Spanish LV summer exam grammar
Present Tense
(Summary Tip: The present tense is used for actions happening now, or things that happen regularly.)
Regular Present Tense Conjugations
-AR verbs (hablar = to speak)
yo hablo – I speak
tú hablas – you speak
él/ella/usted habla – he/she/you (formal) speaks
nosotros/nosotras hablamos – we speak
vosotros/vosotras habláis – you all speak
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan – they/you all speak
-ER verbs (comer = to eat)
yo como – I eat
tú comes – you eat
él/ella/usted come – he/she/you (formal) eats
nosotros/nosotras comemos – we eat
vosotros/vosotras coméis – you all eat
ellos/ellas/ustedes comen – they/you all eat
-IR verbs (vivir = to live)
yo vivo – I live
tú vives – you live
él/ella/usted vive – he/she/you (formal) lives
nosotros/nosotras vivimos – we live
vosotros/vosotras vivís – you all live
ellos/ellas/ustedes viven – they/you all live
Irregular Present Tense Verbs
ser (to be – permanent characteristics)
yo soy – I am
tú eres – you are
él/ella/usted es – he/she/you (formal) is
nosotros/nosotras somos – we are
vosotros/vosotras sois – you all are
ellos/ellas/ustedes son – they/you all are
estar (to be – temporary states or locations)
yo estoy – I am
tú estás – you are
él/ella/usted está – he/she/you (formal) is
nosotros/nosotras estamos – we are
vosotros/vosotras estáis – you all are
ellos/ellas/ustedes están – they/you all are
tener (to have)
yo tengo – I have
tú tienes – you have
él/ella/usted tiene – he/she/you (formal) has
nosotros/nosotras tenemos – we have
vosotros/vosotras tenéis – you all have
ellos/ellas/ustedes tienen – they/you all have
hacer (to do/make)
yo hago – I do/make
tú haces – you do/make
él/ella/usted hace – he/she/you (formal) does/makes
nosotros/nosotras hacemos – we do/make
vosotros/vosotras hacéis – you all do/make
ellos/ellas/ustedes hacen – they/you all do/make
ir (to go)
yo voy – I go
tú vas – you go
él/ella/usted va – he/she/you (formal) goes
nosotros/nosotras vamos – we go
vosotros/vosotras vais – you all go
ellos/ellas/ustedes van – they/you all go
decir (to say, to tell)
yo digo – I say/tell
tú dices – you say/tell
él/ella/usted dice – he/she/you (formal) says/tells
nosotros/nosotras decimos – we say/tell
vosotros/vosotras decís – you all say/tell
ellos/ellas/ustedes dicen – they/you all say/tell
ver (to see)
yo veo – I see
tú ves – you see
él/ella/usted ve – he/she/you (formal) sees
nosotros/nosotras vemos – we see
vosotros/vosotras veis – you all see
ellos/ellas/ustedes ven – they/you all see
Stem-Changing Verbs (Present Tense)
e → ie (querer = to want)
yo quiero – I want
tú quieres – you want
él/ella/usted quiere – he/she/you (formal) wants
nosotros/nosotras queremos – we want
vosotros/vosotras queréis – you all want
ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren – they/you all want
o → ue (dormir = to sleep)
yo duermo – I sleep
tú duermes – you sleep
él/ella/usted duerme – he/she/you (formal) sleeps
nosotros/nosotras dormimos – we sleep
vosotros/vosotras dormís – you all sleep
ellos/ellas/ustedes duermen – they/you all sleep
e → i (pedir = to ask/order)
yo pido – I ask/order
tú pides – you ask/order
él/ella/usted pide – he/she/you (formal) asks/orders
nosotros/nosotras pedimos – we ask/order
vosotros/vosotras pedís – you all ask/order
ellos/ellas/ustedes piden – they/you all ask/order
Reflexive Verbs (Present Tense)
(Summary Tip: Reflexive verbs mean the action reflects back to the subject.)
levantarse (to get up)
yo me levanto – I get up
tú te levantas – you get up
él/ella/usted se levanta – he/she/you (formal) gets up
nosotros/nosotras nos levantamos – we get up
vosotros/vosotras os levantáis – you all get up
ellos/ellas/ustedes se levantan – they/you all get up
Preterite Tense
(Summary Tip: The preterite is used for completed actions in the past.)
Regular Preterite Conjugations
-AR verbs (hablar = to speak)
yo hablé – I spoke
tú hablaste – you spoke
él/ella/usted habló – he/she/you (formal) spoke
nosotros/nosotras hablamos – we spoke
vosotros/vosotras hablasteis – you all spoke
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaron – they/you all spoke
-ER verbs (comer = to eat)
yo comí – I ate
tú comiste – you ate
él/ella/usted comió – he/she/you (formal) ate
nosotros/nosotras comimos – we ate
vosotros/vosotras comisteis – you all ate
ellos/ellas/ustedes comieron – they/you all ate
-IR verbs (vivir = to live)
yo viví – I lived
tú viviste – you lived
él/ella/usted vivió – he/she/you (formal) lived
nosotros/nosotras vivimos – we lived
vosotros/vosotras vivisteis – you all lived
ellos/ellas/ustedes vivieron – they/you all lived
Irregular Preterite Verbs
ser/ir (to be/to go) (same conjugation)
yo fui – I was/went
tú fuiste – you were/went
él/ella/usted fue – he/she/you (formal) was/went
nosotros/nosotras fuimos – we were/went
vosotros/vosotras fuisteis – you all were/went
ellos/ellas/ustedes fueron – they/you all were/went
tener (to have)
yo tuve – I had
tú tuviste – you had
él/ella/usted tuvo – he/she/you (formal) had
nosotros/nosotras tuvimos – we had
vosotros/vosotras tuvisteis – you all had
ellos/ellas/ustedes tuvieron – they/you all had
hacer (to do, to make)
yo hice – I did/made
tú hiciste – you did/made
él/ella/usted hizo – he/she/you (formal) did/made
nosotros/nosotras hicimos – we did/made
vosotros/vosotras hicisteis – you all did/made
ellos/ellas/ustedes hicieron – they/you all did/made
Imperfect Tense
(Summary Tip: The imperfect is used for repeated, habitual, or ongoing actions in the past.)
Regular Imperfect Conjugations
-AR verbs (hablar = to speak)
yo hablaba – I used to speak
tú hablabas – you used to speak
él/ella/usted hablaba – he/she/you (formal) used to speak
nosotros/nosotras hablábamos – we used to speak
vosotros/vosotras hablabais – you all used to speak
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaban – they/you all used to speak
-ER/-IR verbs (comer/vivir = to eat/to live)
yo comía/vivía – I used to eat/live
tú comías/vivías – you used to eat/live
él/ella/usted comía/vivía – he/she/you (formal) used to eat/live
nosotros/nosotras comíamos/vivíamos – we used to eat/live
vosotros/vosotras comíais/vivíais – you all used to eat/live
ellos/ellas/ustedes comían/vivían – they/you all used to eat/live
Irregular Imperfect Verbs
ser (to be)
yo era – I was
tú eras – you were
él/ella/usted era – he/she/you (formal) was
nosotros/nosotras éramos – we were
vosotros/vosotras erais – you all were
ellos/ellas/ustedes eran – they/you all were
ir (to go)
yo iba – I used to go
tú ibas – you used to go
él/ella/usted iba – he/she/you (formal) used to go
nosotros/nosotras íbamos – we used to go
vosotros/vosotras ibais – you all used to go
ellos/ellas/ustedes iban – they/you all used to go
ver (to see)
yo veía – I used to see
tú veías – you used to see
él/ella/usted veía – he/she/you (formal) used to see
nosotros/nosotras veíamos – we used to see
vosotros/vosotras veíais – you all used to see
ellos/ellas/ustedes veían – they/you all used to see
Using Verbs with Usted/Ustedes Forms (Formal/Polite)
(Summary Tip: Usted = you (formal, singular); Ustedes = you all (plural, formal).)
Usted habla – You (formal) speak
Ustedes hablan – You all (formal) speak
Use these forms when speaking politely to strangers, older people, teachers, etc.
Adjectival Agreement and Position of Adjectives
(Summary Tip: Adjectives agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with nouns.)
Examples:
El coche rojo – The red car (masculine singular)
La casa roja – The red house (feminine singular)
Los coches rojos – The red cars (masculine plural)
Las casas rojas – The red houses (feminine plural)
Apocopation (shortened forms before masculine singular nouns):
bueno → buen → un buen amigo (a good friend)
malo → mal → un mal día (a bad day)
primero → primer → el primer paso (the first step)
tercero → tercer → el tercer capítulo (the third chapter)
Comparatives
(Summary Tip: Used to compare people/things.)
más ... que – more ... than
menos ... que – less ... than
tan ... como – as ... as
Examples:
Ella es más alta que su hermana. – She is taller than her sister.
Él es tan inteligente como tú. – He is as intelligent as you.
Negative Structures
(Summary Tip: In Spanish, negatives can be double — it’s correct to use no + negative word.)
nunca – never
jamás – never, ever
nadie – nobody
nada – nothing
ni...ni – neither...nor
ni siquiera – not even
ya no – no longer
tampoco – neither/either
ningún/ninguna – no/none (before nouns)
Examples:
No veo a nadie. – I don't see anyone.
No quiero ni pizza ni pasta. – I want neither pizza nor pasta.
Using Phrases Followed by the Infinitive
(Summary Tip: When two verbs come together, the second stays in the infinitive.)
tener que + infinitive – to have to do something
hay que + infinitive – one must
se debe + infinitive – one should
se puede + infinitive – one can
para + infinitive – in order to
acabar de + infinitive – to have just done something
soler + infinitive – to usually do something
Examples:
Tengo que estudiar. – I have to study.
Se debe respetar las reglas. – One must respect the rules.
Using the Near/Immediate Future Tense
(Summary Tip: "IR + a + infinitive" means 'going to do' something.)
voy a + infinitive – I am going to ...
vas a + infinitive – you are going to ...
va a + infinitive – he/she/you (formal) is going to ...
vamos a + infinitive – we are going to ...
vais a + infinitive – you all are going to ...
van a + infinitive – they/you all are going to ...
Example:
Voy a viajar a España. – I am going to travel to Spain.
Using Object Pronouns (Direct and Indirect)
(Summary Tip: Object pronouns replace nouns already mentioned.)
Direct Object Pronouns (what/who is directly affected)
me – me
te – you
lo/la – him/her/it/you (formal)
nos – us
os – you all
los/las – them/you all (formal)
Example:
¿Ves el coche? Sí, lo veo. – Do you see the car? Yes, I see it.
Indirect Object Pronouns (to whom/for whom something is done)
me – to/for me
te – to/for you
le – to/for him, her, you (formal)
nos – to/for us
os – to/for you all
les – to/for them, you all
Example:
Le doy un regalo. – I give him/her a gift.
Using the Present and Imperfect Continuous Tenses
(Summary Tip: estar + gerund shows an action happening now or was happening.)
Present Continuous (action happening now)
estoy escribiendo – I am writing
estás comiendo – you are eating
está viviendo – he/she/you (formal) is living
estamos leyendo – we are reading
estáis hablando – you all are speaking
están corriendo – they/you all are running
Imperfect Continuous (action that was happening)
estaba escribiendo – I was writing
estabas comiendo – you were eating
estaba viviendo – he/she/you (formal) was living
estábamos leyendo – we were reading
estabais hablando – you all were speaking
estaban corriendo – they/you all were running
Ser vs Estar Usage
Ser:
(Summary Tip: "Ser" is used for permanent or defining characteristics.)
Descriptions:
Ella es alta. – She is tall.
Identity/Occupation:
Soy profesor. – I am a teacher.
Time:
Hoy es lunes. – Today is Monday.
Origin/Nationality:
Soy de España. – I am from Spain.
Relationships:
Juan es mi hermano. – Juan is my brother.
Impersonal Expressions:
Es importante estudiar. – It is important to study.
Estar:
(Summary Tip: "Estar" is used for temporary states, conditions, or locations.)
Temporary Conditions/Emotions:
Estoy cansado. – I am tired.
Location:
Estoy en la escuela. – I am at school.
Ongoing Actions:
Estoy comiendo. – I am eating.
Health:
Estoy enfermo. – I am sick.
Result of Actions:
La puerta está cerrada. – The door is closed.
Weather:
Está lloviendo. – It is raining.
Key difference:
Ser: Permanent qualities (identity, time, origin, etc.)
Estar: Temporary states (location, emotions, actions, etc.)
Adjectives of Nationality
(Summary Tip: Adjectives of nationality must agree in gender and number.)
Examples:
español, española – Spanish
francés, francesa – French
inglés, inglesa – English
alemán, alemana – German
Examples in sentences:
Soy inglesa. – I am English (female).
Ellos son franceses. – They are French.
Using the Perfect Tense
(Summary Tip: haber + past participle = "have done" something.)
Conjugation of haber (present) + past participle:
he comido – I have eaten
has vivido – you have lived
ha trabajado – he/she/you (formal) has worked
hemos viajado – we have travelled
habéis estudiado – you all have studied
han escrito – they/you all have written
Irregulars:
Escribir (to write)-escrito
Hacer (To do)-hecho
Ver (To see)-visto
Volver (to return) - vuelto
Poner (to put) - puesto
Decir (To say) - dicho
Ser (to be) - sido
Use of Algunos/Ciertos/Otros/Demasiados/Muchos/Todos
(Summary Tip: These are indefinite adjectives, usually go before nouns.)
Examples:
algunos libros – some books
ciertos problemas – certain problems
otros días – other days
demasiados errores – too many mistakes
muchos estudiantes – many students
todos los días – every day
Simple Future Tense
(Summary Tip: Add endings to infinitive verb directly.)
Conjugation endings: é, ás, á, emos, éis, án
Example with hablar (to speak):
hablaré – I will speak
hablarás – you will speak
hablará – he/she/you (formal) will speak
hablaremos – we will speak
hablaréis – you all will speak
hablarán – they/you all will speak
Irregular simple future stems (add endings to these):
tener → tendr- (tendré – I will have)
salir → saldr- (saldrás – you will leave)
decir → dir- (dirá – he/she/you will say)
Conditional Tense
(Summary Tip: Add endings to infinitive; describes what you "would" do.)
Conjugation endings: ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían
Example with vivir (to live):
viviría – I would live
vivirías – you would live
viviría – he/she/you (formal) would live
viviríamos – we would live
viviríais – you all would live
vivirían – they/you all would live
Irregular stems (same as future):
poder → podr- To be able to
hacer → har- to do
saber → sabr- to know
Poner → pondr- to put
Decir → dir- to say
Venir → vendr- to come
Querer → querr- to want
Salir → saldr- to leave
Tener → tendr- to have
Haber tenses:
Hay-there is/are
Había-there was
Ha habido-there has been
Habrá-there will be
Habría-there would be
Puede que haya-there might be