Spanish Grammar in a Nutshell

Flashcards for key Spanish grammar concepts

Definite Articles in Spanish

The Spanish language distinguishes two types: masculine and feminine.

Definite article in Spanish – singular

“el” - for masculine nouns; “la” - for feminine nouns

Exception 1 for Definite Articles

Nouns starting with a stressed a- or ha- sound, take the definite article “el”.

Exception 2 for Definite Articles

If the definite article comes together with the preposition “a” or “de”, both merge and form “al” or “del”.

Definite article in Spanish – plural

Masculine nouns take “los”; feminine nouns take “las”.

Indefinite article in Spanish – singular

For all masculine nouns it's “un”; feminine nouns take “una”.

Indefinite article in Spanish – plural

The plural form is “unos” for masculine nouns and “unas” for feminine nouns.

Grammatical gender

Spanish nouns have one of two grammatical gender: they are either masculine or feminine.

Case System

Spanish doesn't have a case system and nouns are not declined.

Building the plural in Spanish

Add -s at the end of the noun. This rule only applies for most Spanish nouns ending in a vocal.

Building the plural in Spanish - Consonants

For all Spanish nouns ending in a consonant, you build the plural form by adding -es at the end.

Spanish adjectives inflect

Spanish adjectives adjust to the noun they refer to in gender (masculine/feminine) and in number (singular/plural).

Placement of Spanish adjectives

Spanish adjectives generally stand behind the noun they refer to.

Feminine form of Spanish adjectives

Add an “-a” at the end or substitute the “-o” at the end of the word with an “-a”.

Building the plural form of Spanish adjectives

Masculine adjectives take “-os” as plural ending; feminine adjectives inflect in the plural with “-as” at the end.

Comparison with Spanish adjectives

Expressing characteristics in the same degree: “tan … como” (as … as)

Comparative degree of Spanish adjectives

Strengthening: más (more) + adjective + que (than); Weakening: menos (less) + adjective + que (than)

Relative Superlative of Spanish adjectives

Definite article (el, la, lo, los, las) + comparative degree

Absolute Superlative of Spanish adjectives

Putting “muy” (very) in front of the adjective or using adjective + „-ísimo/a/os/as“

Spanish Adverbs derived from Adjectives

To derive the adverb from the adjective, the general rule is to take the feminine singular form of the adjective and add “-mente” at the end.

Comparison and comparative degree of Spanish adverbs

Comparison and the comparative degree of Spanish adverbs follow the same rules as adjectives.

Class 1: -ar verbs / -ar conjugation

verbs ending in -ar in the infinitive

Class 2: -er verbs / -er conjugation

verbs ending in -er in the infinitive

Class 3: -ir verbs / -ir conjugation

verbs ending in -ir in the infinitive

Finding the stem of Spanish verbs

Take a Spanish verb in the infinitive form and erase the distinguishing endings for the three verb classes (-ar, -er, -ir)

Indefinido

The verb tense is used in Spanish to describe events in the past that have no subjective relevance for the present.

Indefinido Exceptions

“e“in the verb stem turns into “i” or “o“ changes to “u“

Spanish simple past

“Imperfecto” is being used to describe events that happened in the past.

Past perfect

In Spanish this verb tense is called “plusquamperfecto” and is used to describe events in the past that happened before another event in the past took place.

Condicional (conditional)

The “condicional” is used to politely ask for something or state a polite phrase and to talk about probabilities or make a wish or give someone advice.

Condicional II (conditional II)

The verb tense of the condicional II describes an action in the past that could not happen because the preconditions did not allow it.

Subjuntivo (subjuntive mode)

Expresses moods, doubts, feelings, opinions, negations or requests; expresses how one person subjectively looks upon the world.

Building Conjuntivo Pretérito perfecto compuesto

subjuntivo presente of „haber“ + past participle (participio) of the main verb

Building Conjuntivo Pretérito imperfecto

3rd pers pl in indefinido; substitute -ron with -ra/-se + endings -, s, -, mos, is, n

Bulding subjuntivo pretérito pluscuamperfecto

subjuntivo pretérito imperfecto of the verb “haber” + past participle (participio) of the main verb

Imperative (Spanish)

Used for all kinds of requests and instructions.

Bulding the passive I

“ser”/”estar” in its particular tense + past participle (participio) of the main verb

Bulding the passive II

„haber“ in its particular tense + past participle (participio) of „ser“ („sido“) + past participle (participio) of the main verb

Bulding the gerundio

-ar verbs: verb stem + -ando; -er/-ir verbs: verb stem + -iendo

Spanish Personal Pronouns

If you want to stress the (grammatical) person addressed or if it’s necessary for reasons of clarification, you mention the personal pronoun.

Spanish Subject Pronouns following prepositions

After prepositions, you use “mí” & “tí” – instead of “yo” & “tú”.

Spanish Reflexive Pronouns

Spanish reflexive verbs come together with the reflexive pronoun “se”.

Demonstrative Pronouns (Spanish)

Depending on how far away the subject matter is from the speaker, Spanish uses three different demonstrative pronouns.

Interrogative Pronouns (Spanish)

Always accented to distinguish them from relative pronouns and conjunctions.

Bulding positive sentences

(1.) subject + (2.) verb + (3.) (direct & indirect) object + (4.) rest

Negating Spanish phrases

If you want to state a negative phrase in Spanish, you place “no” in front of the verb.

Building interrogative sentences in Spanish

The sentence structure of Spanish questions doesn’t differ from “normal”, declarative Spanish sentences.