritical accents, to differenciate from tu (yours) and el (the).

In Latinoamerica, the use of Usted and Ustedes is more common than Tú y Vosotros.

Soy yo – It’s me.¿Quién, yo? – Who, me?Nosotros también – Us tooYo tampoco – Neither I am / Nor me

And on comparisions…Silvia tiene es más alta que túSilvia is taller than you.Silvia no es tan alta como yoSilvia is not as tall as me.

(*) COMMON USES FOR SUBJECT PRONOUNS


! TIPS1. There are for words used in the case of YOU in English

• Tú & Vosotros: used for someone you call for his first name.• Usted (Ud. or Vd.) & Ustedes (Uds. or Vds.)

- used for someone you don’t know very well or is older than you- In that cases, the verb is declined in the same way as he/she (usted) or they

(ustedes). 2. We (nosotros/as) and They (ellos/as) decline according to the noun’s gender.3. Spanish personal pronouns are usually in front of the verb, but in questions they are

commonly placed behind: ¿Pagan ellos? Do they pay? 4. When IT is used as a subject and THEY is refered to a thing, they don’t appear in the

phrase. We only use the verb declined, not saying the personal pronoun.• Es un cachorro (It is a puppy)• Son botellas de vino (They are bottles of wine) ATT! ELLO can replace these pronouns in the phrase, but it is not common. ELLO only

refers to concepts and ideas and normally in formal communication, mainly written.5. Personal pronouns are used much less than in English, because the verbs normally

indicates the gender and number in the termination.• They are tend to be used for contrast, emphasis and to avoid ambiguity• For even greater emphasis, in Spanish is used mismo-s/a-s: yo mismo, ella misma,

vosotros mismos, ellas mismas. (*)


Se: sujeto indefinido / Undefined subject1. When the object of a verb is unknown, we use SE.2. It is substitute in English of one, you, we, they, people.3. When the verb is got the same termination as he/she, third person singular (*).4. When is a direct object, the verb used after SE changes in number termination (*).

¿Se puede aparcar aquí?It is allowed to park here

¿Cómo se dice (…) en español?How it is said (…) in Spanish?

Se dice, se espera, se cree…It is said, it is expected, it is believed…

(*) COMMON USES FOR UNDEFINED SUBJECT

Se ensucia la casaThe house gets dirtySe ensucian los pantalonesThe trousers get dirtySe come muchoIt is eaten a lot.Se comen muchos plátanos.There are eaten a lot of bananas.

(*) CHANGE VERB TERMINATION WITH DIRECT OBJECT


Pronombres de objeto / Object pronounsSPANISH ENGLISH

1a sing ME ME, TO / FOR ME

2a sing TE YOU, TO / FOR YOU

3a sing (o. direct) LO / LA HIM/HER, IT (M/F) YOU

3a sing (o. indirect) LE TO HIM / HER / YOU

1a plu NOS US, TO / FOR US

2a plu OS YOU, TO / FOR YOU

3a plu (o. direct) LOS / LAS THEM (M/F) YOU

3a plu (o. indirect) LES TO THEM (M/F) / YOU

! TIPS – The third person on object pronoun

1. It is the only person that varies in its form used as a direct or indirect O.P.2. Los is gender neutral, used for groups of person.3. Les is used for both, masculine and femenine, but if it need clarification you can say a él, a

ella4. When the subject comes before a verb, we must use the O.P.: El libro no lo he leído5. Leísmo: Le and les are often used instead of lo and los, but is an incorrect grammar use!


! TIPS – The third person on object pronoun

1. In general we use the same verbs for the direct and indirect object.2. There is a difficulty with some verbs to determine them the indirect object, due to in

English they can be said with or without preposition• Puedes enviarles esto? - Can you send this to them? Can you send them this• Le he dado un regalo - I have given him/her a present. I have given a present to h/h. ATT! Other verbs which use indirect object and might be confused: CONTAR A, DAR A,

DECIR A, ENVIAR A, MANDAR A, OFRECER A, PRESTAR A, SERVIR A, TRAER A, REGALAR A...

3. There are some verbs with indirect object, unlike in English• CONTESTAR A: No le contestaron la pregunta• DOLER A: Le duele la cabeza• GUSTAR A: Le gusta el vino• PREGUNTAR A: Le pregunté la hora

4. These verbs are followed by a preposition before a noun, whereas in Spanish they have a direct object• ESCUCHAR, ESPERAR, PEDIR, MEDIR, BUSCAR


Pronombre de objeto doble / Double object pronouns1. When two object pronouns are used in the same sentence, the indirect O.P.

comes before to the direct O.P.• Me la dio / Te lo digo / Se los enviaré…

2. The indirect pronouns le and les are changed for se when they are followed by lo, la, los, las, to avoid two pronouns beginning with L-.

3. As with the other object pronouns, the 3rd person in Spanish uses the same word se to refer to him, to her, to they, both masculine or feminine. We can differentiate them by context or specifying a él, a ella, a ellos, a ellas.

! TIPS – The main points to remember about the object pronouns:

1. They generally come before a verb, not after it. Except infinitives, imperatives and gerunds

2. They double up quite regularly: A mí no me gusta3. They are used in instances where we left out in English: No lo sé, no lo comprendo4. Se has many different uses

• Reflexive pronoun: se presenta (he introduces himself)• Passive form: ¿Se puede? (May I?)• Indirect pronoun before lo, la, los, las.


Pronombres después de preposiciones / Pronouns after prepositions

SPANISH ENGLISH

1a sing MI ME

2a sing TI YOU

3a sing ÉL / ELLA HIM/HER

2a sing USTED YOU

1a plu NOSOTROS-AS US

2a plu VOSOTROS-AS YOU

3a plu ELLO-AS THEM (M/F)

2a plu USTEDES YOU


1. These pronouns are often used in addition to other object pronouns for emphasis or to make sure that the meaning is absolutely clear

2. YO and TÚ are used after ENTRE, EXCEPTO/MENOS/SALVO, HASTA y SEGÚN• Entre tú y yo• Hasta tú lo dices• Según como yo lo vea

3. CON declines with mi and ti to form CONMIGO and CONTIGO• ¿Vienes conmigo?

4. CONSIGO is it used to refer with himself, herself, themselves: Ella se enfadaba consigo…• If you want to use himself, herself, themselves with other prepositions, we

use the pronoun sí: Se lo quedó para sí.• Alternatively, you can use the pronouns listed above and add mismo/a,

mismos/as (self / selves): Me sorprendió a mí mismo. ATT! Mismo also means same or identical, and it changes gender and number to agree with the noun

! TIPS


Pronombres reflexivos / Reflexive pronouns

SPANISH ENGLISH

1a sing ME MYSELF

2a sing TE YOURSELF

3a sing SE HIMSELF / HERSELF

1a plu NOS OURSELVES

2a plu OS YOURSELVES

3a plu SE THEMSELVES

1. The infinitive of the reflexive verbs ends in –se: casarse, llamarse, ducharse…2. The meaning of the object pronoun SE is oneself.3. When the reflexive verbs have a subject, they use the –se termination, but they

have to have the reflexive pronouns with them, that matches with the subject.4. NOS, OS and SE can mean each other or one another.

! TIPS


Adjetivos posesivos / Possessive adjectivesSINGULAR PLURAL ENGLISH

MI MIS my

TU TUS your

SU SUS His/her/it

NUESTRO/A NUESTROS/AS ours

VUESTRO/A VUESTROS/AS yours

SU SUS theirs

SINGULAR PLURAL ENGLISH

MÍO MÍOS my

TUYO TUYOS your

SUYO SUYOS His/her/it

NUESTRO/A NUESTROS/AS ours

VUESTRO/A VUESTROS/AS yours

SUYO SUYOS theirs

1. The two forms can be equally used, but the shorted form is more common.• Tu coche – El coche tuyo

2. Usually, the longer form is used in answers as a substitute for the noun.• - ¿De quién es el coche?

– Es mío• - ¿Cuál de los coches va más

rápido? – El suyo.

! TIPS


La negación / The negation1. We use NO before the verb as a independent particle, it is not declined like in English

with do or have.• No he terminado - I haven’t finished• No quiero dormir – I don’t want to sleep.

2. NO usually goes before pronouns• No me gusta el café - I don’t like the coffee• No te creo – I don’t believe you

3. DOUBLE NEGATIVE: Unlike English, in Spanish is used the double negative with• NADIE (nobody, not anyone/anybody): No veo a nadie - I don’t see anyone• NUNCA / JAMÁS (never, not even): Él nunca come carne – He never eats meat• NADA (nothing, not anything): Ella no come nada – She isn’t eating anything• TAMPOCO (not either): Tampoco le gusta – He doesn’t like it either• NI… NI… (neither …nor): No come ni carne ni pescado _ He doesn’t eat meat or fish.• NI SIQUIERA (not even): ¿Ni siquiera come huevos? – He doesn’t even eat meat?• MÁS (no longer, not anymore): No vivo más en España – I no longer live more in Spain.

4. With compound tenses, the negative word comes after the past participle• No he ido nunca a la India – I have never gone to the India• No han comido nada – They haven’t eaten anything


Preposición DE / Preposition DE1. It becomes DEL when preceeds the

article el.2. USE1 - FROM (time / distance / origin)

• De cinco a seis de la tarde• El tren sale de Vigo• Soy de Londres

3. USE 2 – OF• Una taza de café / Cada uno de

vosotros4. USE 3 – MADE OF

• La chaqueta de algodón 5. USE4 – AS A

• De estudiante era deportista • Hizo un buen trabajo de periodista

6. USE 5 – ABOUT• HABLAN DE POLÍTICA• Se queja de la lluvia

7. USE 6 – THAN (with numbers)• Tienes más de 100 euros

1. USE 7 – IN (after superlatives)• El hombre más alto del mundo• La ciudad más grande de España

2. Use 8 – IN (relating to time of the day)• A las 7 de la mañana

3. Use 9 – When attaching a price to a value• Un sello de 1.000 €.

4. To indicate purpose, followed by a noun or a verb• Una máquina de coser• Un coche de gasolina

5. When describing a person to point them out• El chico de pelo largo

6. In the case in English is used the “ ‘s”• La casa de madera – The wooden’s

house• La comida de hoy – Today’s lunch


Preposición DE / Preposition DE1. Where in English we use two nouns together

• El helado de fresa - The strawberry icecream• El número de teléfono – the phone number

2. After some adjectives (related to the constitution of thing, its nature)• El camino de tierra• La camisa de algodón

3. After some verbs• Acabo de cenar pronto.• Salgo de la ducha ahora.

Preposición POR / Preposition POR1. USE instead of:

• FOR: Le quiero por su sentido del humor – I love him for his humour sense.• BECAUSE OF: No podemos salir por el mal tiempo – Because of the bad weather we cannot

go out.• ON BEHALF OF: Lo hago por él – I make it on his behalf.• FOR THE SAKE OF• ON ACCOUNT OF


Preposición POR / Preposition POR1. FOR meaning EXCHANGE OF:

• Lo compré por 500 euros – I bought it for 500 euros.• Cambiar una camisa por otra – Exchange one shirt for another.

2. To express duration• Fuimos de vacaciones por dos semanas

3. When you can substitute for• THROUGHT: Pasé por tu calle para venir – I pass throught your street to come• ALONG: Andan por el puente - They are walking along the street• AROUND: Por algún sitio alrededor – Somewhere around• BY (means of): por teléfono – by telephone, por escrito – by written letter, por avión – by

plane, por mar – by (via) the sea…4. When you say PER (quantity)

• Conduce a 80 km por hora – He drives 80 km per hour5. BY (created by somebody)

• Hecho por un artista – Made by an artist.6. With parts of the day

• No trabajaba por la tarde – He didn’t work in the afternoon.7. Followed by other prepositions to express movement

• Pasó por delante de la tienda – He pass by in front of the store.


Preposición PARA / Preposition PARA1. Substitute of FOR with time, destination or purpose

• Estará listo para las 8 – It will be ready for 8 o’clock.• Quiero una habitación para una noche – I want a room for one night.• Salieron ayer para Francia – They left for France later.• Las flores son para ti – The flowers are for you• Estudia para médica – She studies for being a doctor.• No sirve para nada – It is useful for nothing

2. Substitute of in order to + infinitive, usually translated only as to• Trabajo para sobrevivir – I work to survive• He venido para hablar contigo – I have come to talk to you

3. Substitude of FOR in comparisions• Está bien para su edad – She is very well for her age.


La duda entre POR y PARA / POR and PARAs’ doubt1. Usually, they are no interchangeable, they can lead to very different meanings in

similar phrases, but sometimes you can find either for or para for saying the same…2. Functions where they have different meanings:

a. POR = reason (substitute for “porque”) or quality of the object / PARA = consequence or finality• Lo dejé por ti – I quit it for (because of) you• Lo dejé para ti – I left it for you• Giró la calle por la derecha– He turn right on the street.• Giró la calle para llegar antes– He turn right to arrive earlier.• Tomó la medicina por via oral – He took his medicine por

b. One of the most recurrent confusions to be clarified: we use POR to speak about periods of time (never para!)• Está estudiando aquí por dos años – He is studing here for two years• Está estudiando aquí para aprovar - He is studing here to pass the exam (finality)


Preposición EN / Preposition EN1. Localization: en + place (in/into)

• Pasan las vacaciones en una casa en el campo – They spend holidays in a house in the country

• Entran en la Iglesia – They get into the Church2. Periods of time: en + year, month, seasons

• Se va de viaje en Semana Santa – He goes to travel on Easter.• En 1784 fue la Revolución Francesa – In 1784 was the French Revolution.

3. Substitutes AT• Trabajo en casa – I work at home• Hemos quedado en la estación - We have meet at the station

4. Substitutes ON• Las llaves están en la mesa – The keys are on the table• Viven en el primer piso - They live on the first floor.

5. Substitutes BY + transport vehicle• Vamos a China en avión, vamos a Manchester en tren o en coche – We go to Xina by plane

and to Manchester by train or by car.6. You will find EN after some verbs or adjectives. Usually its function is to reference a

quality or a sense of possession of the verb or adjective:• Confío en – I trust in // Es bueno en matemáticas – He is good in maths.


Haciendo preguntas / Asking questions1. The question marks are placed at the beginning and the end of the question2. In close questions, where we expect yes/no answer there is no particles for a question

(like DO/Does) • ¿Está embarazada? ¿Quiere un caramelo?

3. In the perfect tense, the auxiliary verb and the participle cannot go separately with the subject in between, as in English.• ¿Han salido tus padres? – Have your parents left?

4. We use the question ¿verdad? or ¿no? at the end of the phrase as in English we can use: isn’t it, is he, don’t we, aren’t you, did she…?• Trabajas aquí, ¿no?• Está embarazada, ¿verdad?

5. For open questions, where you have to use particles as dónde, quién, por qué…, they go at the beginning of the question, always followed by the verb. These are no other question particles such as do/does.• ¿Dónde es el concierto? – Where is the concert?• Some of them can use a preposition at the beginning: ¿Con quién vas al concierto? – With

whom are you going to the concert?6. Question words have an accent which they retain when are in indirect phrases.

• ¿Dónde dejas las llaves? – Where do you leave the keys?• No sé dónde he dejado las llaves – I don’t know where did I leave the keys.


Palabras de pregunta / Question words 1. This five question words are the ones that never change to agree with the noun:

¿QUÉ? – what• ¿Qué hiciste ayer? What did you do yesterday• ¿Qué hicieron los niños ayer? – What the kids did yesterday?

¿CUÁNDO? – when• ¿Cuándo nos vamos a ir? – When are we going to go?• ¿Cuánto tienes el examen? – When do you have the exam?

¿CÓMO? – how• ¿Cómo vais a llegar ahí? – How are you going to get there?• ¿Cómo has hecho esto? – How have you done that?

¿DÓNDE? – where• ¿Donde vamos? – Where do we go?• ¿Dónde han ido? – Where do they go?

¿PORQUÉ? – why• ¿Porqué han vendido la casa? – Why have they sold the house?• ¿Porque siempre tengo los mismos problemas? – Why do I always have the same

problems?

! TIPS• ¿Cómo? – Asked as a sole question can mean How? But also it is said in

conversations when you haven’t understand something.• Be aware of the difference: ¿Porqué? = Why // Por que = Because


La pregunta: QUÉ o CUÁL / The question: QUÉ or CUÁL1. QUE is translated by WHAT? And WHICH?

You use it when is followed by a noun:• ¿Qué te gusta más? – What do you like most?• ¿Qué móvil prefieres? – Which mobile you prefer most?• ¿A qué hora? – At what time?

You use it without a noun to ask about general information• ¿Qué es? – What is it?• ¿Qué quieres? – What do you do?

2. CUÁL is usually translated by WHICH, but it can work also with WHAT We use it when there is a choice between two or more options

• ¿Cuál ha ganado? – Which one has win? We have use it when we ask for multiples, in plural, which is not possible with QUE. The translation will be with WHICH ONES:

• ¿Cuáles son? – Which ones are them?• ¿Cuáles quieres? – Which ones do you want?

! TIPS The main difference is that CUÁL can never be followed by a verb, never by a noun; or by the preposition de (of) followed by a pronoun or a noun


La pregunta: QUIÉN / The question: QUIÉN1. QUIÉN is translated by WHO/WHOM with no distinction 2. Always ask for a human person (nor a thing or animal). 3. Changes to QUIÉNES in plural

• ¿Quién se ha comido el arroz? – Who has eaten the rice?• ¿Quiénes han organizado la fiesta? – Who has organized the party?

4. DE QUIÉN/QUIÉNES is usually translated by WHOSE.• ¿De quién es esa chaqueta? – Whose this jacket?• ¿De quién hablan? – Whose are they talking about?

5. When QUIÉN acts as direct object it comes with the preposition a before:• ¿A quién se lo preguntas? – Who are you asking to?


La pregunta: CUÁNTO / The question: CUÁNTO1. CUÁNTO is translated by HOW MUCH/HOW MANY with no distinction between

countable and uncountable2. It agrees with the noun in gender and number, as any other adjective

• ¿Cuántas manzanas comes? – How many apples do you eat?• ¿Cuánto arroz hay en la lata? – How much rice is in the tin?

3. Sometimes the noun is repleced by a pronoun, but CUÁNTO it still agrees in gender and noun• ¿Cuánto quieres? (vino) – How much do you want?• ¿Cuántas quieres? (manzanas) – How many do you want?

! TIPS The uncontable things are NEVER said as a plural!: el arroz (rice), la arena (sand), la lana (the wool)


Uso de MÁS y MENOS / MÁS and MENOS use1. Use for maths, plus and minus

• 2 + 2 – dos más dos• 4 – 5 – cuatro menos cinco

2. We used as a more and less/fewer followed by a noun. They don’t agree in gender/number• Tiene más paciencia que yo – She has got more

patience than me• Es el que menos estudia – He is the one that

studies less• Hay menos restaurantes aquí – There are fewer

restaurants here3. More and less followed by de + noun

• Más de 500 aviones – More than 500 planes• En menos de una semana… - In less than a

week…

Al menos, por lo menos – at leastA lo mejor - maybeCada vez más/menos – everytime more/lessLo menos posible – as little as possibleMás o menos – more or less¡Menos mal! – Finally!Nada más – Nothing moreNunca más – Never again

(*) COMMON USES IN EVERYDAY CONVERSATION


Comparaciones / Comparisitons

1. When making comparisions, MÁS and MENOS are the key words used with nouns,

adjectives and adverbs. There is no an –er ending as in English (faster, longer…)• Este método es más fácil – This method is easier• ¿Quieres adelgazar más rápidamente? – Do you want to lose weight easily?• Es el que menos estudia – He is the one that studies less• Hay menos restaurantes aquí – There are fewer restaurants here

2. More and less followed by DE + noun• Más de 500 aviones – More than 500 planes• En menos de una semana… - In less than a week…


Comparaciones / Comparisitons3. To subsitute the formula THAN is either used de or que

DE involves numbers or quantity. When using QUE in that cases, it mean only• Es menos de 10.000€ al año – Is less than 10.000€ for year• Es más de lo que pensaba – It is more than I thought• Haces menos que lo que deberías – You do less than you should.

QUE is used in all other cases, involving nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs or phrases.• Tiene menos miedo que yo – He is less feared than I am• Más vale tarde que nunca – Better late than never.

4. AS… AS… = TAN… COMO…• El café es tan bueno como el té – Coffee is as good as tea.• No voy al cine tanto como mis amigos – I don’t go as much to the cinema as my friends. We have to decline TAN to agree with the noun:

• No hacía tanto frío como pensaba – It was not as cold as I thought.• Tenía tantas ganas como mi yo – She was as much eager as I was.


Superlativo / Superlative1. EL MÁS, EL MENOS = the most, the least

ARTICLE (el, la, los, las, un, una, unos, unas) + MÁS/MENOS + ADJECTIVE There is no –est ending for adjectives, like in English, to indicate a superlative. If you want to use the superlative + IN you use DE or DEL (if it follows an article)

• Es el collar más caro del mundo – It is the necklace most expensive of the world.• Es la salida menos cercana – It is the most farthest exit.

2. You can express a ultimate degree using the ending –ÍSIMO, - ÍSIMA adding it to any adjective suppresing its final vowel and any accent it might have.

• Es la más guapa del mundo. Es guapísima. – She is the most beautiful of the world. She is

incredible pretty.• No cabía más en la maleta, estaba llenísima. – There was no more space in the suitcase. It

was fully plenty.• Es dificilísimo sacarse el carnet de conducir. – It is extremely difficult to pass the driving

license.

! TIPSThere are a few irregular forms:• Malo: pésimo (malísimo) / Nuevo: novísimo / Joven: jovencísimo /

Antiguo: antiquísimo / Amable: amabilísimo


Superlativo / Superlative1. MEJOR / PEOR

They can act as adjectives or adverbs, like in English. When they are adjectives, they agree with the noun in number

adding –ES at the end (it doesn’t exist the gender, so they don’t decline in feminine)

Adjectives• Es la mejor profesora – She is the best teacher.• Son los peores resultados – Those are the worst results.

Adverbs• Está mejor que ayer – He is feeling better than yesterday• Ella crea mejores recetas – She does better recipes

2. MAYOR / MENOR They form –ES in the plural, but they don’t decline in feminine. They are comparative adjectives with a variety of translations in

English:• Mi hermano mayor – My older brother• Un número mayor de 50 – A bigger number than 50• Su mayor éxito – His greatest success• Un delito menor – A minor offence• Tiene menor valor hoy en día – It has less value nowadays.

! TIPSYou can always substitute

MAYOR/MEJOR =MÁS + ADJECTIVE + QUE

MENOR/PEOR = MENOS+ ADJECTIVE + QUE


Sufijos / Suffixes The suffixes are terminations that added to a nouns changes the meaning of the

importance, size, quantity… They are also related to the slang.

1. –ITO/A, -ILLO/A: little, small, cute• Caja (box) – Cajita (small box)• Pescado (fish) – Pescadilla (small hake)• Perro (dog) – Perrito (puppy)

2. -ÓN / -ONA, -OTE/A, -AZO/A (it also mean blow with) : large, big, clumsy, ugly• Bala (bullet) – Balazo (bullet wound)• Gripe (flu) – Gripazo (really bad flu)• Casa (casa) – Casona (big house)• Silla (chair) – Sillón (armchair)• Palabra (word) – Palabrota (swearword)

3. -UCHO/A, -ACHO/A, -UZO/A, -UCO/A, -(Z)UELO/A: bad, poor, horrible• Cuarto (room) – Cuartucho (untidy poky little room)• Gente (people) – Gentuza (scum)• Ventana (window) – Ventanuca (poky window)


Tabla de verbos / Verb table

Present Future Conditional Imperfect

YO ando andaré andaría andaba

TÚ andas andarás andarías andabas

ÉL, ELLA, USTED

anda andará andaría andaba

NOSOTROS andamos andaremos andaríamos andábamos

VOSOTROS andáis andaréis andaríais andábais

ELLOS, ELLAS, USTEDES

andan andarán andarían andaban

Past Participle Gerund Imperative

Andado Andando Anda (tú)Andad (vosotros)


Tabla de verbos / Verb table

Preterit Preterit Present Subjuntive

Imperfect Subjuntive

YO anduve anduve ande Anduviera /anduviese

TÚ anduviste anduviste Has andado Anduvieras /anduvieses

ÉL, ELLA, USTED

anduvo anduvo Ha andado Anduviera /anduviese

NOSOTROS anduvimos anduvimos Hemos andado Anduviéramos /anduviésemos

VOSOTROS anduvisteis anduvisteis Habéis andado Anduviérais /anduviéseis

ELLOS, ELLAS, USTEDES

anduvieron anduvieron Han andado Anduvieran /anduviesen


El artículo / The article

1. All the articles agrees with the following word in gender and number

! TIPS Check the basic rules of the Gender in Spanish, because there are many exceptions on the endings!

Article Definite Article Indefinite Article Partitive

SING MASC ÉL UN ALGUNO / NINGUNO

SING FEM LA UNA ALGUNA / NINGUNA

PLU MASC LOS UNOS ALGUNOS / NINGUNOS

PLU FEM LAS UNAS ALGUNAS / NINGUNAS


El artículo definido / The article definitive1. It is used when we want to refer an specific person or object, the only one within a

millions with the same qualities• El doctor que me hizo el análisis era Hindú – The doctor who analyzed me was Hindi.• El amigo que cogió el bolso era rubio – The friend who took the bag was blonde.

2. It is used when makin generalisations: el vino español (Spanish wine…), el Universo (Univers…)

3. It is not used for royal titles: Isabel Segunda - Isabel the Second

4. It is used for abstract words: el amor, la amistad, la esperanza…

5. When talking about someone and referring them by their title, but not talking straight to them:• La señora Ramos no está – Mrs Ramos is not here.• Buenos días señora Ramos – Good morning, Mrs Ramos.

6. With some countries, and with all of them if we include an adjective:• El Reino Unido, El Salvador, La Índia• La soleada España, el Japón tecnológico…


7. Before we refer to any languages, unless after the verbs aprender, hablar, saber; and also after the preposition EN• Me gusta el italiano – I like the Italian • No quiero aprender alemán – I don’t want to learn German• Las palabras en francés suenan mejor – Words in French sounds better.

8. When saying ON with the days of the week and dates; and with time and seasons• Los sábados voy al gimnasio – On Saturdays I go to the gym.• A las 3 comemos – We eat at 3 o’clock.• El invierno es muy frío – Winter is very cold.

9. With parts of the body, when in English we use the possessive• Me duele la cabeza – My head hearts / Se torció el pie – My feet cracked.

10. With institutions: la cárcel, la escuela, la iglesia, el colegio, el hospital..

El artículo definido / The article definitive

! TIPS In Spanish we have to be aware that we make one word from the combination of the prepositions A and DE and the article EL.

A + EL = AL DE + EL = DEL


1. It is only used when we want to refer to person or object not specific or personalized, it can be whoever within a million, like in English.

2. When we use the article indefinite is to pointed out the quality or function the person or object is doing within the context, with no matter of the identity.• Un doctor me hizo el análisis – A doctor make the analysis.• Un amigo cogió el bolso – A friend took the bag.

3. WHEN NOT TO USE IT: When describing qualities of a noun, like in English: She is a doctor or She is a Muslim. Nouns of occupation, nationality or religion, after the verb SER (to be) or

CONVERTIRSE / HACERSE (to become)• Mi tío es cocinero, ella se hizo abogada, se convirtió en doctor, se hizo musulmán…

After the verbs BUSCAR, COMPRAR, LLEVAR, TENER, USAR, when it is clear or you can deduce is only one:• Lleva falda – She is wearing an skirt (She will never wear two)• Busco trabajo – I am looking for a job (Also it is one because is generalized ATT! The previous rule doesn’t applies when we refer a quality, we use an

adjective after:• Lleva una falda roja – She wears a red skirt // Busco un trabajo divertido – I am looking for

a funny job.

El artículo indefinido / The article indefinitive


Before MIL, CIEN, MEDIO• Quiero mil gramos – I want a thousand grams• Tengo medio día para acabar – I have half a day to finish.

Before CIERTO, OTRO• Hay ciertos momentos de tensión – There are certain moments of tension• Quiero otra camisa – I want another shirt.

Before TAL: • Tal tensión no es soportable – Such a tension is not bearable

ATT! But when we refer to an identified person, we used with UN before:• Un tal señor Pérez – A certain Mr Pérez

After QUÉ in exlamations• ¡Qué buena idea! – What a good idea

After COMO (as), CON (with, unless it means accompanied by) and SIN (without)• Trabajo como camarero – I work as a waiter• Lavo con jabón – I wash with soap / Vengo con un amigo – I come with a friend• Ve sin guantes – Go without globes



4. The basic meaning of the indefinite article is some or a few. They are used frequently in Spanish, when in English they doesn’t appear.



1. The stress: Word ending in a vowel or N or S are

stressed on the second-to-last syllable• Casa, coche, traspaso, corren,

habitaciones Words ending in consonant that doesn’t

ends in N or S, are stressed in the last syllabe• Beber, ciudad, papel, tapiz

Any word that deviates for that basic rule, has an accent over the stressed vowel• Café, estación, difícil, lápiz

Words that has the stress in the third-to-last vowel or backwards, always have accent• Bolígrafo, indígena, fórmula, fósforo,

máquina

Los acentos / The accents

The vowels are divided into:OPEN: a, e, oCLOSE: i, u

DIPTONGO: it happens when an open and a close vowel, or two close vowels, meet together and they cannot be divided HIATO: it happens when two open vowels or a close vowel with accent and another open vowel meet togehther. Thay have to be devided. TRIPTONGO: it happens when a open vowel and two close vowels meet together. Only the open vowels can have an accent, and they can never be divided.

(*) STRESS IN ROW VOWELS


2. There are three kinds of accents in Spanish The acute accent (´): it can be used over any vowel and it shows where the stress is

• Frágil, diabético, capítulo…• ATT! It is also used to differentiate the

meaning of two equal words: diacritical accent

• El (article) vs Él (personal pronoun)• Mas (means but) vs Más (plus)

The tilde ñ, which is only found with the n, and it is a different letter of the alphabet. It is pronounced as a ny• España, cariño, bañera

The diaeresis ¨, which is used over the u when it goes between g and e/I to show it is pronounced separately when otherwise would be silent.• Vergüenza, lingüista.

Los acentos / The accentsWord Gramatical Function

El Determinant article (the)

Él Personal pronoun (He, Him)

Mi Determinant possessive (mine)

Mí Pronoun possessive (to me)

Tu Determinant possessive (yours)

Tú Pronoun (you)

De Preposition (of, from)

Dé Verb DAR (He would give)

Mas Conjunction (but, although)

Más Adverb (plus)

Se Pronoun 3a per. (it)

Sé Verb SABER (I know)

Te Pronoun 2a per (it)

Té Noun (Tea)

Si Conjunction (If)

Sí Adverb (yes)

Diacritical Accent

Date post:	14-Nov-2014
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