1- CATALAN ALPHABET

2- WORD ORDER

1 Basic S + V Jo dormo. I sleep.

2 Direct object S + V + DO Jo llegeixo aquest llibre. I read that book.

3 Indirect object S + V + DO + IO Jo dono el llibre al nen. I give the boy the book.

4 Beneficiary S + V + DO + per a + beneficiary Jo compro un llibre per a ell. I buy a book for him.

5 IO pronoun S + V + IO pronoun + DO Jo li dono el llibre. I give him the book.

6 Adjective S + V + Adj El llibre és gran. The book is big.

7 Adverb S + V + Adv Ell llegeix ràpidament. He reads quickly.

8 Direct object + adverb S + V + DO + Adv Jo llegeixo aquest llibre ràpidament. I read that book quickly.

9 Time adverb S + V + Adv(time) Jo treballo avui. I work today.

10 Place adverb S + V + Adv(place) Ell viu allà. He lives there.

11 Prepositional phrase S + V + Prep + Place El llibre és sobre la taula. The book is on the table.

12 DO + preposition S + V + DO + Prep + N Jo poso el llibre sobre la taula. I put the book on the table.

13 Determiner + noun Det + N Aquest llibre és nou. This book is new.

14 Determiner + adjective + noun Det + N + Adj Aquest llibre gran és nou. This big book is new.

15 Numeral + noun Num + N + Adj Hi ha dos llibres nous allà. There are two new books there.

16 Conjunction Clause + Conj + Clause Jo llegeixo i ell escriu. I read, and he writes.

17 Conjunction + objects S + V + DO + Conj + S + V + DO Jo llegeixo el llibre i ell escriu una carta. I read the book, and he writes a letter.

18 Present passive S + passive verb El llibre és llegit. The book is read.

19 Passive + agent S + passive verb + per + Agent El llibre és llegit per Marc. The book is read by the teacher.

20 Passive + IO S + passive verb + a + IO El llibre és donat al nen. The book is given to the boy.

21 Passive + IO + agent S + passive verb + a + IO + per + Agent El llibre és donat al nen per Marc. The book is given to the boy by the teacher.

22 Passive + adverb S + Adv + passive verb El llibre és llegit avui. The book is read today.

23 Passive + preposition S + passive verb + Prep + N El llibre és posat sobre la taula. The book is put on the table.

24 Passive + agent + adverb S + Adv + passive verb + per + Agent El llibre avui és llegit per Marc. The book is read today by Mark.

25 Passive + agent + IO + adverb S + Adv + passive verb + a + IO + per + Agent El llibre avui és donat a l'estudiant per Marc. The book is given to the student today by the teacher.

26 Perfect passive S + perfect passive verb El llibre ha estat llegit. The book has been read.

27 Perfect passive + agent S + perfect passive verb + per + Agent El llibre ha estat llegit per Marc. The book has been read by Mark.

28 Future passive S + future passive verb El llibre serà llegit. The book will be read.

29 Future passive + agent S + future passive verb + per + Agent El llibre serà llegit per Marc. The book will be read by Mark.

30 Modal passive S + haver de + passive infinitive El llibre ha de ser llegit. The book must be read.

31 Negative S + no + V + DO Jo no llegeixo aquest llibre. I do not read that book.

32 Negative passive S + no + passive verb + per + Agent El llibre no és llegit per Marc. The book is not read by Mark.

33 Yes/no question S + V + DO? Tu llegeixes aquest llibre? Do you read that book?

34 Passive question S + passive verb? El llibre és llegit? Is the book read?

35 Agent question Qui + V + DO? Qui llegeix aquest llibre? Who reads that book?

36 IO question A qui + S + V + DO? A qui dones el llibre? To whom do you give the book?

37 Imperative Verb + DO Llegeix el llibre! Read the book!

38 Imperative + IO Verb + DO + IO Dona el llibre al nen! Give the boy the book!

39 Passive imperative Que + S + passive subjunctive Que es llegeixi el llibre! Let the book be read!

40 Infinitive / gerund Infinitive / gerund llegir / llegint to read / reading

41 Infinitive + DO Infinitive + DO llegir el llibre to read the book

42 Passive infinitive ser + past participle ser llegit to be read

43 Purpose S + V + per + infinitive Jo menjo per jugar. I eat to play / in order to play.

44 Relative clause N + que + clause El llibre que llegeixo és interessant. The book that I read is interesting.

45 Passive relative N + que + passive clause El llibre que és llegit per Marc és interessant. The book that is read by Mark is interesting.

46 Conditional / if Si + clause, clause Si tinc temps, llegeixo. If I have time, I read.

47 Conditional + passive Si + passive clause, clause Si es llegeix el llibre, es poden aprendre moltes coses. If the book is read, many things can be learned.

48 Reported speech S + speech verb + que + clause Ell va dir que estava llegint. He said that he was reading.

49 Reported question S + speech verb + si + clause Ell va preguntar si jo estava llegint. He asked if I was reading.

50 Reported command/request S + demanar + a + person + que + subjunctive Ell em va demanar que llegís aquell llibre. He asked me to read that book.

ADVERBS:

1 Manner Adverb + Verb / usually after verb Llegeixo el llibre ràpidament. I read the book quickly.

2 Place Place adverb + Verb / usually after or before verb Llegeixo el llibre a casa. I read the book at home.

3 Time Time adverb + Sentence / beginning, middle, or end Ahir vaig llegir el llibre. I read the book yesterday.

4 Frequency Frequency adverb + Verb / usually after conjugated verb Sovint llegeixo llibres. I often read books.

5 Frequency + be Frequency adverb + ser/estar + Predicate Ell sempre està content. He is always happy.

6 Frequency + auxiliary Frequency adverb + Auxiliary + Past participle No he vist mai això. I have never seen this.

7 Degree Degree adverb + Adjective Això és molt bo. It is very good.

8 Degree + verb Degree adverb + Verb M'agrada molt això. I really like this.

9 Sentence adverb Sentence adverb + Clause / usually beginning Per sort, vaig guanyar. Fortunately, I won.

10 Comment adverb Comment expression + Clause / usually beginning Sincerament, no ho sé. Honestly, I don't know.

11 Linking adverb Linking adverb + Clause / usually beginning Estava cansat; tanmateix, vaig treballar. I was tired; however, I worked.

12 Direction Direction adverb + Verb / often after verb Ella va sortir fora. She went outside.

13 Definite frequency Definite frequency expression + Verb Hi vaig cada dia. I go there every day.

14 Duration Duration expression + Verb Vaig estudiar durant dues hores. I studied for two hours.

15 Purpose per + infinitive / per tal de + infinitive Hi vaig anar per estudiar. I went there to study.

INDIRECT OBJECT:

IO noun a + noun Dono el llibre al nen. I give the book to the boy.

IO proper name a + name Dono el llibre a Maria. I give the book to Maria.

IO pronoun em / et / li / ens / us / els Li dono el llibre. I give him/her the book.

Full IO + pronoun a + noun + IO pronoun A Maria, li dono el llibre. I give Maria the book.

Stressed IO pronoun a + personal pronoun Li dono el llibre a ell. I give him the book.

Plural IO als / a les + noun Dono els llibres als alumnes. I give the books to the students.

Beneficiary per a + person Compro un llibre per a ell. I buy a book for him.

GENITIVE:

Possession N + de + possessor el llibre de Joan Joan's book

Definite possessor N + del/de la/dels/de les el cotxe del professor the teacher's car

Name N + de + name la casa de Maria Maria's house

Possessive adjective possessive + N el meu llibre my book

Independent possessive el/la/els/les + possessive el meu mine

Double possession N + possessive un amic meu a friend of mine

Material N + de + material una taula de fusta wooden table

Origin/source N + de + source vi de França wine from France

Content container + de + content un got d'aigua a glass of water

Quantity quantity + de + N un munt de llibres a pile of books

Relationship N + de + person el germà de Joan Joan's brother

Classification/type N + de + N llibre de gramàtica grammar book

Abstract relation N + de + N el final del llibre the end of the book

INDEPENDENT:

Person Masculine singular Feminine singular Masculine plural Feminine plural English

jo el meu la meva els meus les meves mine

tu el teu la teva els teus les teves yours

ell / ella el seu la seva els seus les seves his / hers

nosaltres el nostre la nostra els nostres les nostres ours

vosaltres el vostre la vostra els vostres les vostres yours

ells / elles el seu la seva els seus les seves theirs

Aquest llibre és el meu. This book is mine

WAS GOING TO:

jo anava a menjar I was going to eat

tu anaves a menjar you were going to eat

ell anava a menjar he was going to eat

ella anava a menjar she was going to eat

nosaltres anàvem a menjar we were going to eat

vosaltres anàveu a menjar you were going to eat

ells anaven a menjar they were going to eat

elles anaven a menjar they were going to eat

jo estava a punt de menjar I was about to eat

tu estaves a punt de menjar you were about to eat

ell estava a punt de menjar he was about to eat

ella estava a punt de menjar she was about to eat

nosaltres estàvem a punt de menjar we were about to eat

vosaltres estàveu a punt de menjar you were about to eat

ells estaven a punt de menjar they were about to eat

elles estaven a punt de menjar they were about to eat

jo pensava menjar I was planning/intending to eat

tu pensaves menjar you were planning/intending to eat

ell/ella pensava menjar he/she was planning/intending to eat

nosaltres pensàvem menjar we were planning/intending to eat

vosaltres pensàveu menjar you were planning/intending to eat

ells/elles pensaven menjar they were planning/intending to eat

2- NOUNS

# Topic Catalan Example English

1 Gender masculí / femení el llibre / la casa masculine / feminine

2 Singular singular llibre book

3 Plural plural llibres books

4 Masculine article el / els el llibre / els llibres the book / books

5 Feminine article la / les la casa / les cases the house / houses

6 Indefinite masculine un / uns un llibre / uns llibres a book / some books

7 Indefinite feminine una / unes una casa / unes cases a house / some houses

8 Zero article — Vull pa. I want bread.

9 Regular plural + -s llibre → llibres book → books

10 -a plural -a → -es casa → cases house → houses

11 -s nouns special/invariable llapis → llapis pencil → pencils

12 -s → -os common special pattern mes → mesos month → months

13 -x → -os common pattern reflex → reflexos reflex → reflexes

14 -ç → -ços common pattern braç → braços arm → arms

15 -ió → -ions common pattern nació → nacions nation → nations

16 Accent changes spelling may change cançó → cançons song → songs

17 Irregular plural lexical/spelling changes home → homes man → men

18 Invariable noun same form el llapis → els llapis pencil(s)

19 Gender-changing noun different forms rei → reina king → queen

20 Same-form gender article shows gender el/la periodista male/female journalist

21 Epicene noun one grammatical gender varies same noun for sexes

22 Proper noun nom propi Barcelona, Maria Barcelona, Maria

23 Collective noun nom col·lectiu la gent people

24 Mass noun uncountable aigua water

25 Count noun countable un llibre a book

26 Diminutive -et/-eta etc. casa → caseta house → little house

27 Augmentative -ot/-ota etc. casa → casota big house

28 Noun derivation suffixes informar → informació inform → information

29 Compound noun compounds para-sol parasol

30 Noun + adjective agreement la casa nova the new house

31 Demonstrative aquest/aquesta etc. aquesta casa this house

32 Possessive meu/meva etc. la meva casa my house

33 Numeral dos, tres etc. dos llibres two books

34 Quantifier molt, poc, etc. molts llibres many books

35 Genitive de + noun el llibre de Joan Joan's book

36 de + el del del noi of the boy

37 de + els dels dels nois of the boys

38 Indirect object a + noun al noi to the boy

39 a + el al al noi to the boy

40 a + els als als nois to the boys

41 Direct object usually unmarked Veig el noi. I see the boy.

42 Instrument amb + noun amb un bolígraf with a pen

43 Location a/en + noun a la casa at/to the house

44 Source de/des de + noun de la casa from the house

45 Direction a/cap a + noun cap a Barcelona toward Barcelona

46 Purpose per a + noun per a nens for children

47 Absence sense + noun sense sucre without sugar

48 Accompaniment amb + noun amb el meu amic with my friend

49 Coordination i / o pare i mare father and mother

50 Noun + de phrase noun + de llibre d'història history book

51 Relative clause que, qui, etc. la casa que vaig comprar the house that I bought

52 Apposition noun + noun Joan, el professor Joan, the teacher

53 Vocative normally bare noun Maria! Maria!

54 Case system no noun case endings llibre remains llibre noun doesn't decline

55 Noun phrase determiner + noun + modifiers la meva casa gran my big house

3- ADJECTIVES

# Category Formation / Pattern Example English

1 Basic adjective adjective gran big / great

2 Masculine singular base form un noi alt a tall boy

3 Feminine singular often -a una noia alta a tall girl

4 Masculine plural often + -s nois alts tall boys

5 Feminine plural -a → -es noies altes tall girls

6 4-form adjective -Ø / -a / -s / -es alt, alta, alts, altes tall

7 2-form adjective masculine/feminine same; plural changes feliç, feliç, feliços, felices happy

8 Invariable adjective same in gender and number beix beige

9 Gender agreement adjective agrees with noun casa blanca white house

10 Number agreement adjective agrees in number cases blanques white houses

11 Noun + adjective N + Adj una casa gran a big house

12 Adjective + noun Adj + N una gran casa a great/big house

13 Multiple adjectives N + Adj + Adj una casa gran i blanca a big white house

14 Coordinated adjectives Adj + i + Adj alt i fort tall and strong

15 Masculine definite el + noun + adjective el noi alt the tall boy

16 Feminine definite la + noun + adjective la noia alta the tall girl

17 Masculine plural els + noun + adjective-s els nois alts the tall boys

18 Feminine plural les + noun + adjective-es les noies altes the tall girls

19 Indefinite masculine un + N + Adj un noi alt a tall boy

20 Indefinite feminine una + N + Adj una noia alta a tall girl

21 Demonstrative aquest/aquesta + N + Adj aquesta casa blanca this white house

22 Possessive possessive + N + Adj la meva casa gran my big house

23 Numeral numeral + N + Adj dues cases grans two big houses

24 Quantifier quantifier + N + Adj moltes cases grans many big houses

25 Attributive N + ser + Adj La casa és gran. The house is big.

26 Predicative adjective describes subject/object El noi està cansat. The boy is tired.

27 Adjective with ser ser + Adj És intel·ligent. He/she is intelligent.

28 Adjective with estar estar + Adj Està cansat. He/she is tired.

29 Adjective with semblar semblar + Adj Sembla feliç. He/she seems happy.

30 Comparative equality tan + Adj + com tan alt com jo as tall as me

31 Comparative superiority més + Adj + que més alt que jo taller than me

32 Comparative inferiority menys + Adj + que menys alt que jo less tall than me

33 Superlative relative el/la més + Adj el més alt the tallest

34 Superlative relative plural els/les més + Adj les més altes the tallest

35 Superlative inferiority el menys + Adj el menys car the least expensive

36 Absolute superlative Adj + -íssim/-íssima altíssim extremely tall / very tall

37 Absolute superlative plural -íssims/-íssimes altíssimes extremely tall

38 Very + adjective molt + Adj molt alt very tall

39 Very + feminine molt + Adj-fem. molt alta very tall

40 Too + adjective massa + Adj massa alt too tall

41 Quite/rather bastant + Adj bastant alt quite tall

42 More/less més/menys + Adj més interessant more interesting

43 Adjective with infinitive Adj + de + infinitive fàcil de fer easy to do

44 Adjective + preposition adjective + required prep. interessat en això interested in this

45 Adjective + noun complement Adj + de + N ple de gent full of people

46 Adjective + relative clause Adj + que... content que vinguis happy that you are coming

47 Adjective as noun adjective used substantivally els joves young people

48 Adjective after article article + adjective els grans the big ones / adults

49 Adjective modifying pronoun pronoun + adjective algú especial someone special

50 Adjective modifying indefinite res important nothing important nothing important

51 Adjective with participle participle functions as adjective una porta oberta an open door

52 Compound adjective compound formation blaugrana blue-and-red

53 Derived adjective suffix + root nacional national

54 Adjective from noun noun → adjective cultura catalana Catalan culture

55 Adjective from place place + adjective francès / francesa French

56 Adjective agreement with coordinated nouns agreement with nouns un noi i una noia alts a tall boy and girl

57 Adjective after multiple nouns agreement depends on coordination cases i edificis alts tall houses and buildings

58 Adjective position changes meaning pre/postposition un gran home / un home gran a great man / a big man

59 Adjective modifying object DO + Adj Trobo el llibre interessant. I find the book interesting.

60 Adjective modifying subject S + V + Adj El llibre és interessant. The book is interesting.

TO BE VERB:

jo sóc I am

tu ets you are

ell és he is

ella és she is

nosaltres som we are

vosaltres sou you are

ells són they are

elles són they are

jo estic I am

tu estàs you are

ell/ella està he/she is

nosaltres estem we are

vosaltres esteu you are

ells/elles estan they are

SER ESTAR

identity state/condition

profession temporary condition

origin location

inherent characteristics resulting state

Sóc professor. Estic cansat.

I am a teacher. I am tired.

És de Barcelona. Està a Barcelona.

He/she is from Barcelona. He/she is in Barcelona.

jo era I was

tu eres you were

ell era he was

ella era she was

nosaltres érem we were

vosaltres éreu you were

ells eren they were

elles eren they were

jo fui I was

tu fores you were

ell fou he was

ella fou she was

nosaltres fórem we were

vosaltres fóreu you were

ells foren they were

elles foren they were

jo vaig ser I was

tu vas ser you were

ell va ser he was

ella va ser she was

nosaltres vam ser we were

vosaltres vau ser you were

ells van ser they were

elles van ser they were

jo he estat I have been

tu has estat you have been

ell ha estat he has been

ella ha estat she has been

nosaltres hem estat we have been

vosaltres heu estat you have been

ells han estat they have been

elles han estat they have been

jo havia estat I had been

tu havies estat you had been

ell havia estat he had been

ella havia estat she had been

nosaltres havíem estat we had been

vosaltres havíeu estat you had been

ells havien estat they had been

elles havien estat they had been

jo haguí estat I had been

tu hagueres estat you had been

ell hagué estat he had been

ella hagué estat she had been

nosaltres haguérem estat we had been

vosaltres haguéreu estat you had been

ells hagueren estat they had been

elles hagueren estat they had been

jo seré I will be

tu seràs you will be

ell serà he will be

ella serà she will be

nosaltres serem we will be

vosaltres sereu you will be

ells seran they will be

elles seran they will be

jo hauré estat I will have been

tu hauràs estat you will have been

ell haurà estat he will have been

ella haurà estat she will have been

nosaltres haurem estat we will have been

vosaltres haureu estat you will have been

ells hauran estat they will have been

elles hauran estat they will have been

SUBJUNCTIVE:

jo sigui that I be

tu siguis that you be

ell sigui that he be

ella sigui that she be

nosaltres siguem that we be

vosaltres sigueu that you be

ells siguin that they be

elles siguin that they be

jo hagi estat that I have been

tu hagis estat that you have been

ell hagi estat that he has been

ella hagi estat that she has been

nosaltres hàgim estat that we have been

vosaltres hàgiu estat that you have been

ells hagin estat that they have been

elles hagin estat that they have been

jo fos that I were

tu fossis that you were

ell fos that he were

ella fos that she were

nosaltres fóssim that we were

vosaltres fóssiu that you were

ells fossin that they were

elles fossin that they were

jo hagués estat that I had been

tu haguessis estat that you had been

ell hagués estat that he had been

ella hagués estat that she had been

nosaltres haguéssim estat that we had been

vosaltres haguéssiu estat that you had been

ells haguessin estat that they had been

elles haguessin estat that they had been

Person Catalan English

Tu sigues! be!

Vostè sigui! be!

Nosaltres siguem! let's be!

Vosaltres sigueu! be!

Vostès siguin! be!

Negative:

Person Catalan English

Tu no siguis! don't be!

Vostè no sigui! don't be!

Nosaltres no siguem! let's not be!

Vosaltres no sigueu! don't be!

Vostès no siguin! don't be!

Form Catalan English

Infinitive ser to be

Perfect infinitive haver estat to have been

Gerund sent being

Perfect gerund havent estat having been

Past participle estat been

4- PRONOUNS

# Type Catalan English

1 Personal subject jo I

2 Personal subject tu you

3 Personal subject ell he

4 Personal subject ella she

5 Personal subject nosaltres we

6 Personal subject vosaltres you (plural)

7 Personal subject ells they

8 Personal subject elles they

9 Formal you vostè you (formal singular)

10 Formal plural vostès you (formal plural)

11 Reflexive em myself

12 Reflexive et yourself

13 Reflexive es himself/herself/itself

14 Reflexive ens ourselves

15 Reflexive us yourselves

16 Reflexive es themselves

17 Direct object em me

18 Direct object et you

19 Direct object el/la him/her/it

20 Direct object ens us

21 Direct object us you

22 Direct object els/les them

23 Indirect object em to me

24 Indirect object et to you

25 Indirect object li to him/her

26 Indirect object ens to us

27 Indirect object us to you

28 Indirect object els to them

29 Possessive determiner meu/meva my

30 Possessive determiner teu/teva your

31 Possessive determiner seu/seva his/her/your

32 Possessive determiner nostre/nostra our

33 Possessive determiner vostre/vostra your

34 Possessive determiner seu/seva their

35 Independent possessive el meu/la meva mine

36 Independent possessive el teu/la teva yours

37 Independent possessive el seu/la seva his/hers/yours

38 Independent possessive el nostre/la nostra ours

39 Independent possessive el vostre/la vostra yours

40 Independent possessive el seu/la seva theirs

41 Demonstrative aquest this

42 Demonstrative aquesta this

43 Demonstrative aquests these

44 Demonstrative aquestes these

45 Demonstrative això this/this thing

46 Demonstrative això this

47 Demonstrative allò that/that thing

48 Interrogative qui who

49 Interrogative què what

50 Interrogative quin which

51 Interrogative quina which

52 Interrogative quins which

53 Interrogative quines which

54 Interrogative on where

55 Interrogative quan when

56 Interrogative com how

57 Interrogative quant how much

58 Interrogative quanta how much

59 Interrogative quants how many

60 Interrogative quantes how many

61 Relative que that/which/who

62 Relative qui who

63 Relative què which/what

64 Relative el qual which/who

65 Relative la qual which/who

66 Relative els quals which/who

67 Relative les quals which/who

68 Indefinite algú someone

69 Indefinite ningú nobody

70 Indefinite alguna cosa something

71 Indefinite res nothing

72 Indefinite tot everything

73 Indefinite tothom everyone

74 Indefinite cadascú each person

75 Indefinite cadascun each one

76 Indefinite qualsevol anyone/any

77 Indefinite altre another

78 Indefinite mateix same

79 Quantifier pronoun molt much/many

80 Quantifier pronoun poc little/few

81 Quantifier pronoun prou enough

82 Quantifier pronoun massa too much/many

83 Quantifier pronoun bastant enough/quite a lot

84 Numeral pronoun un one

85 Numeral pronoun dos two

86 Numeral pronoun tots dos both

87 Adverbial pronoun hi there / to it / in it

88 Adverbial pronoun en of it / some / from there

89 Clitic combination li'l it to him/her

90 Clitic combination els la etc. various combinations

Jo dormo. I sleep

5- VERB TENSES

jo parlo I speak

tu parles you speak

ell/ella parla he/she speaks

nosaltres parlem we speak

vosaltres parleu you speak

ells/elles parlen they speak

jo estic parlant I am speaking

tu estàs parlant you are speaking

ell/ella està parlant he/she is speaking

nosaltres estem parlant we are speaking

vosaltres esteu parlant you are speaking

ells/elles estan parlant they are speaking

jo he parlat I have spoken

tu has parlat you have spoken

ell/ella ha parlat he/she has spoken

nosaltres hem parlat we have spoken

vosaltres heu parlat you have spoken

ells/elles han parlat they have spoken

jo parlava I was speaking / used to speak

tu parlaves you were speaking / used to speak

ell/ella parlava he/she was speaking

nosaltres parlàvem we were speaking

vosaltres parlàveu you were speaking

ells/elles parlaven they were speaking

jo parlí I spoke

tu parlares you spoke

ell/ella parlà he/she spoke

nosaltres parlàrem we spoke

vosaltres parlàreu you spoke

ells/elles parlaren they spoke

jo vaig parlar I spoke

tu vas parlar you spoke

ell/ella va parlar he/she spoke

nosaltres vam parlar we spoke

vosaltres vau parlar you spoke

ells/elles van parlar they spoke

jo havia parlat I had spoken

tu havies parlat you had spoken

ell/ella havia parlat he/she had spoken

nosaltres havíem parlat we had spoken

vosaltres havíeu parlat you had spoken

ells/elles havien parlat they had spoken

jo haguí parlat I had spoken

tu hagueres parlat you had spoken

ell/ella hagué parlat he/she had spoken

nosaltres haguérem parlat we had spoken

vosaltres haguéreu parlat you had spoken

ells/elles hagueren parlat they had spoken

jo parlaré I will speak

tu parlaràs you will speak

ell/ella parlarà he/she will speak

nosaltres parlarem we will speak

vosaltres parlareu you will speak

ells/elles parlaran they will speak

jo hauré parlat I will have spoken

tu hauràs parlat you will have spoken

ell/ella haurà parlat he/she will have spoken

nosaltres haurem parlat we will have spoken

vosaltres haureu parlat you will have spoken

ells/elles hauran parlat they will have spoken

SUBJUNCTIVE:

jo parli I speak / may speak

tu parlis you speak

ell/ella parli he/she speak

nosaltres parlem we speak

vosaltres parleu you speak

ells/elles parlin they speak

jo hagi parlat I have spoken

tu hagis parlat you have spoken

ell/ella hagi parlat he/she has spoken

nosaltres hàgim parlat we have spoken

vosaltres hàgiu parlat you have spoken

ells/elles hagin parlat they have spoken

jo parlés I spoke / were to speak

tu parlessis you spoke

ell/ella parlés he/she spoke

nosaltres parléssim we spoke

vosaltres parléssiu you spoke

ells/elles parlessin they spoke

jo hagués parlat I had spoken

tu haguessis parlat you had spoken

ell/ella hagués parlat he/she had spoken

nosaltres haguéssim parlat we had spoken

vosaltres haguéssiu parlat you had spoken

ells/elles haguessin parlat they had spoken

jo parlare I will speak

tu parlares

ell/ella parlare

nosaltres parlàrem

vosaltres parlàreu

ells/elles parlaren

Pronoun Catalan English

tu parla! speak!

vostè parli! speak!

nosaltres parlem! let's speak!

vosaltres parleu! speak!

vostès parlin! speak!

Pronoun Catalan English

tu no parlis! don't speak!

vostè no parli! don't speak!

nosaltres no parlem! let's not speak!

vosaltres no parleu! don't speak!

vostès no parlin! don't speak!

6- PASSIVE TENSES

Jo sóc parlat / sóc parlada I am spoken about

Tu ets parlat / ets parlada You are spoken about

Ell és parlat He is spoken about

Ella és parlada She is spoken about

Nosaltres som parlats / parlades We are spoken about

Vosaltres sou parlats / parlades You are spoken about

Ells són parlats They are spoken about

Elles són parlades They are spoken about

Jo estic sent parlat / parlada I am being spoken about

Tu estàs sent parlat / parlada You are being spoken about

Ell està sent parlat He is being spoken about

Ella està sent parlada She is being spoken about

Nosaltres estem sent parlats / parlades We are being spoken about

Vosaltres esteu sent parlats / parlades You are being spoken about

Ells estan sent parlats They are being spoken about

Elles estan sent parlades They are being spoken about

Jo he estat parlat / parlada I have been spoken about

Tu has estat parlat / parlada You have been spoken about

Ell ha estat parlat He has been spoken about

Ella ha estat parlada She has been spoken about

Nosaltres hem estat parlats / parlades We have been spoken about

Vosaltres heu estat parlats / parlades You have been spoken about

Ells han estat parlats They have been spoken about

Elles han estat parlades They have been spoken about

Jo era parlat / parlada I was being spoken about

Tu eres parlat / parlada You were being spoken about

Ell era parlat He was being spoken about

Ella era parlada She was being spoken about

Nosaltres érem parlats / parlades We were being spoken about

Vosaltres éreu parlats / parlades You were being spoken about

Ells eren parlats They were being spoken about

Elles eren parlades They were being spoken about

Jo fui parlat / parlada I was spoken about

Tu fores parlat / parlada You were spoken about

Ell fou parlat He was spoken about

Ella fou parlada She was spoken about

Nosaltres fórem parlats / parlades We were spoken about

Vosaltres fóreu parlats / parlades You were spoken about

Ells foren parlats They were spoken about

Elles foren parlades They were spoken about

Jo vaig ser parlat / parlada I was spoken about

Tu vas ser parlat / parlada You were spoken about

Ell va ser parlat He was spoken about

Ella va ser parlada She was spoken about

Nosaltres vam ser parlats / parlades We were spoken about

Vosaltres vau ser parlats / parlades You were spoken about

Ells van ser parlats They were spoken about

Elles van ser parlades They were spoken about

Jo havia estat parlat / parlada I had been spoken about

Tu havies estat parlat / parlada You had been spoken about

Ell havia estat parlat He had been spoken about

Ella havia estat parlada She had been spoken about

Nosaltres havíem estat parlats / parlades We had been spoken about

Vosaltres havíeu estat parlats / parlades You had been spoken about

Ells havien estat parlats They had been spoken about

Elles havien estat parlades They had been spoken about

Jo seré parlat / parlada I will be spoken about

Tu seràs parlat / parlada You will be spoken about

Ell serà parlat He will be spoken about

Ella serà parlada She will be spoken about

Nosaltres serem parlats / parlades We will be spoken about

Vosaltres sereu parlats / parlades You will be spoken about

Ells seran parlats They will be spoken about

Elles seran parlades They will be spoken about

Jo hauré estat parlat / parlada I will have been spoken about

Tu hauràs estat parlat / parlada You will have been spoken about

Ell haurà estat parlat He will have been spoken about

Ella haurà estat parlada She will have been spoken about

Nosaltres haurem estat parlats / parlades We will have been spoken about

Vosaltres haureu estat parlats / parlades You will have been spoken about

Ells hauran estat parlats They will have been spoken about

Elles hauran estat parlades They will have been spoken about

SUBJUNCTIVE:

Jo sigui parlat / parlada that I be spoken about

Tu siguis parlat / parlada that you be spoken about

Ell sigui parlat that he be spoken about

Ella sigui parlada that she be spoken about

Nosaltres siguem parlats / parlades that we be spoken about

Vosaltres sigueu parlats / parlades that you be spoken about

Ells siguin parlats that they be spoken about

Elles siguin parlades that they be spoken about

Jo hagi estat parlat / parlada that I have been spoken about

Tu hagis estat parlat / parlada that you have been spoken about

Ell hagi estat parlat that he has been spoken about

Ella hagi estat parlada that she has been spoken about

Nosaltres hàgim estat parlats / parlades that we have been spoken about

Vosaltres hàgiu estat parlats / parlades that you have been spoken about

Ells hagin estat parlats that they have been spoken about

Elles hagin estat parlades that they have been spoken about

Jo fos parlat / parlada that I were/were being spoken about

Tu fossis parlat / parlada that you were spoken about

Ell fos parlat that he were spoken about

Ella fos parlada that she were spoken about

Nosaltres fóssim parlats / parlades that we were spoken about

Vosaltres fóssiu parlats / parlades that you were spoken about

Ells fossin parlats that they were spoken about

Elles fossin parlades that they were spoken about

Jo hagués estat parlat / parlada that I had been spoken about

Tu haguessis estat parlat / parlada that you had been spoken about

Ell hagués estat parlat that he had been spoken about

Ella hagués estat parlada that she had been spoken about

Nosaltres haguéssim estat parlats / parlades that we had been spoken about

Vosaltres haguéssiu estat parlats / parlades that you had been spoken about

Ells haguessin estat parlats that they had been spoken about

Elles haguessin estat parlades that they had been spoken about

Person Catalan English

Tu sigues parlat / parlada be spoken about

Vostè sigui parlat / parlada be spoken about

Nosaltres siguem parlats / parlades let us be spoken about

Vosaltres sigueu parlats / parlades be spoken about

Vostès siguin parlats / parlades be spoken about

7- NEGATION:

Tense Jo Tu Ell/Ella Nosaltres Vosaltres Ells/Elles

Present no parlo no parles no parla no parlem no parleu no parlen

Present progressive no estic parlant no estàs parlant no està parlant no estem parlant no esteu parlant no estan parlant

Present perfect no he parlat no has parlat no ha parlat no hem parlat no heu parlat no han parlat

Imperfect no parlava no parlaves no parlava no parlàvem no parlàveu no parlaven

Simple past no parlí no parlares no parlà no parlàrem no parlàreu no parlaren

Periphrastic past no vaig parlar no vas parlar no va parlar no vam parlar no vau parlar no van parlar

Pluperfect no havia parlat no havies parlat no havia parlat no havíem parlat no havíeu parlat no havien parlat

Future no parlaré no parlaràs no parlarà no parlarem no parlareu no parlaran

Future perfect no hauré parlat no hauràs parlat no haurà parlat no haurem parlat no haureu parlat no hauran parlat

Conditional no parlaria no parlaries no parlaria no parlaríem no parlaríeu no parlarien

Conditional perfect no hauria parlat no hauries parlat no hauria parlat no hauríem parlat no hauríeu parlat no haurien parlat

Passive ser + participle

Negative passive no + ser + participle

Perfect passive haver + estat + participle

Negative perfect passive no + haver + estat + participle

8- QUESTIONS:

Question type Formation Example English

Yes/no verb...? Parles català? Do you speak Catalan?

Who qui + verb? Qui parla? Who speaks?

What què + verb? Què fas? What are you doing?

Which quin/a/s/es + noun? Quin llibre vols? Which book do you want?

Where on + verb? On vius? Where do you live?

Where from d'on + verb? D'on ets? Where are you from?

Where to on/a on + verb? On vas? Where are you going?

When quan + verb? Quan vens? When are you coming?

How com + verb? Com ho fas? How do you do it?

Why per què + verb? Per què plores? Why are you crying?

How much quant/a + noun/verb? Quant costa? How much does it cost?

How many quants/es + noun? Quants llibres tens? How many books do you have?

Whose de qui + noun/verb? De qui és? Whose is it?

With whom amb qui + verb? Amb qui parles? Who are you speaking with?

To whom a qui + verb? A qui dones això? Who do you give this to?

9- ADVERBS:

Catalan English

ara now

avui today

ahir yesterday

demà tomorrow

abans before / earlier

després after / afterward

aviat soon / early

tard late

d'hora early

sempre always

mai never / ever

sovint often

freqüentment frequently

habitualment usually / habitually

normalment normally

generalment generally

rarament rarely

de vegades sometimes

a vegades sometimes

de tant en tant from time to time

mentrestant meanwhile

encara still / yet

ja already / yet

encara no not yet

recentment recently

recent recently

actualment currently

antigament formerly / in ancient times

anteriorment previously

posteriorment afterward / subsequently

finalment finally

eventualment eventually / possibly

immediatament immediately

tot seguit immediately afterward

després afterward

primer first

primerament firstly

inicialment initially

prèviament previously

simultàniament simultaneously

conjuntament jointly / together

consecutivament consecutively

successivament successively

temporalment temporarily

permanentment permanently

diàriament daily

setmanalment weekly

mensualment monthly

anualment annually

cada dia every day

cada setmana every week

cada mes every month

cada any every year

2. Place adverbs — Adverbis de lloc

Catalan English

aquí here

ací here

allí there

allà over there

d'aquí from here

d'allí from there

d'allà from over there

on where

onsevulla wherever

on sigui wherever

a tot arreu everywhere

arreu everywhere / throughout

pertot everywhere

enlloc nowhere / anywhere

enllà beyond / over there

endavant forward

enrere backward / back

amunt upward / up

avall downward / down

dins inside

fora outside

a dins inside

a fora outside

davant in front

darrere behind

al davant in front

al darrere behind

prop near

a prop nearby

lluny far

a la vora nearby / beside

al costat beside

al voltant around

al mig in the middle

pertot arreu everywhere

enfora outward / outside

endins inward / inside

amunt i avall up and down

aquí mateix right here

allà mateix right there

més enllà farther beyond

més a prop closer

més lluny farther away

3. Manner adverbs — Adverbis de manera

Catalan English

així like this / thus

bé well

malament badly

millor better

pitjor worse

ràpidament quickly

lentament slowly

fàcilment easily

difícilment with difficulty / hardly

clarament clearly

exactament exactly

correctament correctly

incorrectament incorrectly

especialment especially

principalment mainly

simplement simply

realment really

actualment currently

directament directly

indirectament indirectly

completament completely

parcialment partially

totalment totally

perfectament perfectly

gairebé almost

aproximadament approximately

exactament exactly

probablement probably

evidentment evidently

naturalment naturally

normalment normally

generalment generally

particularment particularly

específicament specifically

conjuntament jointly

separadament separately

individualment individually

voluntàriament voluntarily

involuntàriament involuntarily

intencionadament intentionally

accidentalment accidentally

silenciosament silently

sorollosament noisily

ràpid quickly / fast

lent slowly / slow

fort loudly / strongly

fluix softly / quietly

junt together

separadament separately

Formation

A very productive way to form Catalan manner adverbs is:

adjective feminine singular + -ment

Adjective Adverb English

ràpid / ràpida ràpidament quickly

lent / lenta lentament slowly

clar / clara clarament clearly

fàcil / fàcil fàcilment easily

natural / natural naturalment naturally

especial / especial especialment especially

probable / probable probablement probably

exacte / exacta exactament exactly

4. Degree adverbs — Adverbis de grau

These modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs, or entire expressions.

Catalan English

molt very / much

poc little / not much

gaire much / very much

massa too much / too

prou enough / quite

bastant quite / fairly / enough

força quite / rather / fairly

tan so / as

tant so much / as much

més more

menys less

gairebé almost

quasi almost

completament completely

totalment totally

absolutament absolutely

extremadament extremely

enormement enormously

immensament immensely

extraordinàriament extraordinarily

especialment especially

particularment particularly

excessivament excessively

considerablement considerably

lleugerament slightly

una mica a little

una mica més a little more

una mica menys a little less

molt més much more

molt menys much less

força més quite a bit more

força menys quite a bit less

gens at all

ni mica not at all

Important

molt changes according to whether it is an adjective/determiner or an adverb:

- molts llibres = many books

- molta gent = many people

- Parla molt. = He/she speaks a lot.

- És molt alt. = He/she is very tall.

The adverb molt is invariable.

5. Frequency adverbs — Adverbis de freqüència

Catalan English

sempre always

sovint often

freqüentment frequently

habitualment usually

normalment normally / usually

generalment generally

regularment regularly

diàriament daily

setmanalment weekly

mensualment monthly

anualment annually

rarament rarely

poques vegades rarely / few times

algunes vegades sometimes

de vegades sometimes

a vegades sometimes

ocasionalment occasionally

excepcionalment exceptionally

mai never / ever

de tant en tant from time to time

cada vegada each time

cada cop each time

gairebé sempre almost always

gairebé mai almost never

molt sovint very often

no gaire sovint not very often

6. Affirmation adverbs — Adverbis d'afirmació

Catalan English

sí yes

certament certainly

cert certainly / true

efectivament indeed / effectively

realment really / indeed

evidentment evidently

naturalment naturally / of course

indubtablement undoubtedly

sens dubte undoubtedly / without doubt

segurament surely / probably

probablement probably

veritablement truly

definitivament definitely

exactament exactly

precisament precisely

també also / too

encara still

així és that's right

7. Negation adverbs — Adverbis de negació

Catalan English

no not / no

mai never

gens not at all

tampoc neither / either

enlloc nowhere / anywhere

ni neither / nor

mai més never again

encara no not yet

de cap manera in no way

en absolut not at all

gens ni mica not at all

de cap manera by no means

Negative concord

Catalan commonly uses no + negative word:

- No ve ningú. = Nobody is coming.

- No menjo res. = I eat nothing.

- No hi vaig mai. = I never go there.

- No el trobo enlloc. = I can't find him anywhere.

- No m'agrada gens. = I don't like it at all.

8. Adverbs of doubt and probability — Dubte i probabilitat

Catalan English

potser perhaps / maybe

probablement probably

segurament probably / surely

possiblement possibly

eventualment possibly / eventually

presumiblement presumably

aparentment apparently

probablement probably

potser sí perhaps yes

potser no perhaps not

gairebé segur almost certainly

sens dubte undoubtedly

probablement no probably not

possiblement no possibly not

Potser is especially important:

Potser vindrà demà.

Maybe he/she will come tomorrow.

9. Focus adverbs — Adverbis de focus

These highlight, restrict, or add information.

Catalan English

només only

sols only

solament only

també also

fins i tot even

encara still / even

sobretot above all / especially

especialment especially

particularment particularly

precisament precisely

justament precisely / exactly

exactament exactly

simplement simply

gairebé almost

quasi almost

almenys at least

com a mínim at least

màxim at most

com a màxim at most

exclusivament exclusively

únicament only / solely

principalment mainly

essencialment essentially

especialment especially

ni tan sols not even

fins i tot even

Examples:

- Només vull aigua. = I only want water.

- També parla català. = He/she also speaks Catalan.

- Fins i tot ell ho sap. = Even he knows it.

- Almenys ho has intentat. = At least you tried.

- Ni tan sols ho sap. = He/she doesn't even know it.

10. Addition and inclusion — Addició

Catalan English

també also

a més moreover / besides

a més a més furthermore / besides

igualment likewise / equally

així mateix likewise

fins i tot even

també too

encara also / even

addicionalment additionally

conjuntament jointly / together

alhora at the same time / also

11. Limitation — Limitació

Catalan English

només only

sols only

solament only

únicament only

exclusivament exclusively

almenys at least

com a mínim at minimum

màxim at most

com a màxim at most

gairebé almost

quasi almost

sobretot especially / above all

principalment mainly

12. Sequence and order — Ordre i seqüència

Catalan English

primer first

primerament firstly

després afterward

després then / afterward

aleshores then / at that time

llavors then

tot seguit immediately afterward

posteriorment subsequently

anteriorment previously

finalment finally

al final in the end

mentrestant meanwhile

simultàniament simultaneously

successivament successively

consecutivament consecutively

prèviament previously

inicialment initially

eventualment eventually

13. Cause, consequence, and connection — Causa i conseqüència

Some of these are more accurately classified as connectors or conjunctive adverbs/adverbial expressions, but they function grammatically like adverbial connectors.

Catalan English

per tant therefore

per això therefore / that's why

així thus

així doncs therefore / thus

doncs therefore / so

consegüentment consequently

conseqüentment consequently

en conseqüència consequently

per consegüent consequently

d'aquí hence / from this

per aquesta raó for this reason

en canvi on the other hand / instead

tanmateix nevertheless / however

no obstant això nevertheless

però however / but

malgrat això despite that / nevertheless

14. Concessive adverbs — Concessió

Catalan English

tanmateix nevertheless / however

nogensmenys nevertheless

no obstant això nevertheless

malgrat això despite that

tot i així even so / nevertheless

amb tot nevertheless / however

igualment nevertheless / likewise

Example:

Estava cansat; tanmateix, va continuar.

He was tired; nevertheless, he continued.

15. Comparison adverbs — Comparació

Catalan English

més more

menys less

tan as / so

tant as much / so much

millor better

pitjor worse

igualment equally

semblantment similarly

diferentment differently

exactament exactly

aproximadament approximately

gairebé almost

quasi almost

Main patterns:

més + adjective/adverb + que

= more ... than

menys + adjective/adverb + que

= less ... than

tan + adjective/adverb + com

= as ... as

tant + verb/noun + com

= as much/as many ... as

16. Interrogative adverbs — Adverbis interrogatius

Catalan English

on? where?

quan? when?

com? how?

per què? why?

quant? how much?

on? where?

d'on? from where?

a on? where to?

cap on? where toward?

fins on? how far / to where?

com? how?

per a què? what for?

Examples:

- On vius? = Where do you live?

- Quan vindràs? = When will you come?

- Com ho fas? = How do you do it?

- Per què plores? = Why are you crying?

- Quant costa? = How much does it cost?

- D'on vens? = Where are you from?

17. Relative adverbs — Adverbis relatius

Catalan English

on where

quan when

com how / the way in which

on sigui wherever

allà on wherever / where

allí on where

el lloc on the place where

el moment quan the moment when

Example:

La casa on visc és gran.

The house where I live is big.

18. Modal adverbs — Adverbis de modalitat

These indicate the speaker's attitude toward the proposition.

Catalan English

probablement probably

possiblement possibly

potser perhaps

segurament surely / probably

evidentment evidently

clarament clearly

naturalment naturally / of course

certament certainly

efectivament indeed

realment really

aparentment apparently

presumiblement presumably

indubtablement undoubtedly

sens dubte without doubt

definitivament definitely

teòricament theoretically

pràcticament practically

aparentment apparently

hipotèticament hypothetically

presumptament allegedly / supposedly

19. Speaker-oriented adverbs — Adverbis oracionals

These comment on the whole sentence, rather than simply modifying a verb.

Catalan English

sincerament honestly

francament frankly

probablement probably

evidentment evidently

naturalment naturally

afortunadament fortunately

malauradament unfortunately

desgraciadament unfortunately

sorprenentment surprisingly

curiosament interestingly / curiously

estranyament strangely

lamentablement regrettably

sincerament sincerely / honestly

teòricament theoretically

pràcticament practically

aparentment apparently

realment really

essencialment essentially

Examples:

Afortunadament, ningú no va prendre mal.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

Sincerament, no ho sé.

Honestly, I don't know.

20. Adverbs of intensity — Intensitat

Catalan English

molt very

força quite / rather

bastant quite / fairly

prou sufficiently / enough

massa too

excessivament excessively

extremadament extremely

absolutament absolutely

completament completely

totalment totally

profundament deeply

enormement enormously

immensament immensely

lleugerament slightly

gairebé almost

quasi almost

gens at all

especialment especially

21. Approximation — Aproximació

Catalan English

aproximadament approximately

gairebé almost

quasi almost

més o menys more or less

prop de close to / approximately

uns about / approximately

al voltant de around / approximately

aproximadament approximately

pràcticament practically / virtually

gairebé nearly

poc més o menys more or less

Examples:

Hi havia aproximadament cent persones.

There were approximately one hundred people.

Tinc més o menys una hora.

I have about an hour.

22. Adverbs of quantity — Quantitat

Catalan English

molt much / a lot

poc little

gaire much / very much

prou enough

bastant quite a lot / enough

força quite a lot

massa too much

més more

menys less

tant so much / as much

gens at all

gairebé almost

quasi almost

suficientment sufficiently

excessivament excessively

considerablement considerably

enormement enormously

lleugerament slightly

23. Result / conclusion adverbs

Catalan English

doncs so / therefore

per tant therefore

així doncs therefore

per això therefore / that's why

conseqüentment consequently

consegüentment consequently

finalment finally

en conseqüència consequently

en definitiva ultimately / in short

en resum in summary

totalment completely

definitivament definitively

24. Adverbs meaning “also / too / neither”

Catalan English

també also / too

tampoc neither / either

igualment likewise / also

així mateix likewise

a més also / moreover

a més a més furthermore

fins i tot even

ni tan sols not even

Compare:

Jo també hi vaig.

= I go there too.

Jo tampoc hi vaig.

= I don't go there either.

Ni tan sols ell ho sap.

= Not even he knows it.

25. Adverbs meaning “still / already / yet”

These are particularly important in Catalan.

Catalan English

encara still / yet

ja already / now

encara no not yet

ja no no longer

encara més even more

encara menys even less

ja també already also

ja gairebé almost already

Examples:

Encara dorm.

= He/she is still sleeping.

Ja ha arribat.

= He/she has already arrived.

Encara no ha arribat.

= He/she hasn't arrived yet.

Ja no treballo aquí.

= I no longer work here.

26. “Only” adverbs

Catalan English

només only

sols only

solament only

únicament only

exclusivament exclusively

tan sols only / merely

simplement simply / merely

just just / only

no més no more / only

Examples:

Només vull dormir.

= I only want to sleep.

Tan sols tinc deu euros.

= I only have ten euros.

No vull res més.

= I don't want anything else.

27. “Almost” adverbs

Catalan English

gairebé almost

quasi almost

pràcticament practically / virtually

poc menys slightly less than

a punt de about to

Examples:

Gairebé he acabat.

= I have almost finished.

És gairebé impossible.

= It is almost impossible.

Estava a punt d'arribar.

= He/she was about to arrive.

28. Adverbs of certainty

Catalan English

certament certainly

segurament surely / probably

sens dubte undoubtedly

indubtablement undoubtedly

definitivament definitely

evidentment evidently

clarament clearly

efectivament indeed

realment really

veritablement truly

absolutament absolutely

naturalment naturally / of course

29. Adverbs of uncertainty

Catalan English

potser maybe

probablement probably

possiblement possibly

presumiblement presumably

aparentment apparently

eventualment possibly / eventually

segurament probably

hipotèticament hypothetically

potser sí perhaps yes

potser no perhaps not

30. Adverbs of evaluation

Catalan English

bé well

malament badly

millor better

pitjor worse

afortunadament fortunately

malauradament unfortunately

desgraciadament unfortunately

sorprenentment surprisingly

curiosament curiously

estranyament strangely

lamentablement regrettably

evidentment evidently

naturalment naturally

sincerament honestly

francament frankly

31. Important adverbial expressions

Catalan uses many locucions adverbials rather than single-word adverbs.

Catalan English

de seguida immediately

de pressa quickly

a poc a poc slowly / little by little

de mica en mica little by little

de tant en tant from time to time

de vegades sometimes

a vegades sometimes

tot seguit immediately afterward

en general generally

en particular particularly

en realitat actually / in reality

de fet in fact

per exemple for example

en canvi on the other hand

per tant therefore

per això therefore

amb prou feines barely / hardly

de cap manera by no means

en absolut not at all

gens ni mica not at all

més o menys more or less

com a mínim at least

com a màxim at most

sobretot above all

per descomptat of course

sens dubte without doubt

alhora at the same time

de moment for the moment

per ara for now

ara com ara for the time being

enlloc nowhere / anywhere

pertot arreu everywhere

a tot arreu everywhere

a prop nearby

molt lluny very far

cap amunt upward

cap avall downward

a mà by hand

a peu on foot

de nou again

una altra vegada again

un altre cop again

per sempre forever

de sobte suddenly

de cop suddenly / all at once

de cop i volta suddenly

d'improvís suddenly

per casualitat by chance

expressament deliberately

sense voler unintentionally

clara → clarament = clearly

ràpida → ràpidament = quickly

lenta → lentament = slowly

exacta → exactament = exactly

But many very common adverbs are not formed this way

10- CONJUNCTIONS:

Catalan English Function

i and addition

e and before certain words beginning with i-/hi-

ni neither / nor negative addition

o or alternative

o bé or else / or rather alternative

u or before certain words beginning with o-/ho-

però but contrast

sinó but rather correction/contrast

sinó que but rather / but instead correction between clauses

ni... ni... neither... nor... double negative coordination

tant... com... both... and... correlation

o... o... either... or... alternative

bé... bé... either... or... alternative

sigui... sigui... whether... or... alternative

ja... ja... now... now... / sometimes... sometimes... alternating

Examples

i — and

Jo estudio i treballo.

I study and work.

ni — nor

No menja carn ni peix.

He doesn't eat meat nor fish.

o — or

Vols te o cafè?

Do you want tea or coffee?

però — but

És petit, però és fort.

He is small, but he is strong.

sinó — but rather

No és blau, sinó verd.

It isn't blue, but rather green.

2. Copulative conjunctions — Conjuncions copulatives

These express addition.

Catalan English

i and

e and

ni nor / neither

ni... ni... neither... nor...

tant... com... both... and...

no solament... sinó també... not only... but also...

no només... sinó també... not only... but also...

així com as well as

juntament amb together with

i / e

Normally:

i

But i can become e before a following word beginning with an i sound:

pare e fill

father and son

3. Disjunctive conjunctions — Conjuncions disjuntives

These express alternatives.

Catalan English

o or

o bé or else

u or

o... o... either... or...

bé... bé... either... or...

sigui... sigui... whether... or...

ja... ja... either... or... / sometimes... sometimes...

Example

O vens o et quedes.

Either you come or you stay.

4. Adversative conjunctions — Conjuncions adversatives

These express contrast, opposition, correction, or concession.

Catalan English

però but

sinó but rather

sinó que but rather / but instead

tanmateix nevertheless / however

nogensmenys nevertheless

no obstant això nevertheless

amb tot nevertheless

tot i això even so

malgrat això despite that

mentre que whereas

en canvi whereas / on the other hand

altrament otherwise

ans rather / but rather

ans bé rather / instead

més aviat rather

tot i així nevertheless

això no obstant nevertheless

Important: Some of these are technically conjunctive adverbs or discourse connectors, rather than conjunctions in the narrow grammatical sense. They are included because they perform conjunction-like linking functions.

5. Subordinating conjunctions — Conjuncions subordinants

These introduce subordinate clauses.

A. Causal — Cause

Catalan English

perquè because

ja que since / because

com que since / because

puix que since / because

car because / for

atès que given that / since

vist que seeing that

per tal com because / inasmuch as

per mor que because of the fact that

gràcies al fet que thanks to the fact that

pel fet que because of the fact that

Examples

No vinc perquè estic cansat.

I'm not coming because I am tired.

Com que plou, no sortirem.

Since it is raining, we won't go out.

6. Consecutive conjunctions — Consequence

Catalan English

de manera que so that / consequently

de manera que so that

de forma que so that

de tal manera que in such a way that

de tal forma que in such a way that

fins al punt que to the point that

tant que so much that

tan... que so... that

tant... que so much... that

tal... que such... that

així que as soon as / so

de manera tal que in such a way that

Example:

Va ploure molt, de manera que no vam sortir.

It rained a lot, so we didn't go out.

7. Final / purpose conjunctions — Purpose

Catalan English

perquè so that

per tal que so that / in order that

a fi que so that / in order that

amb la finalitat que with the aim that

amb l'objectiu que with the objective that

perquè no so that...not

per tal que no so that...not

a fi que no in order that...not

Example:

Estudio perquè pugui aprovar.

I study so that I can pass.

Important: after these purpose conjunctions, Catalan normally uses the subjunctive.

8. Temporal conjunctions — Time

Catalan English

quan when

mentre while

mentre que whereas / while

mentre tant meanwhile

abans que before

després que after

fins que until

des que since

des que ever since

així que as soon as

tan aviat com as soon as

tot just just as / as soon as

cada vegada que every time that

cada cop que every time that

sempre que whenever / every time that

quan sigui whenever

fins que no until

mentre no as long as / while not

en tant que while / insofar as

alhora que while / at the same time as

a mesura que as / as...

a mida que as / as...

així que as soon as

ni bé as soon as

un cop once

una vegada que once

tan bon punt as soon as

des que since

d'ençà que ever since

Examples

Quan arribis, truca'm.

When you arrive, call me.

Abans que marxis, parla amb ell.

Before you leave, talk to him.

Esperaré fins que tornis.

I'll wait until you return.

9. Conditional conjunctions — Condition

Catalan English

si if

sempre que provided that / whenever

mentre as long as

mentre que whereas / while

mentre no as long as...not

en cas que in case

posat que supposing that

suposant que supposing that

a condició que on condition that

amb la condició que on the condition that

llevat que unless / except that

tret que unless / except that

excepte que except that

fora que unless

només que provided that / if only

només si only if

sempre i quan provided that / as long as

sempre que provided that

cas que in case that

en el cas que in the case that

Examples

Si plou, no sortirem.

If it rains, we won't go out.

Vindré sempre que tingui temps.

I'll come provided that I have time.

Vindré llevat que estigui malalt.

I'll come unless I am sick.

10. Concessive conjunctions — Concessió

These express although / even though / even if.

Catalan English

encara que although / even if

tot i que although

malgrat que although / despite the fact that

malgrat although / despite

per més que no matter how much

per molt que no matter how much

per poc que however little

per bé que although / even though

si bé although / while

bé que although

tot i although / despite

fins i tot si even if

encara que even though / even if

àdhuc si even if

per més que however much

sigui com sigui whatever the case

Examples

Encara que plogui, sortiré.

Even if it rains, I will go out.

Tot i que estava cansat, va continuar.

Although he was tired, he continued.

Per molt que estudiïs, necessites practicar.

No matter how much you study, you need to practise.

11. Comparative conjunctions

Catalan English

com as / like

com si as if

tal com just as

així com just as / as well as

tant com as much as

tan... com as...as

més... que more...than

menys... que less...than

igual que just as / like

igual com just as

de la mateixa manera que in the same way as

talment com just as / exactly as

així com as / just as

Example:

És tan alt com el seu germà.

He is as tall as his brother.

12. “As if / as though”

Catalan English

com si as if

com que si as though

talment com si just as if

com si fos as if he/she were

com si hagués as if he/she had

Example:

Parla com si ho sabés tot.

He speaks as if he knew everything.

The clause after com si normally takes the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive.

13. Relative conjunctions / relative connectors

Catalan English

que that / which

qui who

què what / which

on where

quan when

com how

el qual which / who

la qual which / who

els quals which / who

les quals which / who

cosa que which / something that

la qual cosa which / which thing

fet que fact that

cosa que which

Example:

Sé que vindrà.

I know that he/she will come.

Here que is a subordinating conjunction.

But:

El llibre que he comprat és nou.

The book that I bought is new.

Here que is a relative pronoun, not a conjunction.

14. Completive conjunctions — Complement clauses

Catalan English

que that

si whether / if

com how

què what

qui who

on where

quan when

Examples:

Crec que vindrà.

I think that he will come.

No sé si vindrà.

I don't know whether he will come.

Important distinction:

si = if / whether

Si vens, t'ajudo.

If you come, I'll help you.

No sé si vindrà.

I don't know whether he will come.

15. Manner conjunctions

Catalan English

com as / how

tal com as / just as

així com just as

com si as if

segons com depending on how

de la manera que in the way that

de la manera com in the way that

de la forma que in the way that

de la forma com in the way that

talment com just as

conforme according as / as

segons according to / depending on

16. “According as / depending on”

Catalan English

segons according to

segons que according as

segons com depending on how

segons si depending on whether

conforme according as

a mesura que as

a mida que as

Example:

Segons com ho facis, serà més fàcil o més difícil.

Depending on how you do it, it will be easier or more difficult.

17. “Whether...or” constructions

Catalan English

si... o... whether...or...

tant si... com si... whether...or...

tant si... com... whether...or...

sigui... sigui... whether...or...

bé... bé... whether...or...

ja... ja... whether...or... / sometimes...sometimes...

Example:

Tant si vens com si no vens, començaré.

Whether you come or not, I will start.

18. “Not only... but also”

Catalan English

no només... sinó també... not only... but also

no sols... sinó també... not only... but also

no solament... sinó també... not only... but also

no tan sols... sinó també... not only... but also

no únicament... sinó també... not only... but also

Example:

No només parla català, sinó que també parla francès.

He not only speaks Catalan, but also speaks French.

19. “The more... the more”

Catalan commonly uses:

Catalan English

com més... més... the more... the more...

com menys... menys... the less... the less...

com més... menys... the more... the less...

com menys... més... the less... the more...

com més... millor the more... the better

com menys... millor the less... the better

Examples:

Com més estudies, més aprens.

The more you study, the more you learn.

Com més treballo, menys temps tinc.

The more I work, the less time I have.

20. “The way / however”

Catalan English

com how / as

com vulguis however you want

com sigui however it may be

sigui com sigui whatever the case

faci el que faci whatever he/she does

digui el que digui whatever he/she says

vingui qui vingui whoever comes

on sigui wherever

quan sigui whenever

qui sigui whoever

These are extremely useful free-choice / concessive constructions.

Vingui qui vingui, l'ajudaré.

Whoever comes, I will help him/her.

Fes-ho com vulguis.

Do it however you want.

21. Exception conjunctions

Catalan English

excepte si except if

excepte que except that

llevat que unless / except that

tret que unless

fora que unless

menys que unless / except that

si no if not

a menys que unless

a menys que no unless

fora que no unless

Important distinction

sinó = but rather

No és vermell, sinó blau.

It isn't red, but rather blue.

si no = if not

Si no vens, marxaré.

If you don't come, I'll leave.

22. “Unless”

The main forms are:

Catalan English

llevat que unless

tret que unless

excepte si unless / except if

a menys que unless

fora que unless

si no if not

Examples:

No sortiré llevat que deixi de ploure.

I won't go out unless it stops raining.

No vindrà si no l'invites.

He won't come unless you invite him.

23. “Even if”

Catalan English

encara que even if

fins i tot si even if

ni que even if

per més que even if / no matter how much

per molt que even if / no matter how much

encara que sigui even if it is

sigui com sigui whatever the case

Example:

Encara que sigui difícil, ho faré.

Even if it is difficult, I'll do it.

24. “No matter how / whoever / whatever / wherever”

Catalan has several very productive constructions:

Catalan English

per molt que no matter how much

per més que no matter how much

per poc que no matter how little

per gran que no matter how big

per petit que no matter how small

sigui qui sigui whoever

sigui el que sigui whatever

sigui com sigui however / whatever the case

vingui qui vingui whoever comes

faci el que faci whatever he/she does

digui el que digui whatever he/she says

vagi on vagi wherever he/she goes

passi el que passi whatever happens

quan sigui whenever

on sigui wherever

com sigui however

11- PREPOSITIONS:

Catalan English Main use

a to, at, in destination, location, indirect object, time

amb with accompaniment, instrument

de of, from possession, origin, material, source

en in, on, at location, time, means

per for, by, through, because of purpose, cause, means, agent

per a for, to recipient, purpose

sense without absence

sobre on, about, over position, topic

sota under, below position

contra against opposition

entre between, among position, relation

fins until, up to endpoint

envers toward, towards direction/attitude

vers toward, around direction/approximation

cap a toward direction

durant during time

segons according to source/standard

malgrat despite concession

llevat de except for exception

tret de except for exception

ultra beyond, besides addition/limit

via via, by way of route/means

Important

The most fundamental prepositions to memorize first are:

a, amb, de, en, per, per a, sense, sobre, sota, contra, entre, fins, vers, cap a, durant, segons, malgrat.

2. A — “to / at / in”

a has several functions.

Use Formation Example English

destination a + place Vaig a Barcelona. I go to Barcelona.

location a + place Sóc a casa. I am at home.

indirect object a + person Dono el llibre a Maria. I give the book to Maria.

time a + time A les tres. At three.

direction a + place Vaig a l'escola. I go to school.

purpose/occasion a + noun a sopar for dinner

manner a + noun a mà by hand

Contractions

Combination Result

a + el al

a + els als

Examples:

Vaig al mercat.

I go to the market.

Parlo als estudiants.

I speak to the students.

No contraction occurs with la/les:

a la casa

a les cases

3. AMB — “with”

Function Example English

accompaniment Vaig amb ella. I go with her.

instrument Escric amb un bolígraf. I write with a pen.

manner Ho fa amb cura. He/she does it carefully.

possession/association Un home amb barba. A man with a beard.

material Cafè amb llet. Coffee with milk.

condition Ho va fer amb por. He/she did it fearfully.

4. DE — “of / from”

de is one of the most important Catalan prepositions.

Function Formation Example English

possession de + noun el llibre de Joan Joan's book

origin de + place Sóc de Catalunya. I am from Catalonia.

source de + noun Ho sé de Maria. I know it from Maria.

material de + noun una taula de fusta a wooden table

topic/type de + noun un llibre de gramàtica a grammar book

contents de + noun un got d'aigua a glass of water

quantity de + noun molt de temps a lot of time

comparison de + number més de deu more than ten

infinitive complement de + infinitive abans de sortir before leaving

cause de + noun morir de gana die of hunger

manner de + noun parlar de pressa speak quickly

Contractions

Combination Result

de + el del

de + els dels

Examples:

el cotxe del meu germà

my brother's car

les cases dels estudiants

the students' houses

Before la/les, there is no contraction:

de la casa

de les cases

5. EN — “in / on / at”

Function Example English

location en una casa in a house

location en el jardí in the garden

surface en la taula on the table

time en una hora in an hour

means en tren by train

language en català in Catalan

state/context en silenci in silence

Examples:

Visc en una ciutat.

I live in a city.

El llibre és en la taula.

The book is on the table.

6. PER — “for / by / through / because of”

per has a very broad range of meanings.

Function Example English

cause Ho faig per tu. I do it because of/for you.

reason Ho vaig fer per por. I did it out of fear.

means T'ho envio per correu. I send it by mail.

route Passo per Barcelona. I pass through Barcelona.

duration Ho vaig fer per tres dies. I did it for three days.

exchange Ho canvio per un altre. I exchange it for another.

agent escrit per ell written by him

movement caminar per la ciutat walk around the city

approximate time per Nadal around Christmas

purpose in some expressions treballar per la pau work for peace

multiplication dos per tres two times three

7. PER A — “for / intended for / to”

per a commonly expresses a recipient, intended purpose, or destination.

Example English

Això és per a tu. This is for you.

Ho faig per a ell. I do it for him.

És per a demà. It is for tomorrow.

Una habitació per a nens. A room for children.

Diners per a comprar menjar. Money to buy food.

Per vs per a

A simplified distinction:

per → cause, means, route, agent, general purpose

per a → intended recipient/purpose/destination

However, actual usage varies by dialect and grammatical tradition, especially before infinitives.

8. SENSE — “without”

Example English

sense diners without money

sense mi without me

sense problemes without problems

sense parlar without speaking

sense cap dubte without any doubt

Va marxar sense dir res.

He/she left without saying anything.

9. SOBRE — “on / over / about”

Function Example English

position sobre la taula on the table

topic parlar sobre política talk about politics

approximate quantity sobre cent persones about one hundred people

approximate time sobre les tres around three

higher position sobre el cap above the head

10. SOTA — “under / below”

Example English

sota la taula under the table

sota el llit under the bed

sota terra underground

sota pressió under pressure

sota control under control

11. CONTRA — “against”

Function Example English

opposition contra ell against him

physical contact contra la paret against the wall

opposition to idea contra la proposta against the proposal

medicine/protection contra el dolor against pain

Estic contra aquesta idea.

I am against this idea.

12. ENTRE — “between / among”

Example English

entre dues cases between two houses

entre nosaltres among/between us

entre els estudiants among the students

entre tu i jo between you and me

entre Catalunya i França between Catalonia and France

13. FINS — “until / up to”

Usually appears in expressions such as:

Catalan English

fins demà until tomorrow

fins dilluns until Monday

fins aquí up to here

fins allà up to there

fins ara until now

fins sempre forever / until always

Fins a

fins a = up to / until / as far as

Fins a Barcelona

As far as Barcelona

Fins a les cinc

Until five o'clock

14. CAP A — “toward”

Example English

cap a Barcelona toward Barcelona

cap a casa toward home

cap al nord toward the north

cap a les tres around three

It can express both direction and approximate time.

15. VERS — “toward / around”

Example English

caminar vers la ciutat walk toward the city

anar vers el nord go toward the north

vers les cinc around five

vers is somewhat more formal/literary than cap a in many contexts.

16. ENVERS — “toward / towards”

Often used especially for an attitude or relationship toward someone.

Example English

amable envers els altres kind toward others

respecte envers els animals respect toward animals

responsabilitat envers la societat responsibility toward society

17. DURANT — “during”

Example English

durant el dia during the day

durant la nit during the night

durant l'estiu during the summer

durant dues hores for two hours

durant la reunió during the meeting

18. SEGONS — “according to”

Example English

segons ell according to him

segons la llei according to the law

segons les dades according to the data

segons el professor according to the teacher

It can also mean depending on:

Segons el temps, anirem o no.

Depending on the weather, we'll go or not.

19. MALGRAT — “despite”

Example English

malgrat la pluja despite the rain

malgrat els problemes despite the problems

malgrat tot despite everything

malgrat això despite that

Before a finite clause, malgrat que is used:

Malgrat que plovia, vam sortir.

Although it was raining, we went out.

20. ULTRA — “beyond / besides”

More formal/literary.

Example English

ultra els límits beyond the limits

ultra això besides this

ultra les fronteres beyond the borders

21. VIA — “via / by way of”

Example English

via França via France

enviar-ho via correu send it by mail

viatjar via París travel via Paris

22. Prepositions of location

Catalan English

a at / to

en in / on

sobre on / over

damunt de on top of

sota under

davall de beneath / under

davant de in front of

darrere de behind

darrere behind

dins de inside

fora de outside

prop de near

lluny de far from

al costat de beside

al voltant de around

entre between / among

al mig de in the middle of

a la vora de beside / near

a tocar de right next to

enfront de opposite / facing

davant per davant de directly opposite

més enllà de beyond

més ençà de on this side of

cap a toward

23. Prepositions of movement

Catalan English

a to

cap a toward

vers toward

envers toward

fins a up to

de from

des de from / since

per through / around

per dins de through the inside of

per fora de around/outside

entre through/between

via via

Examples:

Vaig a Barcelona.

I go to Barcelona.

Caminem cap a la muntanya.

We walk toward the mountain.

Vinc de Barcelona.

I come from Barcelona.

Passem per la ciutat.

We pass through the city.

24. Prepositions of source/origin

Catalan English

de from

des de from / since

des de dins de from inside

des de fora de from outside

procedent de coming from

originari de originating from

des de is especially important:

Des de dilluns

Since Monday

Des de casa

From home

25. Prepositions of time

Catalan English

a at

en in

de from/of

durant during

des de since

fins a until

abans de before

després de after

entre between

per around / during

cap a around

sobre around/about

Examples:

A les vuit

At eight

Durant l'estiu

During the summer

Des de dilluns

Since Monday

Fins a les cinc

Until five

Abans de dormir

Before sleeping

Després de dinar

After eating

26. Prepositions of cause

Catalan English

per because of

de from / of

per culpa de because of / due to

gràcies a thanks to

a causa de because of

arran de as a result of

per raó de because of

per mor de because of

per motiu de because of

amb motiu de on the occasion of

Examples:

Ho vaig fer per por.

I did it because of fear.

No va venir a causa de la pluja.

He didn't come because of the rain.

27. Prepositions of purpose

Catalan English

per for

per a for

amb l'objectiu de with the aim of

amb la finalitat de with the purpose of

a fi de in order to

per tal de in order to

amb vista a with a view to

amb la intenció de with the intention of

Examples:

Estudio per aprovar.

I study in order to pass.

Diners per a comprar menjar.

Money for buying food.

28. Prepositions of accompaniment

Catalan English

amb with

juntament amb together with

junt amb together with

en companyia de in the company of

amb l'ajuda de with the help of

29. Prepositions of instrument/means

Catalan English

amb with

per by / through

en by

mitjançant by means of

per mitjà de by means of

a través de through

via via

Examples:

Escric amb un bolígraf.

I write with a pen.

Viatgem en tren.

We travel by train.

Ho vaig enviar per correu.

I sent it by mail.

30. Prepositions of manner

Catalan English

amb with

de in/by

a in/by

sense without

per by

Examples:

Ho va fer amb cura.

He/she did it carefully.

Parla de pressa.

He/she speaks quickly.

Ho vaig fer a mà.

I did it by hand.

Va marxar sense parlar.

He/she left without speaking.

31. Prepositions of possession/genitive

Catalan primarily uses de.

Formation Example English

de + noun el llibre de Joan Joan's book

de + pronoun el llibre d'ell his book

de + proper noun la casa de Maria Maria's house

de + noun phrase la porta de la casa the house's door

de + infinitive la necessitat de treballar the need to work

Contractions:

de + el → del

de + els → dels

32. Prepositions with infinitives

These are particularly important in Catalan grammar.

Catalan English

a + infinitive to

de + infinitive of/to

per + infinitive in order to / because of

per a + infinitive in order to / for

sense + infinitive without

abans de + infinitive before

després de + infinitive after

en + infinitive upon / by

fins a + infinitive until

en lloc de + infinitive instead of

a més de + infinitive besides

en comptes de + infinitive instead of

amb vista a + infinitive with a view to

Examples:

Abans de sortir

= before leaving

Després de menjar

= after eating

Sense parlar

= without speaking

Per estudiar

= in order to study

En lloc de treballar

= instead of working

33. Complex prepositions — Preposicions compostes

These are extremely important because Catalan uses them constantly.

Catalan English

a causa de because of

a favor de in favor of

a partir de from / starting from

a través de through

a prop de near

al costat de next to

al voltant de around

al davant de in front of

al darrere de behind

al mig de in the middle of

a la vora de beside / near

a tocar de right next to

d'acord amb according to / in accordance with

dalt de on top of

damunt de on top of

davant de in front of

darrere de behind

dins de inside

fora de outside

lluny de far from

prop de near

en comptes de instead of

en lloc de instead of

enfront de opposite

gràcies a thanks to

juntament amb together with

malgrat despite

per culpa de because of

per mitjà de by means of

per tal de in order to

respecte de regarding

respecte a regarding

quant a as for / regarding

tocant a regarding

en relació amb in relation to

amb relació a in relation to

pel que fa a as regards

de cara a with a view to

amb vista a with a view to

enfront de in front of / opposite

fins a up to / until

cap a toward

des de from / since

34. Exception expressions

Catalan English

excepte except

llevat de except for

tret de except for

fora de apart from / outside

menys except

a excepció de with the exception of

amb excepció de with the exception of

salvant excepting

llevat except

Example:

Tothom hi va anar excepte Joan.

Everyone went there except Joan.

35. Opposition / support

Catalan English

contra against

a favor de in favor of

en contra de against

davant de in the face of

envers toward

respecte de with respect to

36. Topic / reference

Catalan English

sobre about

de about/of

quant a regarding

respecte a regarding

respecte de regarding

tocant a concerning

pel que fa a as regards

en relació amb in relation to

amb relació a regarding

a propòsit de concerning / about

referent a concerning

en matèria de in matters of

Examples:

Parlem sobre política.

We talk about politics.

Pel que fa a aquest problema, no ho sé.

As for this problem, I don't know.

37. Prepositions expressing “instead of”

Catalan English

en lloc de instead of

en comptes de instead of

en lloc d' instead of

en comptes d' instead of

a canvi de in exchange for

més que rather than

Example:

En lloc de dormir, treballa.

Instead of sleeping, he/she works.

38. Prepositions expressing “because of / thanks to”

Catalan English

a causa de because of

per culpa de because of / due to

per mor de because of

per raó de because of

per motiu de because of

gràcies a thanks to

arran de as a result of

com a conseqüència de as a consequence of

a conseqüència de as a consequence of

39. Prepositions expressing “according to”

Catalan English

segons according to

d'acord amb according to / in accordance with

conforme a according to / in conformity with

en virtut de by virtue of

atenent a in view of / considering

40. Prepositions expressing “regarding”

Catalan English

sobre about

respecte a regarding

respecte de regarding

quant a as for

tocant a concerning

pel que fa a as regards

referent a concerning

en relació amb in relation to

amb relació a in relation to

a propòsit de concerning

en matèria de regarding / in the field of

41. Contractions with prepositions

Catalan has several essential contractions.

A + articles

Full form Contracted form

a + el al

a + els als

DE + articles

Full form Contracted form

de + el del

de + els dels

PER + articles

Full form Contracted form

per + el pel

per + els pels

Examples:

Vaig al cinema.

I go to the cinema.

El cotxe del professor.

The teacher's car.

Passo pel parc.

I pass through the park.

Parlo pels estudiants.

I speak on behalf of the students.

There is no contraction with:

a la, a les

de la, de les

per la, per les

42. Special prepositional combinations

Catalan English

a partir de from / starting from

a banda de apart from / besides

a excepció de with the exception of

a favor de in favor of

a l'entorn de around

a prop de near

a través de through

al llarg de along / throughout

al marge de apart from / outside

al voltant de around

amb motiu de on the occasion of

amb vista a with a view to

d'acord amb according to

de cara a with a view to / facing

de part de on behalf of

de resultes de as a result of

en absència de in the absence of

en benefici de for the benefit of

en contra de against

en detriment de to the detriment of

en favor de in favor of

en funció de depending on

en lloc de instead of

en nom de in the name of

en virtut de by virtue of

fora de outside / apart from

gràcies a thanks to

independentment de independently of

juntament amb together with

per causa de because of

per culpa de because of

per mitjà de by means of

per part de on the part of

per tal de in order to

quant a regarding

respecte a regarding

respecte de regarding

sota de underneath

tocant a concerning

43. Preposition + pronoun

Catalan English

a mi to me

a tu to you

a ell to him

a ella to her

a nosaltres to us

a vosaltres to you

a ells to them

a elles to them

amb mi with me

amb tu with you

amb ell with him

amb ella with her

amb nosaltres with us

amb vosaltres with you

amb ells with them

amb elles with them

de mi of/from me

de tu of/from you

de ell → d'ell of/from him

de ella → d'ella of/from her

per mi for/by me

per tu for/by you

per ell for/by him

per ella for/by her

sense mi without me

sense tu without you

contra ell against him

entre nosaltres between/among us

a + el → al

de + el → del

per + el → pel

a + els → als

de + els → dels

per + els → pels

12- DETERMINERS

Gender Singular Plural English

Masculine el els the

Feminine la les the

Examples

Catalan English

el llibre the book

els llibres the books

la casa the house

les cases the houses

2. Apostrophized definite articles

Before a vowel or certain vowel sounds:

Normal Apostrophized Example

el l' l'home

la l' l'amiga

Examples:

l'home = the man

l'amiga = the female friend

The article la normally does not apostrophize before i/u when those vowels function as consonantal sounds in the relevant pronunciation.

3. Indefinite articles — Articles indefinits

Gender Singular Plural English

Masculine un uns a/an; some

Feminine una unes a/an; some

Examples:

un llibre = a book

una casa = a house

uns llibres = some books

unes cases = some houses

4. Zero article

Catalan can also have a noun without an article.

Example English

Tinc gana. I am hungry.

Necessito ajuda. I need help.

És metge. He is a doctor.

Parlem català. We speak Catalan.

The absence of a determiner can itself be grammatically meaningful.

5. Demonstrative determiners — Determinants demostratius

Catalan has two main demonstrative series.

Near the speaker — “this”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine aquest aquests

Feminine aquesta aquestes

aquest llibre = this book

aquesta casa = this house

aquests llibres = these books

aquestes cases = these houses

Farther away — “that”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine aquell aquells

Feminine aquella aquelles

aquell llibre = that book

aquella casa = that house

aquells llibres = those books

aquelles cases = those houses

6. Neuter demonstratives

These do not modify an ordinary masculine/feminine noun.

Catalan English

això this / this thing

allò that / that thing

These are normally classified as demonstrative pronouns, not ordinary determiners.

Compare:

aquest llibre = this book

això = this / this thing

7. Possessive determiners — Determinants possessius

Catalan possessives agree with the thing possessed, not with the possessor.

First person singular — “my”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine el meu els meus

Feminine la meva les meves

el meu llibre = my book

la meva casa = my house

els meus llibres = my books

les meves cases = my houses

Second person singular — “your”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine el teu els teus

Feminine la teva les teves

Third person singular — “his / her / its”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine el seu els seus

Feminine la seva les seves

seu/seva can mean his, her, or its, depending on context.

First person plural — “our”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine el nostre els nostres

Feminine la nostra les nostres

Second person plural — “your”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine el vostre els vostres

Feminine la vostra les vostres

Third person plural — “their”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine el seu els seus

Feminine la seva les seves

Again, seu/seva can mean his, her, or their depending on context.

Complete possessive table

Person Masculine singular Feminine singular Masculine plural Feminine plural

my el meu la meva els meus les meves

your sg. el teu la teva els teus les teves

his/her/its el seu la seva els seus les seves

our el nostre la nostra els nostres les nostres

your pl. el vostre la vostra els vostres les vostres

their el seu la seva els seus les seves

Important

Catalan possessives normally occur with the definite article:

el meu llibre

my book

la nostra casa

our house

8. Numeral determiners — Determinants numerals

Cardinal numbers

Catalan English

un / una one

dos / dues two

tres three

quatre four

cinc five

sis six

set seven

vuit eight

nou nine

deu ten

onze eleven

dotze twelve

tretze thirteen

catorze fourteen

quinze fifteen

setze sixteen

disset seventeen

divuit eighteen

dinou nineteen

vint twenty

trenta thirty

quaranta forty

cinquanta fifty

seixanta sixty

setanta seventy

vuitanta eighty

noranta ninety

cent hundred

mil thousand

milió million

mil milions billion

Examples:

tres llibres = three books

dues cases = two houses

9. Ordinal determiners — Ordinals

Catalan English

primer / primera first

segon / segona second

tercer / tercera third

quart / quarta fourth

cinquè / cinquena fifth

sisè / sisena sixth

setè / setena seventh

vuitè / vuitena eighth

novè / novena ninth

desè / desena tenth

onzè / onzena eleventh

dotzè / dotzena twelfth

tretzè / tretzena thirteenth

catorzè / catorzena fourteenth

quinzè / quinzena fifteenth

setzè / setzena sixteenth

dissetè / dissetena seventeenth

divuitè / divuitena eighteenth

dinovè / dinovena nineteenth

vintè / vintena twentieth

Examples:

el primer dia = the first day

la primera vegada = the first time

10. Multiplicative determiners

Catalan English

doble double

triple triple

quàdruple quadruple

quíntuple fivefold

sèxtuple sixfold

sèptuple sevenfold

òctuple eightfold

nèctuple ninefold

dècuple tenfold

Examples:

el doble de diners

twice as much money

el triple de temps

three times as much time

11. Fractional determiners

Catalan English

mig / mitja half

terç / tercera part third

quart / quarta part quarter

cinquè / cinquena part fifth

desè / desena part tenth

Examples:

mig litre = half a litre

mitja hora = half an hour

un quart d'hora = a quarter of an hour

12. Indefinite determiners — Determinants indefinits

These are particularly numerous.

Catalan English

algun / alguna some / any

alguns / algunes some

cap any / no

cada each / every

cadascun / cadascuna each one

qualsevol any / whatever

qualssevol any / whatever, plural

tot / tota all / every / whole

tots / totes all

altre / altra other / another

altres other / others

un altre / una altra another

cert / certa a certain / some

certs / certes certain / some

mateix / mateixa same

mateixos / mateixes same

tal such / such a

tals such

diversos / diverses several

diferents various / different

determinat / determinada certain / particular

determinats / determinades certain / particular

suficient enough / sufficient

suficients enough

bastant enough / quite a lot

bastants enough / quite a few

prou enough

massa too much / too many

molt / molta much / a lot of

molts / moltes many / a lot of

poc / poca little / not much

pocs / poques few / not many

13. ALGUN — “some / any”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine algun alguns

Feminine alguna algunes

Examples:

algun llibre = some/any book

alguna casa = some/any house

alguns llibres = some books

algunes cases = some houses

14. CAP — “any / no”

cap is normally used with singular count nouns.

No tinc cap llibre.

I don't have any book / I have no book.

No hi ha cap problema.

There is no problem.

It is especially common in negative constructions.

15. CADA — “each / every”

cada is invariable.

cada dia = every day

cada casa = every house

cada estudiant = each student

cada vegada = each time

It does not become cades.

16. TOT — “all / every / whole”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine tot tots

Feminine tota totes

Examples:

tot el dia = the whole day

tota la casa = the whole house

tots els llibres = all the books

totes les cases = all the houses

17. ALTRE — “other / another”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine altre altres

Feminine altra altres

Examples:

un altre llibre = another book

una altra casa = another house

altres llibres = other books

altres cases = other houses

18. QUALSSEVOL — “any / whatever”

Form English

qualsevol any / whatever

qualssevol any / whatever, plural

Examples:

qualsevol persona

any person

qualssevol problemes

any problems

19. MATEIX — “same / very”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine mateix mateixos

Feminine mateixa mateixes

Examples:

el mateix llibre = the same book

la mateixa casa = the same house

els mateixos llibres = the same books

les mateixes cases = the same houses

It can also emphasize identity:

Jo mateix = I myself

ella mateixa = she herself

20. TAL — “such”

Number Form

Singular tal

Plural tals

Examples:

tal persona = such a person

tals persones = such people

The plural form tals is relatively formal.

21. DIVERS — “several”

Gender Singular Plural

Masculine divers diversos

Feminine diverses diverses

Most commonly used in plural:

diversos problemes

several problems

diverses persones

several people

22. Quantitative determiners

These specify amount.

Catalan English

molt much

molta much

molts many

moltes many

poc little

poca little

pocs few

poques few

bastant quite a lot / enough

bastants quite a few

força quite a lot

prou enough

massa too much / too many

tant so much / so many

tanta so much

tants so many

tantes so many

quant how much

quanta how much

quants how many

quantes how many

més more

menys less / fewer

suficient sufficient

suficients sufficient

nombrosos numerous

nombroses numerous

23. MOLT — “much / many”

Gender/number Form

masculine singular molt

feminine singular molta

masculine plural molts

feminine plural moltes

Examples:

molt temps = much time

molta aigua = much water

molts llibres = many books

moltes cases = many houses

24. POC — “little / few”

Gender/number Form

masculine singular poc

feminine singular poca

masculine plural pocs

feminine plural poques

poc temps = little time

poca aigua = little water

pocs llibres = few books

poques cases = few houses

25. TANT — “so much / so many”

Gender/number Form

masculine singular tant

feminine singular tanta

masculine plural tants

feminine plural tantes

tant temps = so much time

tanta aigua = so much water

tants llibres = so many books

tantes cases = so many houses

26. QUANT — “how much / how many”

Gender/number Form

masculine singular quant

feminine singular quanta

masculine plural quants

feminine plural quantes

Examples:

Quant temps tens?

How much time do you have?

Quants llibres tens?

How many books do you have?

Quantes cases hi ha?

How many houses are there?

27. MÉS — “more”

més is invariable.

més temps = more time

més aigua = more water

més llibres = more books

més cases = more houses

28. MENYS — “less / fewer”

Also invariable.

menys temps = less time

menys aigua = less water

menys llibres = fewer books

menys cases = fewer houses

29. BASTANT — “enough / quite a lot”

Depending on usage:

bastant temps = enough/a fair amount of time

bastants llibres = quite a few books

It can be singular/invariable or plural when functioning as a determiner:

bastant / bastants

30. PROU — “enough”

prou is normally invariable.

prou temps = enough time

prou diners = enough money

prou llibres = enough books

31. MASSA — “too much / too many”

Normally invariable as a quantifier.

massa temps = too much time

massa aigua = too much water

massa llibres = too many books

32. Interrogative determiners — Determinants interrogatius

Catalan English

quin which / what

quina which / what

quins which / what

quines which / what

quant how much

quanta how much

quants how many

quantes how many

quin tipus de what kind of

quina mena de what kind of

quants de how many of

QUIN

Gender/number Form

masculine singular quin

feminine singular quina

masculine plural quins

feminine plural quines

Examples:

Quin llibre vols?

Which book do you want?

Quina casa vols?

Which house do you want?

Quins llibres vols?

Which books do you want?

Quines cases vols?

Which houses do you want?

33. Exclamative determiners — Determinants exclamatius

The same forms quin/quina/quins/quines can be exclamative.

Quin llibre tan interessant!

What an interesting book!

Quina casa tan gran!

What a big house!

Quins llibres!

What books!

Quines cases!

What houses!

34. Exclamative quantity

Catalan English

quant how much

quanta how much

quants how many

quantes how many

tant so much

tanta so much

tants so many

tantes so many

Examples:

Quanta gent!

So many people!

Quants llibres!

So many books!

35. Indefinite “one” as determiner

un/una can function as the indefinite article:

un llibre = a book

una casa = a house

But un/una can also be a numeral:

un llibre = one book

Context determines whether it means a/an or one.

36. Personal determiners / emphatic determiners

Some forms can introduce a noun phrase with emphasis:

Catalan English

el mateix the very same

la mateixa the very same

tot un a whole / quite a

tota una a whole / quite a

cert a certain

certa a certain

tal such a

determinat a certain / particular

determinada a certain / particular

Examples:

Tot un problema.

Quite a problem / a whole problem.

Una certa persona.

A certain person.

37. Negative determiners

The main negative/negative-context determiners are:

Catalan English

cap any / no

cap mena de no kind of / any kind of

cap tipus de no type of / any type of

cap altre no other / any other

cap dels none of the

cap de les none of the

Examples:

No tinc cap llibre.

I don't have any books.

No hi ha cap problema.

There is no problem.

No vull cap altre llibre.

I don't want any other book.

38. Determiner combinations

Catalan allows important combinations.

Definite article + quantifier

els molts llibres

the many books

les poques persones

the few people

Article + ordinal

el primer llibre

the first book

Article + possessive

el meu llibre

my book

Demonstrative + noun

aquest llibre

this book

Quantifier + noun

molts llibres

many books

Indefinite + noun

alguns llibres

some books

39. Determiners that normally cannot simply combine

Catalan generally does not stack determiners freely.

For example, you normally don't say:

❌ aquest el llibre

Instead:

aquest llibre

this book

Similarly:

❌ el aquest llibre

But some combinations are grammatical because one item has a different grammatical function:

tots aquests llibres

all these books

els meus dos llibres

my two books

aquests dos llibres

these two books

40. Determiner order

A useful general structure is:

[quantifier] + [demonstrative/possessive] + [numeral] + noun

But the actual Catalan system has restrictions depending on the determiner.

Common patterns:

tots aquests llibres

all these books

els meus dos llibres

my two books

aquests dos llibres

these two books

molts altres llibres

many other books

cada un d'aquests llibres

each one of these books

41. “Each” — CADA vs CADA UN

Catalan English

cada llibre each/every book

cada dia every day

cada persona each person

cadascun dels llibres each of the books

cadascuna de les cases each of the houses

cada + noun

cada estudiant = each student

cadascun/cadascuna + de + noun

cadascun dels estudiants = each of the students

42. “Both” — TOTS DOS / TOTES DUES

Catalan English

tots dos both

totes dues both

tots dos llibres both books

totes dues cases both houses

Examples:

Tots dos llibres són bons.

Both books are good.

Totes dues cases són grans.

Both houses are big.

43. “Either / any”

Depending on meaning:

Catalan English

qualsevol any / either

qualsevol dels dos either of the two

qualsevol dels llibres any of the books

un o l'altre one or the other

l'un o l'altre either one or the other

44. “Another”

Catalan English

un altre another

una altra another

uns altres other/another set

unes altres other/another set

altre other

altra other

Examples:

un altre llibre

another book

una altra vegada

another time

altres persones

other people

45. “Certain / a certain”

Catalan English

cert a certain

certa a certain

certs certain

certes certain

determinat a certain / particular

determinada a certain / particular

determinats certain

determinades certain

Examples:

una certa persona

a certain person

determinades condicions

certain conditions

13- IF CONDITIONAL

0 — Zero Conditional si + present → present Si menjo, engreixo. If I eat, I gain weight.

1 — First Conditional si + present → future Si menjo, engreixaré. If I eat, I will gain weight.

2 — Second Conditional si + imperfect subjunctive → conditional Si mengés, engreixaria. If I ate, I would gain weight.

3 — Third Conditional si + pluperfect subjunctive → conditional perfect Si hagués menjat, hauria engreixat. If I had eaten, I would have gained weight.

jo parlaria I would speak

tu parlaries You would speak

ell parlaria He would speak

ella parlaria She would speak

vostè parlaria You would speak (formal)

nosaltres parlaríem We would speak

vosaltres parlaríeu You would speak

ells parlarien They would speak

elles parlarien They would speak

vostès parlarien You would speak (formal plural)

jo -ia parlaria

tu -ies parlaries

ell/ella/vostè -ia parlaria

nosaltres -íem parlaríem

vosaltres -íeu parlaríeu

ells/elles/vostès -ien parlarien

jo hauria parlat I would have spoken

tu hauries parlat You would have spoken

ell hauria parlat He would have spoken

ella hauria parlat She would have spoken

vostè hauria parlat You would have spoken (formal)

nosaltres hauríem parlat We would have spoken

vosaltres hauríeu parlat You would have spoken

ells haurien parlat They would have spoken

elles haurien parlat They would have spoken

vostès haurien parlat You would have spoken (formal plural)

Verb English Jo — “I would...” English

parlar to speak parlaria I would speak

menjar to eat menjaria I would eat

estudiar to study estudiaria I would study

treballar to work treballaria I would work

viure to live viuria I would live

escriure to write escriuria I would write

llegir to read llegiria I would read

dormir to sleep dormiria I would sleep

ser to be seria I would be

tenir to have tindria I would have

venir to come vindria I would come

poder to be able to podria I could / would be able to

voler to want voldria I would want

saber to know sabria I would know

fer to do/make faria I would do/make

dir to say diria I would say

prendre to take prendria I would take

veure to see veuria I would see

haver to have hauria I would have

jo no parlaria I would not speak

tu no parlaries You would not speak

ell/ella no parlaria He/she would not speak

nosaltres no parlaríem We would not speak

vosaltres no parlaríeu You would not speak

ells/elles no parlarien They would not speak

jo no hauria parlat I would not have spoken

tu no hauries parlat You would not have spoken

ell/ella no hauria parlat He/she would not have spoken

nosaltres no hauríem parlat We would not have spoken

vosaltres no hauríeu parlat You would not have spoken

ells/elles no haurien parlat They would not have spoken

6. Would in conditional sentences

Would do

Si tingués temps, estudiaria.

If I had time, I would study.

Would not do

Si tingués temps, no treballaria.

If I had time, I would not work.

Would have done

Si hagués tingut temps, hauria estudiat.

If I had had time, I would have studied.

Would not have done

Si hagués tingut temps, no hauria treballat.

If I had had time, I would not have worked.

jo no parlaria I would not speak

tu no parlaries You would not speak

ell no parlaria He would not speak

ella no parlaria She would not speak

vostè no parlaria You would not speak

nosaltres no parlaríem We would not speak

vosaltres no parlaríeu You would not speak

ells no parlarien They would not speak

elles no parlarien They would not speak

vostès no parlarien You would not speak

jo no estaria parlant I would not be speaking

tu no estaries parlant You would not be speaking

ell no estaria parlant He would not be speaking

ella no estaria parlant She would not be speaking

vostè no estaria parlant You would not be speaking

nosaltres no estaríem parlant We would not be speaking

vosaltres no estaríeu parlant You would not be speaking

ells no estarien parlant They would not be speaking

elles no estarien parlant They would not be speaking

vostès no estarien parlant You would not be speaking

jo no hauria parlat I would not have spoken

tu no hauries parlat You would not have spoken

ell no hauria parlat He would not have spoken

ella no hauria parlat She would not have spoken

vostè no hauria parlat You would not have spoken

nosaltres no hauríem parlat We would not have spoken

vosaltres no hauríeu parlat You would not have spoken

ells no haurien parlat They would not have spoken

elles no haurien parlat They would not have spoken

vostès no haurien parlat You would not have spoken

jo no hauria estat parlant I would not have been speaking

tu no hauries estat parlant You would not have been speaking

ell no hauria estat parlant He would not have been speaking

ella no hauria estat parlant She would not have been speaking

vostè no hauria estat parlant You would not have been speaking

nosaltres no hauríem estat parlant We would not have been speaking

vosaltres no hauríeu estat parlant You would not have been speaking

ells no haurien estat parlant They would not have been speaking

elles no haurien estat parlant They would not have been speaking

vostès no haurien estat parlant You would not have been speaking

jo seria escrit/escrita I would be written

tu series escrit/escrita You would be written

ell seria escrit He would be written

ella seria escrita She would be written

vostè seria escrit/escrita You would be written

nosaltres seríem escrits/escrites We would be written

vosaltres seríeu escrits/escrites You would be written

ells serien escrits They would be written

elles serien escrites They would be written

vostès serien escrits/escrites You would be written

The participle changes according to the subject:

- escrit — masculine singular

- escrita — feminine singular

- escrits — masculine plural

- escrites — feminine plural

2. Would be being written — Conditional Progressive Passive

Catalan can form this analytically with:

conditional of estar + sent + past participle

However, this is very uncommon and often unnatural in ordinary Catalan. A more natural way is usually to use estar + gerund or estar + participle, depending on the intended meaning.

For the literal progressive passive:

estaria sent escrit = would be being written

jo estaria sent escrit/escrita I would be being written

tu estaries sent escrit/escrita You would be being written

ell estaria sent escrit He would be being written

ella estaria sent escrita She would be being written

vostè estaria sent escrit/escrita You would be being written

nosaltres estaríem sent escrits/escrites We would be being written

vosaltres estaríeu sent escrits/escrites You would be being written

ells estarien sent escrits They would be being written

elles estarien sent escrites They would be being written

vostès estarien sent escrits/escrites You would be being written

jo hauria estat escrit/escrita I would have been written

tu hauries estat escrit/escrita You would have been written

ell hauria estat escrit He would have been written

ella hauria estat escrita She would have been written

vostè hauria estat escrit/escrita You would have been written

nosaltres hauríem estat escrits/escrites We would have been written

vosaltres hauríeu estat escrits/escrites You would have been written

ells haurien estat escrits They would have been written

elles haurien estat escrites They would have been written

vostès haurien estat escrits/escrites You would have been written

jo hauria estat sent escrit/escrita I would have been being written

tu hauries estat sent escrit/escrita You would have been being written

ell hauria estat sent escrit He would have been being written

ella hauria estat sent escrita She would have been being written

nosaltres hauríem estat sent escrits/escrites We would have been being written

vosaltres hauríeu estat sent escrits/escrites You would have been being written

ells haurien estat sent escrits They would have been being written

elles haurien estat sent escrites They would have been being written

This form is grammatically possible but not normally preferred. Catalan generally avoids stacking so many auxiliaries.

jo seria parlat/parlada I would be spoken

tu series parlat/parlada You would be spoken

ell seria parlat He would be spoken

ella seria parlada She would be spoken

nosaltres seríem parlats/parlades We would be spoken

vosaltres seríeu parlats/parlades You would be spoken

ells serien parlats They would be spoken

elles serien parlades They would be spoken

But parlar is normally intransitive, so these sentences are not natural when the subject is a person. For example, to say “the language would be spoken”:

La llengua seria parlada.

= The language would be spoken.

jo no seria escrit/escrita I would not be written

tu no series escrit/escrita You would not be written

ell no seria escrit He would not be written

ella no seria escrita She would not be written

vostè no seria escrit/escrita You would not be written

nosaltres no seríem escrits/escrites We would not be written

vosaltres no seríeu escrits/escrites You would not be written

ells no serien escrits They would not be written

elles no serien escrites They would not be written

vostès no serien escrits/escrites You would not be written

jo no estaria sent escrit/escrita I would not be being written

tu no estaries sent escrit/escrita You would not be being written

ell no estaria sent escrit He would not be being written

ella no estaria sent escrita She would not be being written

vostè no estaria sent escrit/escrita You would not be being written

nosaltres no estaríem sent escrits/escrites We would not be being written

vosaltres no estaríeu sent escrits/escrites You would not be being written

ells no estarien sent escrits They would not be being written

elles no estarien sent escrites They would not be being written

vostès no estarien sent escrits/escrites You would not be being written

This is grammatically possible but very uncommon in normal Catalan.

jo no hauria estat escrit/escrita I would not have been written

tu no hauries estat escrit/escrita You would not have been written

ell no hauria estat escrit He would not have been written

ella no hauria estat escrita She would not have been written

vostè no hauria estat escrit/escrita You would not have been written

nosaltres no hauríem estat escrits/escrites We would not have been written

vosaltres no hauríeu estat escrits/escrites You would not have been written

ells no haurien estat escrits They would not have been written

elles no haurien estat escrites They would not have been written

vostès no haurien estat escrits/escrites You would not have been written

jo no hauria estat sent escrit/escrita I would not have been being written

tu no hauries estat sent escrit/escrita You would not have been being written

ell no hauria estat sent escrit He would not have been being written

ella no hauria estat sent escrita She would not have been being written

nosaltres no hauríem estat sent escrits/escrites We would not have been being written

vosaltres no hauríeu estat sent escrits/escrites You would not have been being written

ells no haurien estat sent escrits They would not have been being written

elles no haurien estat sent escrites They would not have been being written

This is extremely uncommon and usually avoided by restructuring the sentence.

English Catalan Typical formation Example

if si si + clause Si vens, parlaré amb tu.

if si si + present Si estudies, aprovaràs.

unless si no si no + clause Si no vens, començaré.

unless a menys que a menys que + subjunctive A menys que vinguis, començaré.

unless llevat que llevat que + subjunctive Llevat que plogui, sortirem.

unless tret que tret que + subjunctive Tret que vingui, començarem.

except if excepte si excepte si + clause Hi aniré, excepte si plou.

even if encara que encara que + subjunctive/indicative Encara que plogui, sortiré.

even if fins i tot si fins i tot si + clause Fins i tot si plou, sortiré.

only if només si només si + clause Només si estudies, aprovaràs.

if and only if si i només si si i només si + clause A és cert si i només si B és cert.

provided that sempre que sempre que + subjunctive Vindré sempre que em convidis.

provided that amb la condició que + subjunctive Vindré amb la condició que em convidis.

on condition that a condició que + subjunctive Ho faré a condició que m'ajudis.

as long as sempre que + subjunctive Pots venir sempre que vulguis.

as long as mentre + clause Pots quedar-te mentre no molestis.

in case per si per si + clause Porta un paraigua per si plou.

in case that en cas que en cas que + subjunctive En cas que plogui, no sortirem.

in the event that en cas que + subjunctive En cas que arribi tard, espera'm.

when (future condition) quan quan + subjunctive Quan arribis, trucaré.

whenever sempre que + subjunctive/indicative Sempre que vinguis, et rebré.

as soon as tan aviat com + subjunctive for future Tan aviat com arribis, et trucaré.

as soon as així que + clause Així que arribi, t'avisaré.

once un cop que + clause Un cop que arribis, començarem.

as if com si com si + imperfect/pluperfect subjunctive Parla com si ho sabés.

as though com si com si + subjunctive Actua com si fos el cap.

if only tant de bo + subjunctive Tant de bo tingués més temps!

if only si almenys si almenys + subjunctive Si almenys tingués temps!

what if? i si...? i si + clause I si plou?

what if? què passa si...? què passa si + clause Què passa si no ve?

whether si si + clause No sé si vindrà.

whether or not si... o no si + clause + o no No sé si vindrà o no.

whether...or... tant si... com si... tant si + clause + com si Tant si vens com si no vens, començaré.

regardless of whether tant si... com si... tant si... com si... Tant si plou com si fa sol, sortirem.

no matter if sigui com sigui fixed expression Sigui com sigui, ho faré.

no matter what happens passi el que passi subjunctive + relative Passi el que passi, continuaré.

if I were you si fos tu si + imperfect subjunctive Si fos tu, no ho faria.

if it weren't for si no fos per + noun/pronoun Si no fos per tu, no ho faria.

if it hadn't been for si no hagués estat per + noun/pronoun Si no hagués estat per tu, hauria fracassat.

if necessary si cal si cal + clause Si cal, t'ajudaré.

if needed si cal si cal + clause Si cal, ho faré.

if possible si és possible si és possible + clause Si és possible, vindré.

if you want si vols si vols + clause Si vols, podem anar-hi.

if you like si vols si vols + clause Si vols, queda't.

if you prefer si ho prefereixes si + present Si ho prefereixes, podem esperar.

if necessary si és necessari si + adjective Si és necessari, t'ajudaré.

if appropriate si escau fixed expression Si escau, ho farem demà.

if applicable si escau fixed expression Si escau, presenta els documents.

if true si és cert si + ser Si és cert, és important.

if not si no si no + clause Si no, marxarem.

if so si és així fixed expression Si és així, continuem.

if that is the case si és el cas fixed expression Si és el cas, ho revisarem.

if necessary en cas necessari fixed expression En cas necessari, truca'm.

in that case en aquest cas fixed expression En aquest cas, marxarem.

otherwise si no si no + result Afanya't; si no, arribarem tard.

14- COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Type Catalan formation Example English

Comparative superiority més + Adj + que més alt que taller than

Comparative inferiority menys + Adj + que menys alt que less tall than

Comparative equality tan + Adj + com tan alt com as tall as

More noun més + noun + que més llibres que more books than

Less noun menys + noun + que menys llibres que fewer books than

Equal quantity tant/a/s/es + noun + com tants llibres com as many books as

More with verb verb + més que treballo més que I work more than

Less with verb verb + menys que treballo menys que I work less than

Equal with verb verb + tant com treballo tant com I work as much as

Superlative superiority el/la/els/les + més + Adj el més alt the tallest

Superlative inferiority el/la/els/les + menys + Adj el menys alt the least tall

Absolute superlative Adj + -íssim altíssim extremely tall

Very molt + Adj molt alt very tall

Too massa + Adj massa alt too tall

Enough prou + Adj prou alt tall enough

Quite/rather bastant/força + Adj força alt quite tall

More and more cada vegada/cada cop més cada cop més alt taller and taller

Less and less cada vegada/cada cop menys cada cop menys alt less and less tall

The more, the more com més..., més... Com més estudio, més aprenc. The more I study, the more I learn.

The more, the less com més..., menys... Com més treballo, menys dormo. The more I work, the less I sleep.

The less, the more com menys..., més... Com menys dormo, més cansat estic. The less I sleep, the more tired I am.

The less, the less com menys..., menys... Com menys menges, menys gana tens. The less you eat, the less hungry you are.

Better millor millor que better than

Best el/la millor el millor the best

Worse pitjor pitjor que worse than

Worst el/la pitjor el pitjor the worst

At least almenys / com a mínim almenys tres at least three

At most com a màxim com a màxim deu at most ten

Same el mateix que el mateix que jo the same as me

Different diferent de diferent de mi different from me

Similar semblant a semblant a això similar to this

15- RELATIVE CLAUSES

# Type Formation Example English

1 Basic noun + que El noi que estudia The boy who studies

2 Direct object noun + que El llibre que llegeixo The book I read

3 Person qui Qui parla? Who is speaking?

4 Person + prep. prep. + qui La persona amb qui parlo The person with whom I speak

5 Thing + prep. prep. + què La cosa de què parlo The thing I talk about

6 Compound relative el qual El llibre el qual vaig comprar The book which I bought

7 Compound feminine la qual La casa la qual vaig veure The house which I saw

8 Compound plural els/les quals Les cases les quals vaig veure The houses which I saw

9 Possessive el qual + de el noi el pare del qual... the boy whose father...

10 Place on La ciutat on visc The city where I live

11 Place formal en què La ciutat en què visc The city in which I live

12 Time quan El dia quan vaig arribar The day when I arrived

13 Neuter el que El que dius What you say

14 Whole clause la qual cosa Va marxar, la qual cosa em va molestar He left, which annoyed me

15 Whole clause cosa que Va marxar, cosa que em va molestar He left, which annoyed me

16 Manner com La manera com ho fa The way he does it

17 Free relative qui + verb Qui treballa... Whoever works...

18 Free relative el que + clause El que vols... What you want...

19 Free relative place on + clause Vés on vulguis Go wherever you want

20 Free relative time quan + clause Vine quan puguis Come whenever you can

21 Free relative manner com + clause Fes-ho com vulguis Do it however you want

22 Restrictive noun + que Els nois que estudien... The boys who study...

23 Non-restrictive noun, que, clause El meu germà, que viu aquí... My brother, who lives here...

24 Passive relative noun + que + ser + participle El llibre que va ser escrit... The book that was written...

25 Reduced passive noun + participle El llibre escrit per ell The book written by him

26 Superlative superlative + que el millor llibre que he llegit the best book I have read

27 Indefinite noun + subjunctive relative algú que parli català someone who speaks Catalan

28 Negative ningú + subjunctive ningú que ho sàpiga nobody who knows it

29 Purpose-like noun + a + infinitive res a fer nothing to do

30 Reason per què / per la qual la raó per la qual... the reason why...

# Type Formation Example English

1 Past participle noun + participle llibres publicats books published

2 Passive + agent noun + participle + per llibres escrits per Joan books written by Joan

3 Resulting state noun + participle porta tancada closed door

4 Gerund noun + gerund nens jugant children playing

5 Gerund + object noun + gerund + object home llegint el llibre man reading the book

6 Perception + gerund see/hear + noun + gerund vaig veure el noi corrent I saw the boy running

7 Perception + infinitive see/hear + noun + infinitive vaig veure el noi córrer I saw the boy run

8 a + infinitive noun + a + infinitive feina a fer work to do

9 per + infinitive noun + per + infinitive coses per comprar things to buy

10 Infinitival modifier noun + infinitive problema a resoldre problem to solve

11 Prepositional modifier noun + prep. phrase estudiants de Barcelona students from Barcelona

12 Adjectival modifier noun + adjective persona intel·ligent intelligent person

13 Participial passive noun + participle documents signats signed documents

14 Perfect gerund havent + participle havent acabat having finished

15 Gerund circumstance gerund + complements treballant aquí working here

16 Passive state noun + participle productes venuts aquí products sold here

17 Modal/pending noun + per + infinitive problemes per resoldre problems to solve

18 Manner/attribute noun + adjective manera correcta correct way

16- REPORTED SPEECH AND DIRECT SPEECH

# Type Catalan formation Example English

1 Statement V + que + indicatiu Va dir que estava cansat. He said he was tired.

2 Statement, present V + que + present Diu que està cansat. He says he is tired.

3 Statement, past V + que + imperfect Va dir que estava cansat. He said he was tired.

4 Perfect V + que + pluperfect Va dir que havia menjat. He said he had eaten.

5 Future V + que + conditional Va dir que vindria. He said he would come.

6 Future perfect V + que + conditional perfect Va dir que hauria acabat. He said he would have finished.

7 Yes/no question preguntar + si Va preguntar si venia. He asked if I was coming.

8 Who-question preguntar + qui Va preguntar qui era. He asked who it was.

9 What-question preguntar + què Va preguntar què feia. He asked what I was doing.

10 Where-question preguntar + on Va preguntar on vivia. He asked where I lived.

11 When-question preguntar + quan Va preguntar quan vindria. He asked when I would come.

12 How-question preguntar + com Va preguntar com ho feia. He asked how I did it.

13 Why-question preguntar + per què Va preguntar per què plorava. He asked why I was crying.

14 Which-question preguntar + quin Va preguntar quin volia. He asked which one I wanted.

15 Command dir + que + subjunctive Va dir que vingués. He told me to come.

16 Negative command dir + que + no + subj. Va dir que no vingués. He told me not to come.

17 Request demanar + que + subj. Va demanar que esperés. He asked me to wait.

18 Advice aconsellar + que + subj. Va aconsellar que descansés. He advised me to rest.

19 Suggestion suggerir + que + subj. Va suggerir que anéssim. He suggested that we go.

20 Recommendation recomanar + que + subj. Va recomanar que ho fes. He recommended that I do it.

21 Invitation convidar + a + inf. Va convidar-me a anar-hi. He invited me to go there.

22 Offer oferir-se a + inf. Es va oferir a ajudar-me. He offered to help me.

23 Promise prometre + inf./que Va prometre ajudar-me. He promised to help me.

24 Refusal negar-se a + inf. Es va negar a venir. He refused to come.

25 Denial negar + que + subj. Va negar que ho hagués fet. He denied having done it.

26 Admission admetre + que Va admetre que ho havia fet. He admitted he had done it.

27 Warning advertir + que + subj. Va advertir-lo que no ho fes. He warned him not to do it.

28 Thought pensar + que Va pensar que era bona idea. He thought it was a good idea.

29 Decision decidir + inf. Va decidir marxar. He decided to leave.

30 Whole nested report V + que + V + que Va dir que li havia explicat que... He said that he had explained that...

17- INFINITIVES AND VERBAL NOUNS

# Type Formation Example English

1 Present infinitive verb stem + ending parlar to speak

2 -ar infinitive -ar menjar to eat

3 -er/-re infinitive -er/-re perdre to lose

4 -ir infinitive -ir dormir to sleep

5 Infinitive subject infinitive + clause Estudiar és important Studying is important

6 Direct complement verb + infinitive Vull menjar I want to eat

7 a + infinitive a + infinitive començar a estudiar start studying

8 de + infinitive de + infinitive acabar de menjar finish eating

9 per + infinitive per + infinitive estudiar per aprovar study to pass

10 per a + infinitive per a + infinitive servir per a cuinar be for cooking

11 sense + infinitive sense + infinitive sortir sense dir res leave without saying

12 abans de abans de + inf. abans de sortir before leaving

13 després de després de + inf. després de menjar after eating

14 en + infinitive en + inf. en arribar upon arriving

15 Perfect infinitive haver + participle haver menjat to have eaten

16 Negative infinitive no + infinitive no fumar not to smoke

17 Reflexive infinitive inf. + clitic rentar-se to wash oneself

18 Object clitic inf. + clitic veure'l to see him/it

19 Reduced relative noun + a + inf. problema a resoldre problem to solve

20 Pending action noun + per + inf. coses per fer things to do

21 Gerund -ant/-ent/-int parlant speaking

22 Progressive estar + gerund estic parlant I am speaking

23 Simultaneous action verb + gerund va entrar rient he entered laughing

24 Manner verb + gerund va aprendre estudiant learned by studying

25 Perception + gerund veure + object + gerund el veig corrent I see him running

26 Perception + infinitive veure + object + inf. el veig córrer I see him run

27 Perfect gerund havent + participle havent menjat having eaten

28 Gerund + object gerund + object menjant el llibre —

29 Reflexive gerund gerund + clitic rentant-se washing oneself

30 Negative progressive no + estar + gerund no estic menjant I am not eating

English pattern Catalan pattern Example

happy to see adjective + de + infinitive content de veure't

plan to eat pensar + infinitive penso menjar

plan eating pensar + infinitive penso menjar

see him run veure + clitic + infinitive el veig córrer

see him running veure + clitic + gerund el veig corrent

eat to play verb + per + infinitive menjo per jugar

eat in order to play verb + per tal de + infinitive menjo per tal de jugar

18- SUBJUNCTIVE

Function Formation Example English

Wish voler que + subj. Vull que vinguis. I want you to come.

Request demanar que + subj. Et demano que vinguis. I ask you to come.

Necessity cal que + subj. Cal que estudiïs. You need to study.

Emotion emotion + que + subj. M'agrada que vinguis. I like that you come.

Doubt dubtar que + subj. Dubto que vingui. I doubt he will come.

Negative belief no creure que + subj. No crec que vingui. I don't think he will come.

Purpose perquè/per tal que + subj. Ho faig perquè entenguis. I do it so that you understand.

Before abans que + subj. Abans que arribis... Before you arrive...

Unless a menys que + subj. Vindré a menys que plogui. I'll come unless it rains.

Even if encara que + subj. Encara que sigui difícil... Even if it is difficult...

Future when quan + subj. Quan arribis, truca'm. When you arrive, call me.

Hypothetical si + imperfect subj. Si tingués temps... If I had time...

Unreal past si + pluperfect subj. Si hagués sabut... If I had known...

Negative command no + subj. No parlis! Don't speak!

19- TAG QUESTIONS

Type Formation Example English

oi? statement + oi? Vens, oi? You're coming, aren't you?

no? statement + no? Vens, no? You're coming, right?

veritat? statement + veritat? És bo, veritat? It's good, isn't it?

no és cert? statement + no és cert? És bo, no és cert? It's good, isn't it?

oi que...? oi que + clause Oi que vens? You're coming, aren't you?

no és així? statement + no és així? És difícil, no és així? It's difficult, isn't it?

Type Formation Example English

Present no + present No vens? Aren't you coming?

Imperfect no + imperfect No venies? Weren't you coming?

Past no + passat perifràstic No vas venir? Didn't you come?

Present perfect no + haver + participle No has vingut? Haven't you come?

Pluperfect no + havia + participle No havies vingut? Hadn't you come?

Future no + future No vindràs? Won't you come?

Conditional no + conditional No vindries? Wouldn't you come?

Modal no + modal verb No pots venir? Can't you come?

Wh-question wh-word + no + verb Per què no vens? Why aren't you coming?

Negative word no + verb + negative word No ha vingut ningú? Hasn't anyone come?

Subjunctive no + main verb + que + subj. No vols que vingui? Don't you want him/her to come?

Suggestion No + present + ? No anem? Why don't we go?

20- MODAL WORDS

poder + infinitive

Person Catalan English

jo puc I can

tu pots you can

ell/ella pot he/she can

nosaltres podem we can

vosaltres podeu you can

ells/elles poden they can

Examples:

Puc venir.

I can come.

No puc dormir.

I can't sleep.

Pots ajudar-me?

Can you help me?

2. Permission

poder + infinitive

Puc entrar?

May/Can I come in?

Pots marxar.

You may/can leave.

tenir permís per + infinitive

Tens permís per sortir.

You have permission to leave.

estar autoritzat/autoritzada a + infinitive

Estàs autoritzat a entrar.

You are authorized to enter.

3. Possibility — “may / might / could”

poder

Catalan poder can express possibility as well as ability.

Pot ploure.

It may/might rain.

Pot ser veritat.

It may be true.

Podria venir.

He/She could/might come.

potser — perhaps, maybe

Potser vindrà.

Maybe he/she will come.

Potser plourà.

Perhaps it will rain.

Formation:

potser + clause

potser que — perhaps

Potser que vingui demà.

Perhaps he/she will come tomorrow.

és possible que + subjunctive

És possible que vingui.

It is possible that he/she will come.

és probable que + subjunctive

És probable que arribi tard.

He/She will probably arrive late.

és possible + infinitive

When the subject is understood:

És possible arribar-hi a peu.

It is possible to get there on foot.

4. Probability

probablement — probably

Probablement vindrà.

He/She will probably come.

segurament — surely, probably

Segurament vindrà demà.

He/She will probably come tomorrow.

possiblement — possibly

Possiblement arribarà tard.

He/She will possibly arrive late.

potser — maybe

Potser vindrà.

Maybe he/she will come.

amb tota probabilitat — in all probability

Amb tota probabilitat, arribarà demà.

In all probability, he/she will arrive tomorrow.

amb molta probabilitat — very probably

Amb molta probabilitat, plourà.

It will very probably rain.

5. Certainty

certament — certainly

Certament, és possible.

Certainly, it is possible.

segur — sure, certain

N'estic segur.

I'm sure.

Estic segur que vindrà.

I'm sure he/she will come.

segur que — surely / certainly

Segur que vindrà.

He/She will certainly come.

sens dubte — without a doubt

Sens dubte, és important.

Without a doubt, it is important.

indubtablement — undoubtedly

Indubtablement, és un problema.

Undoubtedly, it is a problem.

evidentment — evidently, obviously

Evidentment, ho sap.

Obviously, he/she knows it.

òbviament — obviously

Òbviament, no és cert.

Obviously, it isn't true.

naturalment — naturally, of course

Naturalment, pots venir.

Naturally/Of course, you can come.

6. Necessity — must / have to

haver de + infinitive

This is the main way to express must / have to.

Person Catalan English

jo he de venir I have to come

tu has de venir you have to come

ell/ella ha de venir he/she has to come

nosaltres hem de venir we have to come

vosaltres heu de venir you have to come

ells/elles han de venir they have to come

He de treballar.

I have to work.

Has de marxar.

You must/need to leave.

7. haver-se de + infinitive

The reflexive form is also used.

M'he de llevar d'hora.

I have to get up early.

T'has de preparar.

You have to get ready.

8. caldre — need to / be necessary

caldre is an important impersonal modal verb.

cal + infinitive

Cal estudiar.

It is necessary to study.

Cal treballar més.

It is necessary to work more.

cal que + subjunctive

Cal que estudiïs.

You need to study.

Cal que vinguis.

You need to come.

9. caldria — should / it would be necessary

Caldria estudiar més.

One should study more. / It would be necessary to study more.

Caldria que vinguessis.

You should come.

10. Obligation

estar obligat/obligada a + infinitive

Estic obligat a treballar.

I am obliged to work.

tenir l'obligació de + infinitive

Tens l'obligació de pagar.

You have an obligation to pay.

ser obligatori + infinitive

És obligatori portar casc.

Wearing a helmet is mandatory.

obligatòriament — obligatorily

Cal fer-ho obligatòriament.

It must be done obligatorily.

11. Necessity / requirement

necessari/necessària

És necessari estudiar.

It is necessary to study.

ser necessari que + subjunctive

És necessari que vinguis.

It is necessary that you come.

necessàriament — necessarily

Això no és necessàriament cert.

That is not necessarily true.

12. Advice — should / ought to

haver de + infinitive

Depending on context, haver de can express advice as well as obligation.

Hauries de descansar.

You should rest.

hauria de + infinitive

This is one of the most important ways to express should.

Hauries de menjar més.

You should eat more.

Hauríem de marxar.

We should leave.

Formation

conditional of haver + de + infinitive

Person Formation

jo hauria de + infinitive

tu hauries de + infinitive

ell/ella hauria de + infinitive

nosaltres hauríem de + infinitive

vosaltres hauríeu de + infinitive

ells/elles haurien de + infinitive

13. convindria — it would be advisable

Et convindria descansar.

You should / It would be advisable for you to rest.

Convendria que hi anessis.

It would be advisable for you to go there.

14. seria millor — it would be better

Seria millor esperar.

It would be better to wait.

Seria millor que esperessis.

It would be better if you waited.

15. més valdria — you'd better

Més valdria que hi anessis.

You'd better go there.

Més val que marxis.

You'd better leave.

16. Desire / willingness

voler + infinitive — want to

Vull menjar.

I want to eat.

Vols venir?

Do you want to come?

voler que + subjunctive

Vull que vinguis.

I want you to come.

17. desitjar — wish/desire

Desitjo anar-hi.

I wish to go there.

Desitjo que vinguis.

I wish you to come.

18. preferir — prefer

Prefereixo quedar-me aquí.

I prefer to stay here.

Prefereixo que vinguis demà.

I prefer you to come tomorrow.

19. Intention

pensar + infinitive — intend/plan to

Penso menjar.

I plan/intend to eat.

Penso anar-hi demà.

I plan to go there tomorrow.

tenir pensat + infinitive

Tinc pensat marxar demà.

I intend/plan to leave tomorrow.

tenir previst + infinitive

Tinc previst viatjar al juny.

I plan/intend to travel in June.

intentar + infinitive

Intento ajudar-lo.

I try/intend to help him.

20. Willingness

estar disposat/disposada a + infinitive

Estic disposat a ajudar-te.

I am willing to help you.

estar disposat que...

Normally the construction with a different subject is expressed with an appropriate subordinate clause rather than directly copying English.

21. Refusal

negar-se a + infinitive

Es nega a venir.

He/She refuses to come.

no voler + infinitive

No vol venir.

He/She doesn't want to come.

22. Intention / imminent action

estar a punt de + infinitive

= be about to

Estic a punt de sortir.

I am about to leave.

Està a punt de començar.

It is about to begin.

estar a punt per + infinitive

Can express being ready/prepared for an action:

Estic a punt per començar.

I am ready to start.

23. Near future / planned action

anar a + infinitive

Catalan uses anar a + infinitive in various contexts, but it should not simply be treated as an exact equivalent of the English be going to in every context.

Vaig a menjar.

I'm going to eat.

For an intended future action, Catalan also very naturally uses the simple future or expressions such as:

Menjaré després.

I'll eat later.

Penso menjar després.

I plan to eat later.

24. Probability with future

The future tense itself can express conjecture/probability.

Seran les vuit.

It is probably eight o'clock.

Literally:

They will be eight.

Here seran expresses conjecture, not future time.

Similarly:

Estarà a casa.

He/She is probably at home.

25. Probability with conditional

The conditional can also express conjecture about a past situation.

Devia tenir trenta anys.

He/She must have been thirty years old.

Another common structure:

Hauria de ser a casa.

He/She should/must be at home.

Context determines whether hauria de expresses obligation/advice or a strong inference.

26. deure — must / be supposed to / presumably

deure is especially important as a modal verb.

deure + infinitive

Deu ser veritat.

It must be true.

Deu estar a casa.

He/She must be at home.

Imperfect

Devia estar cansat.

He must have been tired / He was probably tired.

Conditional

Deuria estar cansat.

He would probably be tired.

In modern Catalan, deure is especially useful for expressing inference/conjecture.

27. Obligation vs inference

This distinction is important.

haver de

Ha de treballar.

He/She has to work.

→ obligation/necessity

deure

Deu estar treballant.

He/She must be working.

→ inference/probability

28. sembla que — it seems that

Sembla que plourà.

It seems that it will rain.

Sembla que està cansat.

It seems that he is tired.

semblar + infinitive

Sembla estar cansat.

He seems to be tired.

29. aparentment — apparently

Aparentment, està bé.

Apparently, he/she is fine.

pel que sembla — apparently / it seems

Pel que sembla, vindrà demà.

Apparently, he/she will come tomorrow.

segons sembla — apparently / it seems

Segons sembla, ja ha arribat.

Apparently, he/she has already arrived.

30. Certainty and evidence

Catalan English

certament certainly

sens dubte undoubtedly

indubtablement undoubtedly

segurament surely/probably

evidentment evidently

òbviament obviously

clarament clearly

cert certain

segur sure/certain

és segur que it is certain that

és evident que it is evident that

és clar que it is clear that

no hi ha dubte que there is no doubt that

31. Doubt and uncertainty

Catalan English

potser maybe/perhaps

possiblement possibly

probablement probably

potser que perhaps

dubtar to doubt

dubtós/dubtosa doubtful

és possible que it is possible that

és probable que it is probable that

no és segur que it is not certain that

no se sap si it is not known whether

qui sap si who knows whether

pot ser que it may be that

Examples:

Pot ser que vingui.

He/She may come.

No és segur que vingui.

It isn't certain that he/she will come.

Qui sap si vindrà.

Who knows if he/she will come.

32. pot ser que + subjunctive

This is particularly useful for may/might.

Pot ser que plogui.

It may/might rain.

Pot ser que no vingui.

He/She may not come.

Formation:

pot ser que + present subjunctive

33. Necessity, advice, possibility — master comparison

English Main Catalan construction Example

can poder + infinitive Puc venir.

could podria + infinitive Podria venir.

may poder / potser / pot ser que Pot venir.

might podria / potser / pot ser que Podria venir.

must haver de + infinitive He de venir.

must be deure + infinitive Deu ser aquí.

have to haver de + infinitive He de treballar.

need to haver de / caldre He de treballar.

should hauria de + infinitive Hauria de treballar.

ought to hauria de / convindria Hauria de venir.

want to voler + infinitive Vull venir.

would like to voler + infinitive / agradaria Voldria venir.

intend to pensar + infinitive Penso venir.

plan to tenir previst/pensat + infinitive Tinc previst venir.

be about to estar a punt de + infinitive Estic a punt de sortir.

be willing to estar disposat a + infinitive Estic disposat a ajudar.

refuse to negar-se a + infinitive Es nega a venir.

seem to semblar + infinitive Sembla estar cansat.

probably probablement / segurament Probablement vindrà.

maybe potser Potser vindrà.

certainly certament / sens dubte Sens dubte vindrà.

34. Other important modal adverbs

These don't necessarily correspond to one English modal verb, but they modify the speaker's commitment, certainty, or attitude.

Catalan English

potser perhaps, maybe

probablement probably

possiblement possibly

segurament surely, probably

certament certainly

indubtablement undoubtedly

sens dubte without a doubt

evidentment evidently

òbviament obviously

naturalment naturally, of course

clarament clearly

aparentment apparently

presumiblement presumably

teòricament theoretically

pràcticament practically

necessàriament necessarily

eventualment eventually / potentially, depending on context

possiblement possibly

hipotèticament hypothetically

realment really

suposadament supposedly

presumptament allegedly/presumably, depending on context

versemblantment plausibly

plausiblement plausibly

35. suposar que — suppose/assume that

Suposo que vindrà.

I suppose he/she will come.

Suposem que és veritat.

Let's suppose that it is true.

suposadament — supposedly

Suposadament, vindrà demà.

Supposedly, he/she will come tomorrow.

36. haver de in different modal meanings

The same construction can express different meanings depending on context.

Obligation

He de marxar.

I have to leave.

Expectation

Ha de venir demà.

He/She is supposed to come tomorrow.

Strong inference

Ha de ser ell.

It must be him.

Conditional advice

Hauries de descansar.

You should rest.

37. would like

Catalan commonly uses voler in the conditional:

Voldria menjar.

I would like to eat.

Voldries venir?

Would you like to come?

Full paradigm:

Person Catalan English

jo voldria I would like

tu voldries you would like

ell/ella voldria he/she would like

nosaltres voldríem we would like

vosaltres voldríeu you would like

ells/elles voldrien they would like

38. would prefer

Preferiria quedar-me aquí.

I would prefer to stay here.

Preferiries esperar?

Would you prefer to wait?

39. be supposed to

Catalan has several ways to express this depending on meaning.

haver de + infinitive

Ha de venir demà.

He/She is supposed to come tomorrow.

estar previst que + subjunctive

Està previst que arribi demà.

It is planned/scheduled that he/she will arrive tomorrow.

se suposa que + indicative

Se suposa que vindrà demà.

He/She is supposed to come tomorrow.

40. se suposa que — supposedly / is supposed to

Se suposa que és aquí.

He/She is supposed to be here.

Se suposa que vindrà demà.

He/She is supposed to come tomorrow.

41. no cal — don't need to / no need to

No cal venir.

You don't need to come.

No cal que vinguis.

You don't need to come.

Two formations:

no cal + infinitive

No cal esperar.

no cal que + subjunctive

No cal que esperis.

42. cal que vs no cal que

Catalan English

Cal que vinguis. You need to come.

No cal que vinguis. You don't need to come.

Cal estudiar. It is necessary to study.

No cal estudiar. There is no need to study.

43. Lack of possibility

no poder + infinitive

No puc venir.

I can't come.

ser impossible + infinitive

És impossible entrar.

It is impossible to enter.

ser impossible que + subjunctive

És impossible que sigui veritat.

It is impossible that it is true.

44. Lack of obligation

no haver de + infinitive

No has de venir.

You don't have to come.

This is different from:

No pots venir.

You can't come.

Catalan Meaning

No has de venir. You don't have to come.

No pots venir. You can't come.

No cal que vinguis. You don't need to come.

45. Prohibition

no + present subjunctive

No fumis.

Don't smoke.

No entris.

Don't enter.

No ho facis.

Don't do it.

estar prohibit + infinitive

Està prohibit fumar.

Smoking is prohibited.

ser prohibit + infinitive

És prohibit aparcar aquí.

Parking here is prohibited.

46. Permission vs prohibition

Function Catalan English

permission Pots entrar. You may/can enter.

lack of permission No pots entrar. You may not/can't enter.

prohibition No entris! Don't enter!

obligation Has d'entrar. You must enter.

no obligation No has d'entrar. You don't have to enter.

47. Modal nouns and expressions

Catalan can also express modality through nouns.

Expression Meaning

la possibilitat de the possibility of

la necessitat de the need to

l'obligació de the obligation to

el dret a the right to

el permís per permission to

la intenció de the intention to

la voluntat de the willingness/intention to

la capacitat de the ability to

la probabilitat de the probability of

la impossibilitat de the impossibility of

la necessitat que the need for...to

la possibilitat que the possibility that

la probabilitat que the probability that

Examples:

Hi ha la possibilitat que vingui.

There is a possibility that he/she will come.

Té la capacitat de fer-ho.

He/She has the ability to do it.

48. Modal adjectives

Catalan English

possible possible

impossible impossible

probable probable

improbable improbable

necessari necessary

innecessari unnecessary

obligatori obligatory/mandatory

voluntari voluntary

obligat obliged

disposat willing

capaç capable/able

incapaç incapable/unable

segur certain/sure

dubtós doubtful

convenient advisable/convenient

aconsellable advisable

recomanable recommended

permissible permissible

prohibit prohibited

49. The biggest Catalan modal structures

Modal meaning Main Catalan structure

can poder + infinitive

could poder in conditional + infinitive

may/might poder / potser / pot ser que + subjunctive

must haver de + infinitive

must be deure + infinitive

have to haver de + infinitive

need to haver de / caldre + infinitive

should hauria de + infinitive

ought to hauria de / convindria

want to voler + infinitive

would like to voldria + infinitive

prefer to preferir + infinitive

intend to pensar + infinitive

plan to tenir previst/pensat + infinitive

be about to estar a punt de + infinitive

be willing to estar disposat a + infinitive

refuse to negar-se a + infinitive

be supposed to se suposa que / haver de

seem to semblar + infinitive

probably probablement / segurament

maybe potser

certainly certament / sens dubte

apparently aparentment / pel que sembla

possibly possiblement

necessarily necessàriament

advisable convenient / aconsellable

necessary necessari / caldre

possible possible / poder

impossible impossible

Core modal formulas to memorize

CAN

poder + infinitive → Puc venir. — I can come.

MAY / MIGHT

pot ser que + subjunctive → Pot ser que vingui. — He may/might come.

MUST / HAVE TO

haver de + infinitive → He de venir. — I must/have to come.

MUST BE / PROBABLY

deure + infinitive → Deu ser ell. — It must be him.

SHOULD

hauria de + infinitive → Hauries de descansar. — You should rest.

NEED TO

caldre + infinitive / haver de + infinitive → Cal estudiar. — You need to study.

MAYBE

potser + clause → Potser vindrà. — Maybe he will come.

PROBABLY

probablement / segurament + clause → Probablement vindrà. — He will probably come.

CERTAINLY

certament / sens dubte + clause → Sens dubte vindrà. — He will certainly come.

WOULD LIKE

voldria + infinitive → Voldria menjar. — I would like to eat.

ABOUT TO

estar a punt de + infinitive → Estic a punt de sortir. — I am about to leave.

INTEND / PLAN

pensar + infinitive → Penso menjar. — I plan to eat.

IN ORDER TO / PURPOSE

per tal de + infinitive → Ho faig per tal d'ajudar-te. — I do it in order to help you.

21- THERE IS / HAVE / BE

English Catalan Formation

There is a book. Hi ha un llibre. hi ha + singular noun

There is a problem. Hi ha un problema. hi ha + singular noun

There are two books. Hi ha dos llibres. hi ha + plural noun

There are many people. Hi ha molta gent. hi ha + plural/mass noun

There isn't a book. No hi ha cap llibre. no + hi ha + cap + noun

There aren't any books. No hi ha llibres. no + hi ha + noun

Is there a book? Hi ha un llibre? hi ha + noun + ?

Are there any books? Hi ha llibres? hi ha + plural noun + ?

Tense jo tu ell/ella nosaltres vosaltres ells/elles

Present tinc tens té tenim teniu tenen

Imperfect tenia tenies tenia teníem teníeu tenien

Simple past tinguí tingueres tingué tinguérem tinguéreu tingueren

Periphrastic past vaig tenir vas tenir va tenir vam tenir vau tenir van tenir

Present perfect he tingut has tingut ha tingut hem tingut heu tingut han tingut

Pluperfect havia tingut havies tingut havia tingut havíem tingut havíeu tingut havien tingut

Future tindré tindràs tindrà tindrem tindreu tindran

Future perfect hauré tingut hauràs tingut haurà tingut haurem tingut haureu tingut hauran tingut

Conditional tindria tindries tindria tindríem tindríeu tindrien

Conditional perfect hauria tingut hauries tingut hauria tingut hauríem tingut hauríeu tingut haurien tingut

Tenia un cotxe. — I had a car.

Vaig tenir un problema. — I had a problem.

Person Present subjunctive Imperfect subjunctive

jo tingui tingués

tu tinguis tinguessis

ell/ella tingui tingués

nosaltres tinguem tinguéssim

vosaltres tingueu tinguéssiu

ells/elles tinguin tinguessin

Person Affirmative Negative

tu tingues! no tinguis!

vostè tingui! no tingui!

nosaltres tinguem! no tinguem!

vosaltres tingueu! no tingueu!

vostès tinguin! no tinguin!

Tingues paciència! — Have patience!

IMPERATIVES:

Type Formation Example English

Tu affirmative imperative Parla! Speak!

Tu negative no + subjunctive No parlis! Don't speak!

Vostè affirmative subjunctive Parli! Speak!

Vostè negative no + subjunctive No parli! Don't speak!

Nosaltres affirmative subjunctive Parlem! Let's speak!

Nosaltres negative no + subjunctive No parlem! Let's not speak!

Vosaltres affirmative imperative Parleu! Speak!

Vosaltres negative no + subjunctive No parleu! Don't speak!

Vostès affirmative subjunctive Parlin! Speak!

Vostès negative no + subjunctive No parlin! Don't speak!

Affirmative + clitic imperative + pronoun Fes-ho! Do it!

Negative + clitic no + clitic + subjunctive No ho facis! Don't do it!