ADVANCED SPANISH GRAMMAR

Conditional Tense Formation of Irregular Verbs

a) A future action relative to a past action.  For example, Saldría de mi casa. (I would leave my house.)

b) What is uncertain or probable in the past.  For example, Probablemente vendría a mi casa.  (He was probably coming to my house.)

c) A courtesy when asking for something.  For example, ¿Podría poner la mesa? (Would you set the table?)

Tener / mantener / contener / componer (tendría, mantendría, contendría, compondría)

Poner / proponer / imponer (pondría, propondría, impondría)

• For the following verbs, replace the i or the e with d in the verb ending:

• For the following verbs, leave out the vowel in the verb ending:

• The last 2 verbs in the group of 12 are stem-changing verbs:

Gerund Formation of Regular Verbs

In Spanish as in English with -ing, we have a gerund formed by adding -ando, -iendo. A gerund is invariable and expresses the progress of an action, in the present, in the past or in the future. Estar + a gerund expresses the progress of the action.  A verb of movement + a gerund expresses the gradual development of the action.  Verbs of continuity + a gerund express the continuity of the action. A direct complement pronoun + a verb of perception + a gerund can substitute an infinitive. The gerund as an adverb: modifying a verb, to indicate the form of doing something, when it is related to another verb and the two actions coincide in time. The gerund as an adjective: only two exist in Spanish, ardiendo (burning) and hirviendo (boiling), which is from the irregular verb hervir.

The gerund is used to express:

a) The progress of an action.  For example, Está lloviendo. (It is raining.)

b) The gradual development of an action.  For example, Ellos salieron hablando del mismo problema. (They left speaking about the same problem.)

c) The continuity of an action.  For example, Ella continua escribiendo el libro. (She continues writing the book.)

d) To substitute an infinitive.  For example, La vimos saliendo del cine. (We saw her leaving the movie theater.)

e) To modify a verb when two actions occur at the same time.  For example, Ella me contestó llorando. (She answered me crying.)

f) To serve as an adjective.  For example, Puso la vela ardiendo en la mesa. (He put the burning candle on the table.)

• Here is a conjugation example of a regular verb with an “ar” ending.  These same endings are used for all “regular verbs” that end in “ar”,

• Here is a conjugation example of a regular verb with an “er” ending. These same endings are used for all “regular verbs” that end in “er”,

• Here is a conjugation example of a regular verb with an “ir” ending. These same endings are used for all “regular verbs” that end in “ir”,

Gerund Formation of Irregular Verbs

The gerund is used to express:

a) The progress of an action.  For example, La piedra está cayendo. (The rock is falling.)

b) The gradual development of an action.  For example, Ellos salieron creyendo la misma cosa. (They left believing the same thing.)

c) The continuity of an action.  For example, Ella continua leyendo el libro. (She continues writing the book.)

d) To substitute an infinitive.  For example, La vimos durmiendo en el cine. (We saw her sleeping at the movie theater.)

e) To modify a verb when two actions occur at the same time.  For example, Corrí a la escuela trayendo mis libros. (I ran to school carrying my books.)

f) To serve as an adjective.  For example, Puso el agua hirviendo en la mesa para el té. (He put the boiling water on the table for the tea.)

Note: All the gerund forms used with “to be” in English should use “estar” en Spanish, never “ser”.

• Some –er and –ir verbs change the conjugation –iendo ending of the verb to -yendo.

The most common verbs with this conjugation are:

Note that these changes in spelling are necessary when there are two consecutive vowels in the verb (with the exception of “ir”).

• Some of the –ir verbs that are irregular in the preterit also change in the gerund form.

The most common verbs with this conjugation are:

Expressions with a Gerund

1. To walk or continue + gerund
2. To end + gerund
3. To be + gerund
4. To go + gerund
5. To carry + gerund
6. To remain + gerund
7. To follow + gerund
8. To come + gerund

Past Participle Formation

• All –ar verbs are conjugated by replacing the –ar ending with –ado.

For example:

• Regular –er and –ir verbs are conjugated by replacing the –er or –ir ending with –ido.

For example:

Past Participle Formation of Irregular Verbs

The past participle is used to express:

a) The result of an action.  For example, He escrito un libro. (I have written a book.)

b) To serve as an adjective.  For example, Veo la ventana abierta. (I see the open window.)

• • Some –er and –ir verbs are stem-changing verbs. The most common stem-changing past participles are:

• When there is a vowel before the ending, accent the i in –ido. The most common accented past participles are:

Uses of the Past Participle Passive Voice

This lesson includes information on:

1. Past Participle as an Adjective
2. Haber + Past Participle
3. Ser + Past Participle
4. Estar + Past Participle

1.  Past Participle as an Adjective– Frequently the past participle functions as an adjective when it is in agreement with and complementing a noun with the same gender and number.  For example, comida preparada (prepared food) or ventana abierta (open window) are adjectives. For example:

2.  Haber + Past Participle – The auxiliary haber (to have) + past participle forms one of the compound tenses: the perfect tenses.  These tenses are explained further in the next lesson. For example:

3.  Ser + Past Participle – The auxiliary ser (to be) + past participle forms the passive voice, agreeing in gender and number with the subject.  This form is used when the subject doing the action is in the sentence. For example:

4.  Estar + Past Participle – Estar + past participle expresses the result of an action. For example:

Compound Tenses: preterit perfect, pluperfect, future and conditional perfect

In order to form the compound tenses, one uses the correct form of the verb haber + the past participle.

This lesson includes information on:

1. Preterit (Present) Perfect Tense
2. Pluperfect Tense
3. Future Perfect Tense
4. Conditional Perfect Tense

1.  Preterit (Present) Perfect Tense

The preterit (present) perfect tense expresses:

a)      A terminated action in the immediate past with no time specified.  For example, He hecho mi tarea. (I have done my homework.)

b)      An action that continues or that is repeated in the present.  For example, Yo ya he comido de ese pastel. (I have been eating that dessert.)

• The present tense of the verb haber is conjugated:

• The preterit (present) perfect tense is formed:

Present tense of haber + past participle. For example:

2. Pluperfect Tense

The pluperfect tense expresses:

a)      An action that happened before another action.  For example, Ella ya había leído acerca de la cultura china cuando viajó. (She had already read about the Chinese culture when she traveled.)

• The imperfect tense of the verb haber is conjugated:

• The pluperfect tense is formed:

Imperfect tense of haber + past participle. For example:

3.  Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect expresses:

a)      A future that comes before another future.  For example,  Ellos ya habrán visitado la playa para el próximo fin de semana.  (They will already have visited the beach next weekend.)

b)      Probability of a past action related with the present.  For example, Habrá recibido buenas notas.  (He will have received good grades.)

• The future tense of haber is conjugated:

• The future perfect tense is formed:

Future tense of haber + past participle.  For example:

4.  Conditional Perfect Tense

Conditional perfect expresses:

a)      An action that one thought had already happened in the past but that in reality never happened.  For example, Pensé que para ayer Juan ya habría llamado a su madre. (I thought that yesterday Juan would have already called his mom.)

b)      The probability of a past action before another past action.  For example, Pedro habría estudiado ayer por la tarde. (Peter would have studied yesterday afternoon.)

• The conditional tense of the verb haber is conjugated:

• The conditional perfect tense is formed:

Conditional tense of haber + past participle.  For example:

Relative Pronouns

1. Relative Pronouns
2. Que + Antecedent + Relative Pronoun
3. Antecedent + Comma + Relative Pronoun
4. Antecedent + Preposition + Relative Pronoun
5. Antecedent + To be + El que
6. Antecedent + Antecedent + El cual
7. Lo Que and Lo Cual
8. Cuyo
9. Cuanto and Todo Lo Que
10. Donde

·         Ha decidido viajar por tres meses, en cuyadecisión no debemos opinar.  (She has decided to travel for three months, about whose decision we should not give an opinion.)

a)      When the relative is a person or a thing

AND

b)      Where the relative continues directly without a comma or a preposition from the antecedent

For example:

• El libro queme diste es muy interesante. (The book that you gave me is interesting.)

a)      Can be used with que, quien, or el cual

b)      Refers to people or things

c)      Expresses a selection among various persons or things

For example:

• La chica, quefue a ver la película con Juan, viene hoy.  (The girl, that went to see a movie with John, comes today.)
• La comida, la cualpreparamos ayer, es mi preferida.  (The food, which we prepared yesterday, is my favorite.)

a)      Can be used with quien, el cual, and el que 

b)      Can be used with people or things followed by any preposition

c)      Can use que after the prepositions a, con, de, or en

d)      Following complex prepositions use the relative pronoun el cual.

For example:

• El estudiante de quiente hablé ayer es muy inteligente.(The student about whom I spoke yesterday is very intelligent.)
• La silla en que me senté se rompió.  (The chair in which I sat broke.)
• La librería la cualestá detrás del hospital es lo mejor de la ciudad.  (The bookstore which is behind the hospital is the best in the city.)

a)      Refers to people or things

b)      The relative pronouns el que and los que can only be used with the verb ser

For example:

• Ese chico es el queme llamó ayer.(This boy is the one that called me yesterday.)

a)      Refers to people or things

b)      El cualis used to distinguish with whom we are speaking when there are two antecedents

For example:

• La amiga de Jorge, la cualestuvo en la fiesta ayer, tuvo un accidente.  (Jorge’s friend, the one who was at the party yesterday, had an accident.)

a)      Invariable and neutral

b)      Only used where the antecedent is an idea or sentence

For example:

• Escribí un libro sobre la vida en Guatemala, lo cual tuvo éxito por todo el mundo.  (I wrote a book about life in Guatemala, which was successful around the world.)

a)      Is used to modify a word because it works like an adjective

b)      Is variable

c)      Agrees in gender and number with the word it is modifying

d)      Is used to indicate possession

For example:

• La casa, cuyo techo es de Madera, es muy grande. (The house, whose roof is made of wood, is very big.)

a)      Express quantity

b)      Refer to a specified antecedent

c)      Are used to modify a word because they work like adjectives

d)      Are variable

e)      Are in agreement with the gender and number of the word they are modifying

For example:

• Fuimos al Mercado; compramos todo lo que (cuanto) pudimos.  (We went to the market; we bought all that we could.)

a)      Is a relative pronoun that expresses place

b)      Is invariable

For example:

• Esta es la escuela dondeestudié español el año pasado.  (This is the school where I studied Spanish last year.)

Reflexive Verbs

1. Reflexive Verb Formation
2. Position of the Reflexive Pronoun

a)      Pure reflexive verbs are those that indicate that an action is received by the same subject that performs the action.  For example, Me pongo la ropa.  (I put on my clothes.)

b)      The apparent reflexive verbs are those that are conjugated as reflexives but do not mean the same thing.  For example, Me llevo el libro.  (I carry away the book.)

• The pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive when it is reflexive.

For example:

• When you conjugate a verb, the reflexive pronoun is positioned before the conjugated verb.

For example:

• Some verbs have different meanings when they are reflexive than when they are not reflexive.

For example:

• Some reflexive verbs use the prepositions a, de, or en.

            For example:

• With a conjugated verb, the reflexive pronoun is positioned before the verb.

For example:

• With the complex verb conjugations, the reflexive pronoun is positioned before the auxiliary verb.

For example:

• With a conjugated verb + an infinitive, one can position the verb at the end of the infinitive or before the conjugated verb.

For example:

• With a gerund, one can position the reflexive pronoun at the end of the gerund or before the auxiliary verb.

For example:

Note: When you place the pronoun at the end of the infinitive or the gerund verb, the pronoun is attached to the verb forming one word.

• With the affirmative command forms of tú, usted or ustedes, the reflexive pronoun is positioned at the end of the verb forming one word with the verb and the pronoun.

For example:

• With the affirmative command form of nosotros, the reflexive pronoun is positioned at the end of the verb where one removes the final “s” of the verb forming one word with the verb and the pronoun.

For example:

• A command in the negative form of tú, usted and ustedes requires the reflexive pronoun before the verb.

For example:

• A command in the negative form of nosotros requires the pronoun to be positioned before the verb as well.

For example:

Accidental Verbs

a)      Accidental verbs are used to describe events that have not been planned.  For example, Me caigo.  (I fall.)

b)      The following formula changes the meaning of the verb in English:

se + indirect object pronoun + verb

For example:

Reciprocal Verbs

a)      Those verbs where the action of the subject needs another subject

AND

b)      The pronouns used are se and nos

For example:

Special Verbs

Some verbs exist in Spanish that are conjugated in a special way.  For example, gustar normally is only conjugated in:

a)      The third person singular

AND

b)      The third person plural

• The conjugation relates to the direct subject, where the book (el libro) is the subject that normally comes after the verb gustar in a sentence.

For example:

The relative pronoun (me) is not reflexive.  Instead, it is an indirect object pronoun.  It is important to note that you do not use the personal pronouns, because the subject is the thing you like (the book) and not the person.

The subject could also be a verb, such as:

o        Me gusta estudiar.

o        Estudiar is the subject

• The conjugation of gustar and other similar verbs, with the phrase of clarification, is:

Uses of the Pronoun “Se”

This lesson includes information on:

1. Seas Indirect and Direct Object Pronouns
2. Sein Impersonal Statements
3. Sein Transitive Sentences
4. Se as a Reflexive Pronoun

1.  Se as Indirect and Direct Object Pronouns

Seis used:

a)      To substitute for the indirect object pronouns le and les when there are two object pronouns:

·         one indirect le or les

·         the other direct, lo, la, los, or las in the same sentence.

For example:

o        Se los compró.  (He bought them for her.)

b)      As a direct object pronoun or an indirect object pronoun when it coincides with the subject.

For example:

o        La niña se cambia la ropa.  (The girl changed her clothes.)

2. Se in Impersonal Statements

Seis used:

a)      When the action of a subject is performed toward another subject.

For example:

o        Pedro y María se abrazaron.  (Peter and Mary hugged.)

b)      In impersonal statements and can be used only in the third person.

For example:

o        En esa escuela se aprende buen español.   (In that school one learns good Spanish.)

c)      In sentences where it works as an incremental verb indicating the passive character of the sentence and can be used only in the third person for this purpose.

For example:

o        Se venden tortillas.  (They sell tortillas.)

3.  Se in Transitive Sentences

Sometimes se is used:

a)      As a reflexive pronoun only to intensify the meaning of the verb in transitive or intransitive sentences.

For example:

o        Durmió dos horas.(He slept for two hours.)

o        Se durmió dos horas {transitive}.  (He slept for two hours.)

o        Vino rápidamente.(He came quickly.)

o        Se vino rápidamente {intransitive}.  (He came quickly.)

b)      With some verbs that sometimes have transitive structures and are not reflexive with different subjects and direct complements.

·         It has the construction of the middle voice.

·         Usually the transitive construction is lost with the direct complement and a supplement is introduced.

For example:

o        No castigue usted a los niños.  (Don’t punish the children.)

o        No los castigue (transitive).  (Don’t punish them.)

o        No se castigue usted (voz media).  (Don’t punish yourself.)

4.  Se as a Reflexive Pronoun

There are verbs where it is necessary to have the reflexive pronoun and the verb doesn’t exist without it.  These verbs can use a supplement.

For example:

o        Se arrepintió de lo que había dicho.  (He regretted what he had said.)

Present Subjunctive Tense Formation of Regular Verbs

·         Uncertainty.  For example, No creo que regresen esta noche. (I don’t think they will return tonight.)

·         Feelings.  For example, Se alegra que venga su amiga. (She is happy that her friend is coming.)

·         Desires.  For example, Quiero que tengas un buen viaje. (I want you to have a good trip.)

·         Hypothetical Situations.  For example, Quizás visite este domingo.  (Perhaps he is visiting this Sunday.)

o        the main clause;

o        the dependent clause

Generally these clauses are united with the conjunction que.  For example, Espero que hables español.  (I hope that you speak Spanish.)

o        The main clause should be conjugated in the indicative form: present, future, and commands.

o        The dependent clause should be conjugated in the subjunctive form: present subjunctive.

Present Subjunctive Tense Formation of Irregular Verbs

·         Uncertainty.  For example, No creo que regresen esta noche. (I don’t think they will return tonight.)

·         Feelings.  For example, Se alegra que venga su amiga. (She is happy that her friend is coming.)

·         Desires.  For example, Quiero que tengas un buen viaje. (I want you to have a good trip.)

·         Hypothetical Situations.  For example, Quizás visite este domingo.  (Perhaps he is visiting this Sunday.)

For example:

For example:

 For example:

• Dar

• Estar

• Haber

• Ir

• Saber

• Ser

Uses of the Present Subjunctive Tense

The present subjunctive has various important uses in Spanish.

This lesson includes information on:

1. Subjunctive Form in Noun Clauses

2. Subjunctive Form in Main Clauses

3. Subjunctive Form in Adverbial Clauses

4. Subjunctive Form in Adjective Clauses

5. Subjunctive Form with Indefinites

6. Subjunctive Form in Independent Sentences

1.  Subjunctive Form in Noun Clauses

The uses of the subjunctive form in noun clauses:

The subjunctive is formed with two clauses:

·         the main clause

·         the dependent clause

Generally these clauses use the connecting word que.

The two subjects of the same sentence must be different.

·         The main clause should be in the indicative form: present indicative, future indicative, and commands.

·         The dependent clause should be in the subjunctive form: present subjunctive.

For example:

2.  Subjunctive Form in Main Clauses

The subjunctive is used in the main clause when it refers to:

·         Hypothetical states

·         Doubts

·         Emotions

·         Commands

·         Negations

·         Advice or begging

·         Permission or prohibition

·         Wishes

a)     If we have only one subject in a sentence, we use the infinitive.

For example:

b)    With the verbs creer and pensar, one uses the subjunctive in the question and negative forms.

For example:

One uses the indicative form in the affirmative.

For example:

The verb pensar uses the subjunctive when it is in question form.

For example:

When it is in the negative form, it is necessary to use the verb creer and not the verb pensar.

For example:

c)      Use the subjunctive when the main clause is:

o        Impersonal

o        Expresses doubt, probability or an opinion

For example:

3. Subjunctive Form in Adverbial Clauses

The subjunctive in adverbial clauses:

a)     Main phrase + expression or time or concession + subjunctive or indicative verb. For the subjunctive in the adverbial clauses you don’t need to have different subjects in each clause.

Uses the indicative when we are expressing a real experience or a truth.

For example

The subjunctive is used when the subordinate clauses expresses an action that will  happened, or when there is a command form:

For example:

b)     Main phrase + expression of purpose, condition, or anticipation + subjunctive verb

Used only with the subjunctive because it expresses actions that have not yet happened.

For example:

4.  Subjunctive Form in Adjective Clauses

The subjunctive with adjective clauses:

Noun or pronoun + relative pronoun + indicative or subjunctive verb

a)     Uses the indicative form in the subordinate phrase in order to indicate that the person or thing to whom or to which one refers exists or is known.

For example:

b)     Uses the subjunctive in the subordinate clause in order to indicate that the person to whom or thing to which one refers does not exist or is not known.

For example:

5.  Subjunctive Form with Indefinites

The subjunctive with indefinites:

• Cualquiera
• Quienquiera
• Dondequiera
• Comoquiera

cualesquiera + indicative or subjunctive verb

a)     Uses the indicative form to express a real experience.

For example:

b)     Use the subjunctive to express an uncertain action that normally has not happened.

For example:

6.  Subjunctive Form in Independent Sentences

The subjunctive in independent sentences:

a)     Expressions of doubt:

Use acaso, quizá(s), tal vez with the indicative form to express certainty.

For example:

Use acaso, quizá(s), tal vez with the subjunctive to emphasize doubt.

For example:

b)     Expressions of desire:

Use ojalá que with the present subjunctive form to express a wish or desire in the present or in the future.

For example:

Present Perfect Subjunctive Tense Formation of Regular Verbs

The Present Perfect Subjunctive Tense is used to express:

·         Uncertainty.  For example, Dudará que hayamos terminado el trabajo. (She/He will doubt that we have finished the work.)

·         Feelings.  For example, Me alegro que te hayas graduado. (I am happy that you have graduated.)

In Spanish as in English we have the present perfect subjunctive tense.  The present perfect subjunctive is formed with two clauses:

·         the main clause;

·         the dependent clause

Generally these clauses are united with the conjunction que.  For example, Espero que hayas practicado el piano.  (I hope that you have practiced the piano.)

The two subjects of the same sentence should be different.

·         The main clause should be conjugated in the indicative form: present and future.

·         The dependent clause should be conjugated in the subjunctive form: present perfect subjunctive.

The formation of the present perfect subjunctive tense requires the present subjunctive tense of the verb haber + the past participle.  The formation of the present tense of haber is:

For example:

Uses of the Present Perfect Subjunctive

The present perfect subjunctive form is used to express an action that already happened with verbs that express emotion, desire, doubt, and with impersonal expressions of emotion, doubt, negation and desire.

Some verbs of emotion used with the Present Perfect Subjunctive are:

Some verbs of desire used with the Present Perfect Subjunctive are:

Some verbs of doubt used with the Present Perfect Subjunctive are:

The subjunctive is formed with two clauses:

·         the main clause

·         the dependent clause

Generally these clauses use the connecting word que.

The two subjects of the same sentence must be different.

·         The main clause should be in the indicative form: present indicative and future indicative.

·         The dependent clause should be in the subjunctive form: present perfect subjunctive.

For example:

Imperfect Subjunctive Tense Formation of Regular Verbs

·         Uncertainty.  For example, Dudé que regresaran esta noche. (I doubted they would return tonight.)

·         Feelings.  For example, Se alegraba que viniera su amiga. (She was happy that her friend is coming.)

·         Desires.  For example, Querría que tuvieras un buen viaje. (I would want you to have a good trip.)

·         the main clause;

·         the dependent clause

Generally these clauses are united with the conjunction que.  For example, Esperó que hablaras español.  (She hoped that you speak Spanish.)

·         The main clause should be conjugated in the imperfect indicative, the preterit or the conditional forms.

·         The dependent clause should be conjugated in the subjunctive form: imperfect subjunctive.

Uses of the Imperfect Subjunctive

1. Imperfect Subjunctive with Past Tense
2. Imperfect Subjunctive with Present Tense
3. Imperfect Subjunctive with Conditional Tense
4. Imperfect Subjunctive with Si (If)
5. Imperfect Subjunctive After Como Si

• the main clause is in the past or imperfect tense
• the action in the dependent clause happened in the past

For example:

• the main clause is in the present tense
• he dependent clause refers to an action in the past

For example:

• the main clause is in the past or imperfect tense
• the action in the dependent clause happened in the past

For example:

• the subordinate clause is related to the principle clause with the conjunction si (if)
• we want to express an unreal or contrary condition to the present reality

For example:

• after the expression como si (as if)

For example:

Pluperfect Subjunctive Tense Formation of Regular Verbs

The Pluperfect Subjunctive Tense is used to express:

• Uncertainty.  For example, Dudó que hubiéramos terminado el trabajo. (She/He doubted that we had finished the work.)
• Feelings.  For example, Me alegré que te hubieras graduado. (I was happy that you had graduated.)

In Spanish as in English we have the pluperfect subjunctive tense.  The pluperfect subjunctive is formed with two clauses:

• the main clause;
• the dependent clause

Generally these clauses are united with the conjunction que.  For example, Esperé que hubieras practicado el piano.  (I hoped that you had practiced the piano.)

The two subjects of the same sentence should be different.

• The main clause should be conjugated in the indicative form: a past tense.
• The dependent clause should be conjugated in the subjunctive form: pluperfect subjunctive.

The formation of the pluperfect subjunctive tense requires the past subjunctive tense of the verb haber + the past participle.  The formation of the past tense of haber is:

For example:

Uses of the Pluperfect Subjunctive

• A past action before another action that also happened in the past using the past indicative tense in the main clause.

For example:

• A hypothetical action in the past when the verb in the main clause is in the conditional or conditional perfect tense.

For example:

• An idea that didn’t occur using the idiomatic expression como si (as if or as though)

For example: