Spanish 3 Honors Finals (Verbs Fill in the Blank)

Spanish 3 Honors Study Notes


Lección preliminar

  • The preterite tense describes actions or states that were completed at a definite time in the past.

  • The preterite of regular verbs is formed by dropping the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir) and adding the preterite endings (the endings of regular -er and -ir verbs are identical).

  • Ar verbs: -e, -aste, -ó, -amos, aron

  • Er/Ir verbs: -í, iste, ió, imos, ieron

  • Verbs with spelling changes in the preterite: -car, -gar, and -zar verbs have changes in the preterite tense and creer, leer, oír, and ver.

    • -car endings change to qu

    • -gar endings change to gu

    • -zar endings change to c

    • creer: creí, creíste, creyó, creímos, creyeron

    • leer: leí, leíste, leyó, leímos, leyeron

    • oír: oí, oíste, oyó, oímos, oyeron

    • ver: vi, viste, vio, vimos, vieron

  • -Ar and -er verbs that normally have a stem change are regular in the preterite, while -ir verbs that have a stem change normally in the present tense also have stem changes in the preterite.

  • The preterite of ser and ir are both identical; context determines the meaning: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron

  • Other irregular verbs in the preterite tense:

    • estar: estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvieron

    • poder: pude, pudiste, pudo, pudimos, pudieron

    • poner: puse, pusiste, puso, pusimos, pusieron

    • saber: supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supieron

    • tener: tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvieron

    • hacer: hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicieron

    • querer: quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisieron

    • venir: vine, viniste, vino, vinimos, vinieron

    • conducir: conduje, condujiste, condujo, condujimos, condujeron

    • decir: dije, dijiste, dijo, dijimos, dijeron

    • traducir: traduje, tradujiste, tradujo, tradujimos, tradujeron

    • traer: traje, trajiste, trajo, trajimos, trajeron

  • Preterite of dar: di, diste, dio, dimos, dieron

  • Preterite of hay (inf. haber): hubo

  • The verbs conocer, saber, poder, and querer change meanings in the preterite.

    • conocer: present - to know; preterite - to meet

    • saber: present - to know information; preterite - to find out; to learn

    • poder: present - to be able to; can; preterite - to succeed

    • querer: present - to want; to love; preterite - to try

  • Direct and indirect object pronouns take the place of a noun.

  • Direct object pronouns directly receive the action of the verb.

  • Direct object pronouns: me, te, lo, la, nos, los, las

  • Indirect object pronouns identify to whom or for whom an action is done.

  • Indirect object pronouns: me, te, le, nos, les

  • Place an indirect object pronoun in a sentence in the same position where a direct object pronoun would go.

  • The indirect object pronoun and the person it refers to may be used together in a sentence for clarity or extra emphasis (use a + prepositional pronoun).

  • Verbs that are similar to gustar: aburrir, faltar, importar, molestar, encantar, fascinar, interesar, y quedar.

  • Similarly to gustar, these verbs are preceded by an indirect object pronoun followed by a noun (the subject).

  • When direct and indirect object pronouns are used together, the indirect object pronoun always goes before the direct object pronoun.

  • Also, the indirect object pronouns le and les always change to se when they precede lo, la, los, and las.

  • The imperfect tense refers to past actions and states and is used to express:

    • habitual or repeated actions

    • physical characteristics and age

    • time and weather

    • actions in progress

    • mood, emotions, or mental state

  • -Ar verbs: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, aban

  • -Er/ir verbs: -ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

  • Irregular verbs in the imperfect tense:

    • ser: era, eras, era, éramos, eran

    • ir: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban

    • ver: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veían

  • Both the preterite and the imperfect refer to past actions and states, but they are not used interchangeably. The preterite is used to: 

    • narrate a series of completed actions or events

    • express actions that the speaker views as completed

    • indicate the beginning or end of an activity

  • Spanish relative pronouns:

    • que - that, which, who

    • quien(es) - who, whom, that

    • lo que - that which, what

  • Que can refer to things or people.

  • Quien or quienes only refer to people.

  • Lo que does not refer to a specific person or thing but rather to an idea, concept, situation, or past event.

Lección 1: La naturaleza

1.1 The subjunctive with verbs of emotion

  • The subjunctive is used to express an opinion, feeling, desire, uncertainty, doubt, disbelief, and denial (used when the outcome isn’t certain).

  • The present subjunctive is formed as follows: start with the present indicative yo form, drop the o ending, and add the following present subjunctive endings:

  • -Ar verbs: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -en

  • -Er/ir verbs: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -an

  • Verbs ending in -car, -gar, or-zar have a spelling change to maintain correct pronunciation:

    • -car (c → qu)

    • -gar (g → gu)

    • -zar (z → c)

  • All verbs with stem changes in the present indicative follow the same stem change pattern in the subjunctive.

  • The following verbs are irregular in the subjunctive (the present subjunctive of hay is haya):

    • dar: dé, des, dé, demos, den

    • estar: esté, estés, esté, estemos, estén

    • ir: vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayan

    • saber: sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepan

    • ser: sea, seas, sea, seamos, sean

  • Subjunctive can be used with expressions of will and influence, but it can also be used with verbs and expressions of emotion.

  • When the verb in the main clause of a sentence expresses emotion or feeling, the subjunctive is required in the subordinate clause.

  • Sentence construction: Main clause (with emotion expression) + que + subordinate clause (with verb conjugated in subjunctive).

  • Ex: Temo que Ana no pueda ir mañana con nosotros (I’m afraid that Ana won’t be able to go with us tomorrow).

  • With expressions of will and influence, the infinitive, not the subjunctive, is used after the expression of emotion where there is no change of subject.

  • Ex: Temo llegar tarde (I’m afraid I’ll arrive late).

  • Note: the expression “ojalá (que)” which means I hope or I wish, is always followed by the subjunctive (the use of qué is optional).

  • Ex: Ojála (que) recojan la basura hoy (I hope (that) they collect the garbage today).

1.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial

  • The subjunctive can be used with verbs and expressions of emotion as well as expressions of doubt, disbelief, and denial.

  • The subjunctive is always used in a subordinate clause when there is a change of subject and the expression in the main clause implies negation or uncertainty.

  • Ex: El gobierno niega que el agua esté contaminada (the government denies that the water is contaminated).

  • Note: while in English the expression it is probable indicates a high level of certainty, in Spanish, this phrase implies uncertainty and therefore triggers the subjunctive.

  • The indicative is used in a subordinate clause when there is no doubt or uncertainty in the main clause.

  • Ex: No negamos que hay demasiados carros en las carreteras (we don’t deny that there are too many cars on the highways).

  • In affirmative sentences, the verb creer expresses belief or certainty, which triggers the indicative. When used in negative sentences, however, doubt is implied so the verb would be followed by the subjunctive.

  • The expressions quizás and tal vez are usually followed by the subjunctive because they imply doubt about something.

  • Quizás ad tal vez both mean perhaps.

1.3 The subjunctive with conjunctions

  • Conjunctions are described as words/phrases that connect other words and clauses in sentences. Certain conjunctions commonly introduce adverbial clauses, which describe how, why, when, and where an action takes place.

  • With certain conjunctions, the subjunctive is used to express a hypothetical situation, uncertainty as to whether an action or event will take place or a condition that may or may not be fulfilled.

  • Conjunctions that always require the subjunctive:

    • a menos que → unless

    • antes (de) que → before

    • con tal (de) que → provided that

    • en caso (de) que → in case

    • para que → so that

    • sin que → without

  • Ex: Ellos nos llevan a la selva para que veamos las plantas tropicales (they are taking us to the jungle so that we may see the tropical plants).

  • The infinitive, not que + [subjunctive], is used after the prepositions antes de, para, and sin when there is no change of subject.

  • Ex: Te llamamos antes de salir de la casa (we will call you before leaving the house).

  • The following are conjunctions that can be used with the subjunctive or the indicative:

    • cuando → when

    • después de que → after

    • en cuanto → as soon as

    • hasta que → until

    • tan pronto como → as soon as

  • Use the subjunctive with these conjunctions in the subordinate clause if the main clause expresses a future action or command.

  • Ex: Vamos a resolver el problema cuando desarrollemos nuevas tecnologías (we are going to solve the problem when we develop new technologies).

  • Use the indicative with these conjunctions in the subordinate clause if the verb in the main clause expresses an action that habitually happens, or that happened in the past.

  • If the past tense is used in the first clause, it must be used throughout the whole sentence (not subjunctive).

  • Ex: Contaminaron el río cuando construyeron ese edificio (they polluted the river when they built that building).

Lección 2: En la ciudad

2.1 The subjunctive in adjective clauses

  • The subjunctive is used in an adjective or subordinate clause that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that either does not exist or whose existence is uncertain or indefinite. 

  • Ex: Quiero vivir en una casa que tenga jardín (I want to live in a house that has a garden).

  • When the adjective clause refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that is definite, or known, the indicative is used.

  • Ex: Conozco a alguien que va a esa peluquería (I know someone who goes to that beauty salon).

  • Notice the differences in the indefinite vs definite articles in determining the use of subjunctive in these phrases.

  • The personal a is not used with direct objects that are hypothetical people. However alguien and nadie are always preceded by the personal a when they function as direct objects.

  • Ex: Buscamos a alguien que pueda cocinar (we’re looking for someone who can cook).

  • The subjunctive is commonly used in questions with adjective clauses when the speaker tries to find out information about which he or she is uncertain. However, if the person who responds to the question knows the information, the indicative is used.

  • Ex: ¿Hay un parque que esté cerca de nuestro hotel (is there a park that is near our hotel)? → Sí, hay un parque que está muy cerca del hotel (yes, there is a park that is very near the hotel).

  • Verbs commonly followed by adjective clauses in the subjunctive:

    • buscar 

    • conocer 

    • no encontrar

    • haber 

    • necesitar

    • querer 

2.2 Nosotros/as commands

  • Nosotros/as commands are used to give orders or suggestions that include yourself and other people.

  • Nosotros/as commands correspond to the English let’s.

  • Both the affirmative and negative nosotros/as commands are generally formed by using the first-person plural form of the present subjunctive.

  • Ex: Crucemos la calle (let’s cross the street).

  • No crucemos la calle (let’s not cross the street).

  • Object pronouns are always attached to affirmative nosotros/as commands. A written accent is added to maintain the original stress.

  • Direct objects (refer to objects): lo, la, los, las

  • Indirect objects (refer to people): me, te, le, nos, les

  • Ex: Firmemos el cheque → Firmémoslo.

  • Ex: Escribamos a Ana y Raúl → Escribámosles

  • Object pronouns are placed in front of negative nosotros/as commands with indirect objects preceding the direct objects (change I.O to se if it is le or les)

  • Ex: No les paguemos el préstamo.

  • Ex: No se lo digamos a ellos.

2.3 Past participles used as adjectives

  • In Spanish, regular -ar verbs form the past participle with the ending -ado. Regular -er and -ir verbs form the past participle with -ido.

  • Ex: bailar → bailado, comer → comido, vivir → vivido

  • The past participles of -er and -ir verbs whose stems end in -a, -e, or -o carry a written accent mark on the i of the -ido ending.

    • caer = caído

    • creer = creído

    • leer = leído

    • oír = oído

    • reír = reído

    • sonreír = sonreído

    • traer = traído

  • Irregular past participles:

    • abrir = abierto

    • decir = dicho

    • describir = descrito

    • descubrir = descubierto

    • escribir = escrito

    • hacer = hecho

    • morir = muerto

    • poner = puesto

    • resolver = resuelto

    • romper = roto

    • ver = visto

    • volver = vuelto

  • In Spanish, as in English, past participles can be used as adjectives. They are often used with the verb estar to describe a condition or state that results from an action.

  • Like other Spanish adjectives, they must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.

  • Ex: En la entrada hay algunos letreros escritos en español (in the entrance, there are some signs written in Spanish).

  • Ex: Tenemos la mesa puerta y la cena hecha (we have the table set and dinner made). When using past participles as adjectives, it is important to note that they can also convey a sense of completion or perfection of the action.