Spanish 3 CBE exam

Present Subjunctive (El Subjuntivo)

A grammatical mood in Spanish used to express wishes, emotions, impersonal expressions, recommendations, doubts, or hopes, requiring a change of subject.

W.E.I.R.D.O.

An acronym for the situations in which the subjunctive mood is used: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt, Ojalá.

Forming the Present Subjunctive

Go to the Yo form of the present tense, drop the -o, and add the opposite endings: -AR: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -en; -ER/-IR: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -an.

Pillar A

Focus area in Spanish 3 that includes the mastery of the Present Subjunctive and its applications.

Preterite Tense

A past tense in Spanish indicating specific, completed actions with clear beginnings or ends.

Imperfect Tense

A past tense in Spanish for ongoing actions, background descriptions, or habitual activities.

High-Yield Keywords for Preterite

Common indicators of preterite: Ayer (yesterday), el año pasado (last year), de repente (suddenly).

High-Yield Keywords for Imperfect

Common indicators of imperfect: Siempre (always), cada verano (every summer), mientras (while).

Present Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto)

A compound tense used for actions that have recently occurred, formed with 'Haber' + Past Participle.

Formal Commands

Commands that use the subjunctive forms, for example, 'Hable con el médico' (Speak with the doctor).

Negative Commands

Commands that also utilize subjunctive forms, for example, 'No vayas a la escuela' (Don’t go to school).

Core Vocabulary Theme: Health

Thematic unit relating to health and medicine, including terms like 'el bienestar' (well-being) and 'los primeros auxilios' (first aid).

Core Vocabulary Theme: Technology

Thematic unit relating to technology and social impact, including terms like 'el auge' (boom) and 'desarrollar' (to develop).

Core Vocabulary Theme: Literature

Thematic unit including vocabulary from literature and art, such as 'la obra de arte' (artwork) and 'el realismo mágico' (magical realism).

Skim the Questions First

A reading strategy where you read multiple-choice questions before engaging with the passage to identify key data.

Beware of Distractors

An exam strategy to watch for misleading answer choices that might use similar wording to the text but have opposite meanings.

20-Second Buffer Rule

A speaking strategy where you jot down structural transition words and complex verbs during the short preparation time before speaking.

Keep Talking

A speaking technique that emphasizes fluency and the ability to correct oneself naturally rather than achieving structural perfection.

Pillar C

Focus area in Spanish 3 that includes mastering compound tenses and commands.

Contrast Rule

Used when indicating simultaneous ongoing actions in the imperfect tense and interruptions in the preterite tense.