Spanish Grammar: Unit 18 & 19

SPANISH GRAMMAR: UNIT 18 & 19

I. THE PAST SUBJUNCTIVE (Imperfect Subjunctive)

Concept:

  • Usage: The past subjunctive expresses desires, emotions, and doubts (collectively referred to as "WEIRDO" triggers) when the main verb is in the past tense.

🛠 The "Drop-the-RON" Rule:

  1. Start with the Preterite 3rd person plural form (Ellos/Ustedes).

  2. Drop the -ron ending.

  3. Add the appropriate subjunctive endings based on the subject.

Subject Endings (Applicable to all verbs):

  • yo: -ra

  • tú: -ras

  • él/ella/Ud.: -ra

  • nosotros: -ramos (Add an accent on the vowel before -ramos!)

  • vosotros: -ráis

  • ellos/Ustedes: -ran

Examples:

  • Hablar:
      hablaron → habla + ra = hablara

  • Comer:
      comieron → comie + ramos = comiéramos

⚠️ Common Irregulars (Same as Preterite):

  • Ir/Ser: fuero- → fuera

  • Tener: tuviero- → tuviera

  • Hacer: hiciero- → hiciera

  • Decir: dijiero- → dijera

  • Poder: pudiero- → pudiera

II. THE CONDITIONAL TENSE

Concept:

  • Usage: The conditional tense expresses what "would" happen, often used for hypotheticals or to convey politeness.

🛠 The "Lazy" Rule:

  • Keep the infinitive (the entire verb) and simply add the endings.

  • Note: All verbs (-ar, -er, -ir) utilize the SAME endings.

Subject Endings:

  • yo: -ía

  • tú: -ías

  • él/ella/Ud.: -ía

  • nosotros: -íamos

  • vosotros: -íais

  • ellos/Ustedes: -ían

Example:

  • Hablar:
      hablar + ía = hablaría (I would speak)

⚠️ Irregular Stems (The "Shortcuts"):

  • Hacer → har-

  • Decir → dir-

  • Tener → tendr-

  • Poner → pondr-

  • Poder → podr-

  • Querer → querr-

III. USAGE SUMMARY & SHORTCUTS

💡 The "If" Sentence Formula (Si Clauses):

  • Combine the past subjunctive with the conditional to construct hypothetical situations:   - Structure: Si + [Past Subjunctive] + [Conditional]
      - Example: Si tuviera dinero, compraría un coche. (If I had money, I would buy a car.)

Page 3: Aids for Study

📌 Symbols for Study:

  • ⚡ Trigger: Phrases like "Quería que…" or "Dudaba que…" indicate the need for the subjunctive mood.

  • 🤝 Politeness: Use "Quisiera" (Past Subjunctive) or "Me gustaría" (Conditional) to express politeness.

  • 🕰 Time Travel: If the first verb in a sentence is in the past tense, the second verb must be in the Past Subjunctive.

Study Tip:

  • For the nosotros form of the Past Subjunctive, ensure the accent goes on the vowel right before the "-ramos" (e.g., habláramos, hiciéramos).

1. la huelga strike 2. la reportera reporter (f) 3. el canal de televisión (television) channel 4. la manifestación protest, demonstration 5. el choque collision, crash 6. la estación de radio radio station 7. el reportero reporter (m) 8. la víctima victim 9. la testigo witness (f) 10. el testigo witness (m) 11. la crisis climática climate crisis 12. el incendio wildfire 13. la bombera firefighter (f) 14. el bombero firefighter (m) 15. el asesinato assassination 16. asesinar to assassinate 17. matar to kill 18. el desastre (natural) natural disaster 1 / 4 Chapter 18 Vocabulary -Las Noticias Study online at 19. la esperanza hope; wish 20. mantener to maintain, to keep 21. la guerra war 22. la lucha fight, struggle 23. luchar to fight 24. el medio de comunicación medium of communication 25. la muerte death 26. la paz peace 27. el periódico newspaper 28. la prensa (print) press; news media 29. la revista magazine 30. comunicarse (con) to communicate (with) 31. enterarse de to find out; to learn(about) 32. estar al día to be up to date 33. ofrecer to offer 34. el rey king 35. la reina queen 36. los ciudadanos citizens 2 / 4 Chapter 18 Vocabulary -Las Noticias Study online at 37. la política/ la candidata (f) Political Candidate 38. el político/ el candidato (m) Political candidate 39. la izquierda left wing 40. el centro center 41. la derecha right wing 42. el ejército army, military 43. la soldado (f) soldier 44. el soldado (m) soldier 45. el ciudadano, la ciudadana citizen (m/f) 46. los/las demás (the) others 47. el deber responsibility; obligation 48. la (des)igualdad (in)equality 49. la dictadura dictatorship 50. la discriminacíon discrimination 51. la ley law 52. el partido (político) (political) party 53. la política politics, policy 54. el servicio militar military service 3 / 4 Chapter 18 Vocabulary -Las Noticias Study online at 55. durar to last 56. ganar to win 57. obedecer to obey 58. perder to lose 59. postularse (para un cargo/ como candidato/a) to run (for a position/as a candidate) 60. votar to vote 61. when forming the past sub junctive what form of the preterite do you start with? 3rd personal plural 62. the equation for forming the past subjunctive: 3rd personal pluaral of the preterite - ?-on 63. When you have two vowels you add a _____ instead of a i 64. what is the imperfect subjunc tive of Hay? Hubiera 65. the main triggers forthe sub junctive are ..... Influence, emotion, doubt/denial, nonexistant and indefinite antecedents, and conjunctions of contingency and purpose. 66. the past subjunctive of quer er is often used to make a re quest sound_____. Polite 4 /