Category: Spanish Tenses

Learning the Spanish Present Perfect

Posted on August 22, 2024September 20, 2024 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 How to form the present perfect in Spanish?

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

I. Formation of the present perfect

To form the present perfect in Spanish, we use the auxiliary HABER. The present perfect (pretérito perfecto) is formed as follows:

Auxiliary HABER conjugated in the present + past participle

1. Conjugation of the auxiliary HABER

– Yo he
– Tú has
– Él/Ella/Usted ha
– Nosotros hemos
– Vosotros habéis
– Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes han

2. Formation of the past participle

* Formation of the past participle of verbs with an ending in -AR ==> -ADO

Example :

Hablar ==> Hablado ; Caminar ==> Caminado ; etc.

* Formation of the past participle of verbs with an ending in –ER ou en –IR ==> -IDO

Example :

Comer ==> Comido ; Vivir ==> Vivido ; etc.

* There are irregular verbs for past participle formation.

Example :

Hacer ==> Hecho ; Escribir ==> Escrito ; Abrir ==> Abierto ; Decir ==> Dicho ; Ser ==> Sido; etc.

N.B:

– The past participle is always invariable when used with HABER.
– The auxiliary and the past participle should never be separated.

II. Use of the present perfect

In Spanish, we use the present perfect to express an action begun in the past that continues into the present, or that is not yet finished.

The past tense is also used when the action is completed but its consequences on the present are still real.

In this case, we can use temporal markers such as “hoy (today)”, “ayer” (yesterday), “la ultima noche” (last night), etc.

Examples:

– This morning I walked ==> Esta mañana, he caminado

(Result in the present, I am in good shape ==> Resultado en el presente : estoy en forma).

– This year I started Spanish classes ==> Este año, he empezado las clases de español

(Action started in the past that is still going on today).

– Last year, I went to the United States ==> El año pasado, he ido a EE.UU.

(Result in the present, I speak English well ==> Resultado en el presente, hablo bien el inglés).

👉 Next lesson : Imperfect tense

👉 Previous lesson: The preterite (Simple Past)

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How and When to Use the Spanish Past Perfect Tense

Posted on February 22, 2021April 5, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉Spanish Past Perfect Tense: How and When use it?

I. Formation of the past perfect

Spanish has only one auxiliary, the verb HABER. The past tense (pretérito perfecto) is formed as follows:

Auxiliary HABER conjugated in the present tense + past participle

1. Conjugation of the auxiliary HABER

– Yo he
– Tú has
– Él/Ella/Usted ha
– Nosotros hemos
– Vosotros habéis
– Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes han

2. Formation of the past participle

* Past participle formation of verbs with an ending in -AR ==> -ADO

Example :

Hablar ==> Hablado ; Caminar ==> Caminado ; etc.

* Formation of the past participle of verbs with an ending in -ER or -IR ==> -IDO

Example :

Comer ==> Comido ; Vivir ==> Vivido ; etc.

* There are irregular verbs for past participle formation.

Example :

Hacer ==> Hecho ; Escribir ==> Escrito ; Abrir ==> Abierto ; Decir ==> Dicho ; Ser ==> Sido; etc.

N.B:

– The past participle is always invariable when used with HABER.
– The auxiliary and the past participle should never be separated.

II. Use of the Past Perfect

In Spanish, the past compound tense is used to express an action begun in the past that continues into the present, or that is not yet finished.

The past tense is also used when the action is completed but its consequences on the present are still real.

In this case, we can use temporal markers such as “hoy (today)”, “ayer” (yesterday), “la ultima noche” (last night), etc.

Examples:

– This morning I walked ==> Esta mañana, he caminado

(Result in the present, I am in shape ==> Resultado en el presente : estoy en forma).

– This year I started Spanish classes==> Este año, he empezado las clases de español

(Action started in the past and still continues today).

– Last year, I went to the United States ==> El año pasado, he ido a EE.UU.

(Result in the present, I speak good English ==> Resultado en el presente, hablo bien el inglés).

👉 Practice now!

👉 Next lesson : The preterite (Simple Past)

👉 Previous lesson: The gerund

©Spanishfornoobs.com

How and When to Use the Spanish Present Participle

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 Present Participle in Spanish : how and when use it?

I. Formation of the present participle

In English, the present participle is used when there are two simultaneous actions and both verbs have the same subject. It is a verb phrase that indicates an action and can be accompanied by an object or circumstance complement.

Example :

Arriving at the hotel, I give my name to the reception ==> Llegando al hotel, doy mi nombre a la recepción.

In Spanish, the present participle (or gerund) is formed from the verb stem:

* For verbs in the first group, ending in -AR, the gerund is formed by adding the suffix -ando to the verb stem.

Example :

Andar (To walk) ==> Andando ;
Cantar (To sing) ==> Cantando ;
Amar (To love) ==> Amando

* For verbs of the second and third groups ending in -ER or -IR, the gerund is formed by adding the suffix -iendo to the verb stem.

Example :

Comer (To eat) ==> Comiendo ;
Vivir (To live) ==> Viviendo ;
Correr (To run) ==> Corriendo

N.B :
* The gerund is always invariable.

* For verbs of the third group that contain an -e in their stem (such as PEDIR, DECIR, VENIR, Etc.) see the -e transform into -i.

Example :

la chica esta pidiendo ayuda ==> The girl asks for help.

* For verbs of the third group that have an -o in their stem (such as PODRIER, MORIR, DORMIR, Etc.) see the -o transform into -u

Example :

El chico esta durmiendo ==> The boy is sleeping.

II. Irregular present participles

There are only a few irregular present participles. Here are the most common ones:

– IR (To go) ==> Yendo
– PODER (Can) ==> Pudiendo
– OIR (To hear) ==> Oyendo
– CAER (To fall) ==> Cayendo
– TRAER (To bring/take) ==> Trayendo

III. Use of the present participle

The present participle is used to:

* Express simultaneity

Example :

Saludando todos, salió ==> Greeting everyone, he went out.

* To replace a subordinate clause

Example :

– This is a question that interests everyone ==> This is a question interesting everyone ==> Es una cuestión interesando todos.

* To form the gerund (i.e. to underline an action in progress)

Example :

– Riéndose, me contó la historia de su vida ==> Laughing, he told me the story of his life.
– Estoy trabajando ==> I am working.

👉 Practice now!

👉 Next lesson : The gerund

👉 Previous lesson: Present tense

©Spanishfornoobs.com

Spanish Past Participle – Basic Grammar Lesson

Posted on February 22, 2021April 5, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 How to make and when to use the Past Participle in Spanish?

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

I. Formation of the past participle

The past participle (participio passado) is a conjugation mode that gives a verb the characteristics of an adjective. It is formed from the root of the infinitive verb:

* For verbs of the first group, ending in -AR, the ending is -ado.

CANTAR (to sing) ==> Cantado ; AMAR (to love) ==> Amado ; CAMINAR (to walk) ==> Caminado

* For verbs of the second and third groups, ending in -ER and -IR, the ending of the past participle is -ido.

VENDER (to sell) ==> Vendido ; COMER (to eat) ==> Comido ; VIVIR (to live) ==> Vivido

II. Irregular past participles

Some verbs have an irregular past participle. Here are the most common ones:

– ESCRIBIR (to write) ==> Escrito
– CUBRIR (to cover) ==> Cubierto
– VOLVER (to come back) ==> Vuelto
– HACER (to do) ==> Hecho
– MORIR (to die) ==> Muerto
– SATISFACER (to satisfy) ==> Satisfecho
– LEER (to read) ==> Leído
– VER (to see) ==> Visto
– DECIR (to tell) ==> Dicho
– PONER (to put) ==> Puesto
– DESCRIBIR (to describe) ==> Descrito

In addition, some verbs have two past participles. The first one, regular, is used with the auxiliary HABER. The second, irregular, is used with other verbs such as TENER or ESTAR…

– HARTAR (to be tired) ==> Hartado (Regular past participle) ==> Harto (Irregular past participle)
– SOLTAR (to let go/untie) ==> Soltado (Regular) ==> Suelto (Irregular)
– OPRIMIR (to oppress) ==> Oprimido (Regular) ==> Opreso (Irregular)
– FREIR (to fry) ==> Freído (Regular) ==> Frito (Irregular)
– ROMPER (to break) ==> Rompido (Regular) ==> Roto (Irregular)
– IMPRIMIR (to print)==> Imprimido (Regular) ==> Impreso (Irregular)

Example :

– Tu hermano ha rompido el cristal ==> Your brother broke the glass.
– El cristal está roto ==> The window is broken.

III. Use of the past participle

* The past participle has the value of an adjective when used with SER or ESTAR. As an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the subject to which it is attached.

– La mujer esta despierta ==> The woman is awake.
– El restaurante está abierto ==> The restaurant is open.
– Los invitados están sentados en las sillas ==> The guests are sitting on the chairs.

* The past participle is used with the auxiliary HABER to form compound tenses like the past compound or the future tense: HABER + Past Participle (always invariable)

– El niño ha cantado una canción ==> the child sang a song.
– El próximo año, habré estudiado el español por 6 años ==> Next year I will have studied Spanish for 6 years.

* The past participle can be used as a preposition or conjunction with the words: Dado (que), visto que, debido a, etc.

Debido a la pandemia, las autoridades instauraron el confinamiento ==> Due to the pandemic, the authorities instituted the confinement.

©Spanishfornoobs.com

Pronominal Verbs in Spanish

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 How and when to use Pronominal Verbs in Spanish?

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

I. How to conjugate a pronominal verb in spanish

A pronominal verb is a verb whose action applies to a person designated by a reflexive pronoun. In Spanish, pronominal verbs end with the suffix -SE.

Example :

To get up ==> LEVANTARSE
To take a shower ==> DURCHARSE
To go to bed ==> ACOSTARSE

The reflexive pronoun is placed at the end of the verb.

When conjugating a pronominal verb, the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) is placed before the verb and agrees with the subject.

Example with the verb LAVARSE (To wash oneself), conjugated in the present tense:

– I wash myself ==> Me lavo
– You wash ==> Te lavas
– He / She washes ==> Se lava
– We wash ==> Nos lavamos
– You wash ==> Os laváis
– They wash ==> Se lavan

II. Position of the reflexive pronoun

The reflexive pronoun is ALWAYS placed before the conjugated verb. Except in three situations:

* In the infinitive, the pronoun -SE remains next to the verb
Example : Maquillarse ==> To make up

* When the affirmative imperative is used
Example : Siéntate ==> Sit down ; Cállate ==> Shut up ; Dímelo ==> Tell me.

* In the gerund (in the case of ESTAR + Gerund, the pronoun can be placed before or after the verb)
Example :
– Estaba comiendose una manzana ==> Se estaba comiendo una manzana ==> He was eating an apple.
– Ella esta peinandose ==> Ella se está peinando ==> Ella is doing her hair.

III. Most common pronominal verbs in Spanish

These verbs refer to usual and recurring actions:

Despertarse==> To wake up
Levantarse ==> Get up
Lavarse ==> To wash
Llamarse ==> To call
Peinarse ==> To comb one’s hair
Relajarse ==> Relax
Casarse ==> To get married
Dormirse ==> Fall asleep
Acostarse ==> Go to bed

👉 Practice now!

👉 Next lesson : Spelling changes of verbs

👉 Previous lesson: Auxiliary verbs

©Spanishfornoobs.com

Unclassifiable irregular verbs in Spanish

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 What are unclassifiable irregular verbs in Spanish?

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

In Spanish some verbs are totally irregular. Most of them are irregular in all tenses and persons. The best way to know them is to learn them by heart!

In this table you will find the main Spanish irregular verbs that cannot be classified. Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Infinitive	Present tense	Future	Imperfect tense	Past simple	Present subjunctive	Imperfect subjunctive	Conditional	Imperative
Andar (to walk)	ando andas anda andamos andáis andan	andaré andarás andará andaremos andaréis andarán	andaba andabas andaba andábamos andabais andaban	anduve anduviste anduvo anduvimos anduvisteis anduvieron	ande andes ande andemos andéis anden	anduviera anduvieras anduviera anduviéramos anduvierais anduvieran	andaría andarías andaría andaríamos andaríais andarían	anda ande andemos andad anden
Caber (to contain)	quepo cabes cabe cabemos cabéis caben	cabré cabrás cabrá cabremos cabréis cabrán	cabía cabías cabía cabíamos cabíais cabían	cupe cupiste cupo cupimos cupisteis cupieron	quepa quepas quepa quepamos quepáis quepan	cupiera cupieras cupiera cupiéramos cupierais cupieran	cabría cabrías cabría cabríamos cabríais cabrían	cabe quepa quepamos cabed quepan
Caer (to fall)	caigo caes cae caemos caéis caen	caeré caerás caerá caeremos caeréis caerán	caía caías caía caíamos caíais caían	caí caíste cayó caímos caíste cayeron	caiga caigas caiga caigamos caigáis caigan	cayera cayeras cayera cayéramos cayerais cayeran	caería caerías caería caeríamos caeríais caerían	cae caiga caigamos caed caigan
Dar (to give)	doy das da damos dais dan	daré darás dará daremos daréis darán	daba dabas daba dábamos dabais daban	di diste dio dimos disteis dieron	dé des dé demos deis den	diera dieras diera diéramos dierais dieran	daría darías daría daríamos daríais darían	da dé demos dad den
Decir (to say)	digo dices dice decimos decís dicen	diré dirás dirá diremos diréis dirán	decía decías decía decíamos decíais decían	dije dijiste dijo dijimos dijisteis dijeron	diga digas diga digamos digáis digan	dijera dijeras dijera dijéramos dijerais dijeran	diría dirías diría diríamos diríais dirían	di diga digamos decid digan
Estar (to be)	estoy estás está estamos estáis están	estaré estarás estará estaremos estaréis estarán	estaba estabas estaba estábamos estabais estaban	estuve estuviste estuvo estuvimos estuvisteis estuvieron	esté estés esté estemos estéis estén	estuviera estuvieras estuviera estuviéramos estuvierais estuvieran	estaría estarías estaría estaríamos estaríais estarían	está esté estemos estad estén
Haber (to have)	he has ha hemos habéis han	habré habrás habrá habremos habréis habrán	había habías había habíamos habíais habían	hube hubiste hubo hubimos hubisteis hubieron	haya hayas haya hayamos hayáis hayan	hubiera hubieras hubiera hubiéramos hubierais hubieran	habría habrías habría habríamos habríais habrían	he haya hayamos habed hayan
Hacer (to do)	hago haces hace hacemos hacéis hacen	haré harás hará haremos haréis harán	hacía hacías hacía hacíamos hacíais hacían	hice hiciste hizo hicimos hicisteis hicieron	haga hagas haga hagamos hagáis hagan	hiciera hicieras hiciera hiciéramos hicierais hicieran	haría harías haría haríamos haríais harían	haz haga hagamos haced hagan
Ir (to go)	voy vas va vamos vais van	iré irás irá iremos iréis irán	iba ibas iba íbamos ibais iban	fui fuiste fue fuimos fuisteis fueron	vaya vayas vaya vayamos vayáis vayan	fuera fueras fuera fuéramos fuerais fueran	iría irías iría iríamos iríais irían	ve vaya vayamos id vayan
Oír (to hear)	oigo oyes oye oímos oís oyen	oiré oirás oirá oiremos oiréis oirán	oía oías oía oíamos oíais oían	oí oíste oyó oímos oísteis oyeron	oiga oigas oiga oigamos oigáis oigan	oyera oyeras oyera oyéramos oyerais oyeran	oiría oirías oiría oiríamos oiríais oirían	oye oiga oigamos oíd oigan
Poder (can)	puedo puedes puede podemos podéis pueden	podré podrás podrá podremos podréis podrán	podía podías podía podíamos podíais podían	pude pudiste pudo pudimos pudisteis pudieron	pueda puedas pueda podamos podáis puedan	pudiera pudieras pudiera pudiéramos pudierais pudieran	podría podrías podría podríamos podríais podrían	puede pueda podamos poded pueden
Poner (to put)	pongo pones pone ponemos ponéis ponen	pondré pondrás pondrá pondremos pondréis pondrán	ponía ponías ponía poníamos poníais ponían	puse pusiste puso pusimos pusisteis pusieron	ponga pongas ponga pongamos pongáis pongan	pusiera pusieras pusiera pusiéramos pusierais pusieran	pondría pondrías pondría pondríamos pondríais pondrían	pon ponga pongamos poned pongan
Querer ( want)	quiero quieres quiere queremos queréis quieren	querré querrás querrá querremos querréis querrán	quería querías quería queríamos queríais querían	quise quisiste quiso quisimos quisisteis quisieron	quiera quieras quiera queramos queráis quieran	quisiera quisieras quisiera quisiéramos quisierais quisieran	querría querrías querría querríamos querríais querrían	quiere quiera queramos quered quieran
Saber (to know)	sé sabes sabe sabemos sabéis saben	sabré sabrás sabrá sabremos sabréis sabrán	sabía sabías sabía sabíamos sabíais sabían	supe supiste supo supimos supisteis supieron	sepa sepas sepa sepamos sepáis sepan	supiera supieras supiera supiéramos supierais supieran	sabría sabrías sabría sabríamos sabríais sabrían	sabe sepa sepamos sabed sepan
Salir (to go out)	salgo sales sale salimos salís salen	saldré saldrás saldrá saldremos saldréis saldrán	salía salías salía salíamos salíais salían	salí saliste salió salimos salisteis salieron	salga salgas salga salgamos salgáis salgan	saliera salieras saliera saliéramos salierais salieran	saldría saldrías saldría saldríamos saldríais saldrían	sal salga salgamos salid salgan
Ser (to be)	soy eres es somos sois son	seré serás será seremos seréis serán	era eras era éramos erais eran	fui fuiste fue fuimos fuisteis fueron	sea seas sea seamos seáis sean	fuera fueras fuera fuéramos fuerais fueran	sería serías sería seríamos seríais serían	sé sea seamos sed sean
Tener (to have)	tengo tienes tiene tenemos tenéis tienen	tendré tendrás tendrá tendremos tendréis tendrán	tenía tenías tenía teníamos teníais tenían	tuve tuviste tuvo tuvimos tuvisteis tuvieron	tenga tengas tenga tengamos tengáis tengan	tuviera tuvieras tuviera tuviéramos tuvierais tuvieran	tendría tendrías tendría tendríamos tendríais tendrían	ten tenga tengamos tened tengan
Traer (to bring)	traigo traes trae traemos traéis traen	traeré traerás traerá traeremos traeréis traerán	traía traías traía traíamos traíais traían	traje trajiste trajo trajimos trajisteis trajeron	traiga traigas traiga traigamos traigáis traigan	trajera trajeras trajera trajéramos trajerais trajeran	traería traerías traería traeríamos traeríais traerían	trae traiga traigamos traed traigan
Valer (to be worth)	valgo vales vale valemos valéis valen	valdré valdrás valdrá valdremos valdréis valdrán	valía valías valía valíamos valíais valían	valí valiste valió valimos valisteis valieron	valga valgas valga valgamos valgáis valgan	valiera valieras valiera valiéramos valierais valieran	valdría valdrías valdría valdríamos valdríais valdrían	vale valga valgamos valed valgan
Venir (to come)	vengo vienes viene venimos venís vienen	vendré vendrás vendrá vendremos vendréis vendrán	venía venías venía veníamos veníais venían	vine viniste vino vinimos vinisteis vinieron	venga vengas venga vengamos vengáis vengan	viniera vinieras viniera viniéramos vinierais vinieran	vendría vendrías vendría vendríamos vendríais vendrían	ven venga vengamos venid vengan
Ver (to see)	veo ves ve vemos veis ven	veré verás verá veremos veréis verán	veía veías veía veíamos veíais veían	vi viste vio vimos visteis vieron	vea veas vea veamos veáis vean	viera vieras viera viéramos vierais vieran	vería verías vería veríamos veríais verían	ve vea veamos ved vean

👉 Practice now!

👉 Next lesson : Auxiliary verbs

👉 Previous lesson: Irregular verbs

©Spanishfornoobs.com

Spelling changes of verbs in Spanish

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 Spelling changes of verbs in Spanish

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

In Spanish, some verbs undergo a spelling change to preserve the pronunciation of the infinitive. These changes only occur in certain persons or tenses.

* For verbs whose infinitive ends in -CAR, the -c becomes -qu before the e

BUSCAR (To look for) ==> Busco (Ind. Present) ==> Busqué (Preterite) ==> Busque (Subjunctive).

* For verbs whose infinitive ends in -GAR the -g becomes -gu before the e

REGAR (To water) ==> Riego (Ind. Present) ==> Regué (Preterite) ==> Riegue (Subjunctive).

* For verbs whose infinitive ends in -GUAR the -gu becomes -gü before the e

AVERIGUAR (To discover) ==> Averiguo (Ind. Present) ==> Averigüé (Preterite) ==> Averigüe (Subjunctive).

* For verbs whose infinitive ends in -ZAR the z becomes a c before the e

AMENAZAR (To threaten) ==> Amenazo (Ind. Present), Amenacé (Preterite), Amenace (Subjunctive).

N.B : These changes occur in the first person preterite and in all persons of the present subjunctive.

* For verbs ending in -CER or -CIR, the -c becomes -z before the a or the o

– CONVENCER (To convince) ==> Convenzo (Ind. Present, 1st person) ==> Convenza (Present subjunctive).
– ESPACIR (To spread) ==> Esparzo (Ind. Present, 1st person) ==> Esparza (Present subjunctive).

* For verbs ending in -GER or -GIR, the -g becomes -j before the a or the o

– COGER (To take) ==> Cojo (Ind. Present, 1st person) ==> Coja (Present subjunctive).
– DIRIGIR (To lead) ==>Dirijo (Ind. Present, 1st person) ==> Dirija (Present subjunctive).

* For verbs whose infinitive ends in –GUIR, the -gu becomes -g before the a or the o

DISTINGUIR (To differentiate) ==> Distingo (Ind. Present, 1st person) ==> Distinga (Present subjunctive).

* For verbs whose infinitive ends in –QUIR, the -qu becomes -c before the a or the o

DELINQUIR (To commit a crime) ==> Delinco (Ind. Present, 1st person) ==> Delinca (Present subjunctive).

N.B : These changes occur only in the first person of the present indicative and in all persons of the present subjunctive.

👉 Practice now!

👉 Next lesson : 100 useful adjectives (A to M)

👉 Previous lesson: Pronominal verbs

©Spanishfornoobs.com

Learning Irregular Verbs in Spanish: Conjugation, Examples and Practice

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 How to use Irregular Verbs in Spanish?

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

Spanish irregular verbs: what are they?

In Spanish, verbs are considered irregular if the stem is modified in one or more persons, in any or all tenses.

However, the ending remains unchanged. Irregular verbs can be classified into three categories:

diphthong verbs;
weakening verbs;
alternating verbs.

Diphthong verbs

The diphthong is a modification of the verb stem. It applies a modification of the vowels when the final “-e” or “-o” of the verb root carries the tonic accent.

It applies to the three persons of the singular (“yo”; “tú”; “él”, “ella”, “usted”) as well as to the third person of the plural (“ellos”, “ellas”, “ustedes”), in the present tense (indicative, subjunctive and imperative).

There are three types of diphthongs:

the final “-e” becomes “-ie” ;
the final “-o” becomes “-ue”;
the “-u” becomes “-ue”.

Verbs with an “-ie” diphthong

When the final “-e” of the verb stem has a tonic accent, the diphthong in “-ie” is applied.

The root of verbs in this category change like the verb “pensar” (to think).

	Present tense	Present subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	pienso	piense	–
Tú	piensas	pienses	piensa
Él, ella, Usted	piensa	piense	piense
Nosotros, nosotras	pensamos	pensemos	pensemos
Vosotros, vosotras	pensáis	penséis	pensad
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	piensan	piensen	piensen

Verbs with a diphthong in “-ue”

When the final “-o” of the verb stem has a tonic accent, the diphthong in “-ue” is applied.

The radical of verbs in this category changes like the verb “contar” (to count).

	Present tense	Present subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	cuento	cuente	–
Tú	cuentas	cuentes	cuente
Él, ella, Usted	cuenta	cuente	cuente
Nosotros, nosotras	contamos	contemos	contemos
Vosotros, vosotras	contáis	contéis	contad
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	cuentan	cuenten	cuenten

Be careful, a verb can never start with a diphthong.

Verbs that diphthong at the first vowel change their spelling. They take an “h-” as the first letter.

Example:

Oler (to smell) → Yo huelo

The verb “jugar” (to play) is the only verb where the “-u” in the stem changes to “-ue”.

It follows the conjugation pattern of the verb “contar” (to count).

Weakening verbs

Like the diphthong, weakening is a modification that applies to the root of certain verbs.

The “-e” of the verb root is transformed into “-ie”:

in the third person singular (“yo”; “tú”; “él”, “ella”, “usted”) and the third person plural (“ellos”, “ellas”, “ustedes”) in the present tense ;
in the third person singular (“él”, “ella”, “usted”) and in the third person plural (“ellos”, “ellas”, “ustedes”) in the past simple;
in all persons of the present subjunctive tense ;
in all persons of the imperfect subjunctive tense;
in all persons of the future subjunctive tense
in all persons of the imperative ;
in the gerund.

Verbs with a weakening in « -i »

The radical of the verbs in this category change like the verb “pedir” (to ask).

	Present tense	Simple past tense	Present subjunctive	Imperfect subjunctive	Future subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	pido	pedí	pida	pidiera / pidiese	pidiere	–
Tú	pides	pediste	pidas	pidieras / pidieses	pidieres	pide
Él, ella, Usted	pide	pidió	pida	pidiera / pidiese	pidiere	pida
Nosotros, nosotras	pedimos	pedimos	pidamos	pidiéramos / pidiésemos	pidiéremos	pidamos
Vosotros, vosotras	pedís	pedisteis	pidáis	pidierais / pidieseis	pidiereis	pedid
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	piden	pidieron	pidan	pidieran / pidiesen	pidieren	pidan

Gerund

pidiendo

Verbs that weaken in “-y

Verbs that end in “-uir” become weaker. This means that the “-i” of their root changes to “-y”.

The stem of verbs in this category changes like the one of the verb “construir” (to build).

	Present tense	Simple past tense	Present subjunctive	Imperfect subjunctive	Future subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	construyo	construí	construya	construyera / construyese	construyere	–
Tú	construyes	construiste	construyas	construyeras / construyeses	construyeres	construye
Él, ella, Usted	construye	construyó	construya	construyera / construyese	construyere	construya
Nosotros, nosotras	construimos	construimos	construyamos	construyéramos / construyésemos	construyéremos	construyamos
Vosotros, vosotras	construís	construisteis	construyáis	construyerais / construyeseis	construyereis	construyid
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	construyen	construyeron	construyan	construyeran / construyesen	construyeren	construyan

Gerund

construyendo

Verbs that weaken in « -i »

The “-e” in the root of verbs ending in “-eír” or “eñir” weaken to “-i”.

The radical of the verbs in this category change like the verb “teñir” (to dye).

	Present tense	Simple past tense	Present subjunctive	Imperfect subjunctive	Future subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	tiño	teñí	tiña	tiñera / tiñese	tiñere	–
Tú	tiñes	teñiste	tiñas	tiñeras / tiñeses	tiñeres	tiñe
Él, ella, Usted	tiñe	tiñó	tiña	tiñera / tiñese	tiñere	tiña
Nosotros, nosotras	teñimos	teñimos	tiñamos	tiñéramos / tiñésemos	tiñéremos	tiñamos
Vosotros, vosotras	teñís	teñisteis	tiñáis	tiñerais / tiñeseis	tiñereis	teñid
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	tiñen	tiñeron	tiñan	tiñeran / tiñesen	tiñeren	tiñan

Gerund

tiñendo

Alternating verbs

These are verbs that alternate between diphthong and weakening.

They diphthong in the three persons singular (“yo”; “tú”; “él”, “ella”, “usted”) as well as in the third person plural (“ellos”, “ellas”, “ustedes”) in the present tense modes (indicative, subjunctive, imperative)

They weaken :

in the first two persons plural (“nosotros”, “nosotras”; “vosotros”, “vosotras”) in the Present subjunctive ;
in the third person singular and plural (“él”, “ella”, “usted”; “ellos”, “ellas”, “ustedes”) in the Simple past tense;
in the first person plural (“nosotros”, “nosotras”) in the Imperative ;
in Gerund.

There are two forms of alternation:

the final “-e” becomes “-ie” and “-i”;
the final “-o” becomes “-ue” and “-u”.

The alternation in “-ie” and “-e

The radical of the verbs in this category change like the verb “preferir” (to prefer).

	Present tense	Simple past tense	Present subjunctive	Imperfect subjunctive	Future subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	prefiero	preferí	prefiera	prefiriera / prefiriese	prefiriere	–
Tú	prefieres	preferiste	prefieras	prefirieras / prefirieses	prefirieres	prefiere
Él, ella, Usted	prefiere	prefirió	prefiera	prefiriera / prefiriese	prefiriere	prefiera
Nosotros, nosotras	preferimos	preferimos	prefiramos	prefiriéramos / prefiriésemos	prefiriéremos	prefiramos
Vosotros, vosotras	preferís	preferisteis	prefiráis	prefirierais / prefirieseis	prefiriereis	preferid
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	prefieren	prefirieron	prefieran	prefirieran / prefiriesen	prefirieren	prefieran

Gerund

prefiriendo

The alternation in « -ue » and « -u »

The radical of the verbs in this category change like the verb “dormir” (to sleep).

	Present tense	Simple past tense	Present subjunctive	Imperfect subjunctive	Future subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	duermo	dormí	durmiera / durmiese	durmiere	–
Tú	duermes	dormiste	durmieras / durmieses	durmieres	duerme
Él, ella, Usted	duerme	durmió	duerme	durmiera / durmiese	durmiere	duerma
Nosotros, nosotras	dormimos	dormimos	durmamos	durmiéramos / durmiésemos	durmiéremos	duermamos
Vosotros, vosotras	dormís	dormisteis	durmáis	durmierais / durmieseis	durmiereis	dormid
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	duermen	durmieron	duerman	durmieran / durmiesen	durmieren	duerman

Gerund

durmiendo

Verbs in “-acer”, “-ecer”, “-ocer” and “-ucir

The root of verbs in “-acer”, “-ecer”, “-ocer” and “-ucir” are transformed. Their “-c” becomes “-zc”:

in the first person singular (“yo”) in the Present tense ;
in all persons of the Present subjunctive ;
in the third person singular (“él”, “ella”, “Usted”); in the first and third person plural (“nosotros”, “nosotras”; “ellos”, “ellas”, “Ustedes”) in the Imperative.

The radical of the verbs in this category change like the verb “nacer” (to be born).

	Present tense	Present subjunctive	Imperative
Yo	nazco	nazca	–
Tú	naces	nazcas	nace
Él, ella, Usted	nace	nazca	nazcamos
Nosotros, nosotras	nacemos	nazcamos	nazcamos
Vosotros, vosotras	nacéis	nazcáis	naced
Ellos, ellas, Ustedes	nacieron	nazcan	nazcan

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👉 Next lesson : Unclassified irregular verbs

👉 Previous lesson: Regular verbs

How to make the Gerund in Spanish: Rules, Examples, Practice.

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 How to make the gerund in Spanish (Present Progressive)? When to use it?

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

I. Formation of the gerund

To form the gerund in Spanish, we use the structure:

Verb ESTAR conjugated + Radical of the verb + ending

* For verbs of the first group ending in -AR, the ending is -ANDO.

* For verbs of the 2nd and 3rd group ending in -IR or -ER, the ending is -IENDO.

Example :

Hablar (To speak) ==> Hablando
Andar (To walk) ==> Andando
Comer (To eat) ==> Comiendo
Vivir (To live) ==> Viviendo

II. Irregular verbs in the gerund

The irregular verbs in the gerund are :

IR (To go) ==> Yendo
DECIR (To say) ==> Diciendo
REIR (To laugh) ==> Riendo
VESTIR (To dress) ==> Vistiendo
PODER (Can) ==> Pudiendo
SENTIR (To feel) ==> Sintiendo
DORMIR (To sleep) ==> Durmiendo
MORIR (To die) ==> Muriendo
OIR (To hear) ==> Oyendo

N.B : Pronominal verbs change when using the gerund: the reflexive personal pronoun is placed behind the verb and is attached to it.

Example : Despertarse (To wake up) ==> Estoy despertándome ; Vestirse (To dress oneself) ==> Estamos vistiéndonos.

III. Use of the gerund

The gerund is always invariable. It is used to emphasize the duration of an action.

Often used with ESTAR, the gerund can also be used with other verbs like IR, SEGUIR, LLEVAR, etc.

The gerund can be used to:

* Express a progressive or continuous action

– Estoy mirando un video ==> I’m watching a video.
– Estoy conduciendo ==> I’m driving.
– La chica está jugando con sus amigas ==> The girl is playing with her friends.

This continuous or progressive action can take place in the past.

– Ayer, toda la tarde, estuve mirando un video ==> Yesterday, all afternoon, I watched a video.
– Iban subiendo ==> They were going up
– Sigue durmiendo ==> He is still sleeping.

* Describing an action that unfolds gradually, with the IR + Gerund structure

El niño va aprendiendo ==> The boy learns little by little.

* Expressing a logical relationship

Girando a la izquierda, encontraras la farmacia ==> If you turn left, you will find the pharmacy.

* Expressing temporal simultaneity

– Viajando a Argentina, aprendí el español ==> While traveling in Argentina, I learned Spanish.
– Me lo anunció riendo ==> He told me with a laugh.

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👉 Previous lesson: The present participle

Spanish Auxiliary Verbs (Haber, Ser, Estar) – Grammar Lesson

Posted on February 22, 2021March 24, 2021 by noobvoyage in Spanish Tenses

👉 How To Use Auxiliary Verbs in Spanish

– Spanish Grammar Basics for Beginners –

What is an auxiliary verb in Spanish?

Spanish auxiliary verbs are used in three cases:

for their own meaning;
in the conjugation of other verbs in compound tenses;
in periphrases.

In Spanish, the three auxiliary verbs are:

haber (to have);
ser (to be);
estar (to be).

The verb “haber” (to have)

“Haber” is used in all compound tenses in the active form. The auxiliary “haber” is also used in several periphrases.

Haber for the compound tenses

In Spanish, compound tenses are always composed of the conjugated form of the auxiliary “haber” followed by the past participle.

Se ha casado. She got married.
Te lo has comido todo. You have eaten everything.

In Spanish, there is never an agreement of the past participle. Conjugated with the auxiliary “haber”, the past participle is invariable.

Los postres que he comido eran muy ricos. The desserts I ate were very good.
Las chicas ya habían llegado cuando empezó a llover. The girls had already arrived when it started to rain.

In a Spanish sentence, the past participle and the auxiliary should never be separated.

Has comido mucho. You ate a lot.

The formation of compound tenses

Present perfect: “haber” in the present tense + past participle;
Past perfect: “haber” in the imperfect tense of the indicative + past participle;
past tense: “haber” in the simple past + past participle;
future tense: “haber” in the future tense + past participle;
past subjunctive: “haber” in the present subjunctive + past participle;
past perfect subjunctive: “haber” in the imperfect subjunctive + past participle;
past conditional: “haber” in the conditional + past participle.

Periphrases with haber

Haber de + infinitive

To designate a slight obligation, we use “haber” de + infinitive. This periphrase is equivalent to the construction “tener que + infinitive”.

He de conversar con Juana. = Tengo que conversar con Juana. I have to talk to Juana.

Haber que + infinitive

To designate an impersonal obligation (“it is necessary”), we use “haber” que + infinitive. Note that in the present tense, the form “hay” is used.

Hay que hacer deporte por lo menos una vez a la semana. You have to do sports at least once a week.
Había que comer de todo. You had to eat everything.

The verb “ser” (to be)

The verb “ser” is used as an auxiliary in the passive form, that is, when the action is undergone by the subject. The past participle that follows the auxiliary “ser” agrees in number (singular or plural) and gender (feminine or masculine) with the subject.

Este poema fue escrito por Gabriela Mistral. This poem was written by Gabriela Mistral.
Estas tortas fueron cocinadas por mi primo. These cakes were baked by my cousin.
La herida fue transportada al hospital. The injured person was taken to the hospital.

The verb “estar” (to be)

Like the verb “ser”, the verb “estar” is translated into Englishas “to be”.

Estar in the passive form

In Spanish, it is used to express a “false passive”, that is, when the state of the subject is the result of a previous action or a real or supposed transformation. The past participle following the auxiliary “estar” agrees in number (singular or plural) and gender (feminine or masculine) with the subject.

El vaso está roto. The glass is broken.
La ventana está cerrada. The window is closed.

Estar for the gerund

The auxiliary “estar” is used to express an action in progress. The form “estar + gerund” is translated into English as “verb + ing”. The gerund is always invariable. It is constructed by adding the following endings to the verb stem:

for verbs of the first group in “-ar”: “-ando” ;
for second group verbs in “-er”: “-iendo”;
for third group verbs in “-ir”: “-iendo”.

Examples :

Estás cocinando un pastel con tu hijo. You are baking a cake with your son.
Estoy leyendo un poema escrito por Pablo Neruda. I am reading a poem written by Pablo Neruda.

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👉 Previous lesson: Unclassified irregular verbs