SPANISH GRAMMAR
1- SPANISH ALPHABET
A a -> a
B b -> b
C c -> (before “e” or “i” sounds like “th” in Spain or “s” in Latin America; otherwise like “k”v)
D d -> d
E e -> e
F f -> f
G g -> before “e” or “i” sounds like a raspy “h”; otherwise like “g” in “go”
H h -> h
I i -> i
J j -> j
K k -> k
L l -> l
M m -> m
N n -> n
Ñ ñ -> (makes the ny sound as in canyon)
O o -> o
P p -> p
Q q -> q
R r -> (R but heavy by a little bit)
S s -> s
T t -> t
U u -> u
V v -> (makes the b sound)
W w -> w
X x -> x
Y y -> (pronounced like “y” in most Latin America, or “zh” in Argentina/Uruguay)
Z z -> z
ACCENT MARKS:
we add accent marks to indicate stressed vowels: á, é, í, ó, ú
DIERESIS
A dieresis is the mark ¨ place over the letter "u": ü
It has one main purpose in modern Spanish: to show that the letter "u" is pronounced in the combinations güe and güi.
pingüino penguin
vergüenza shame
bilingüe bilingual
lingüística linguistics
cigüeña stork
agüero omen
2- WORD ORDER
1 Basic S + V Yo duermo. I sleep.
2 Direct object S + V + DO Yo leo el libro. I read the book.
3 Indirect object S + V + IO + DO Yo le doy el libro. I give him the book.
4 Beneficiary S + V + DO + para + Beneficiary Yo compro un libro para él. I buy a book for him.
5 IO pronoun S + IO + V + DO Yo le doy el libro. I give him the book.
6 Adjective S + ser + Adj El libro es grande. The book is big.
7 Adverb S + V + Adv Él lee rápidamente. He reads quickly.
8 Direct object + adverb S + V + DO + Adv Yo leo el libro rápidamente. I read the book quickly.
9 Time adverb S + V + Time Yo trabajo hoy. I work today.
10 Place adverb S + V + Place Él vive allí. He lives there.
11 Location phrase S + estar + Location El libro está sobre la mesa. The book is on the table.
12 DO + location S + V + DO + Location Yo puse el libro sobre la mesa. I put the book on the table.
13 Determiner + noun Dem + N Este libro es nuevo. This book is new.
14 Determiner + adjective + noun Dem + Adj + N Este libro grande es nuevo. This big book is new.
15 Numeral + noun Num + N Dos libros son nuevos. Two books are new.
16 Conjunction Clause + Conj + Clause Yo leo y él escribe. I read and he writes.
17 Conjunction + objects S + V + DO + Conj + S + V + DO Yo leo el libro y él escribe una carta. I read the book and he writes a letter.
18 Present passive S + ser + passive participle El libro es leído. The book is read.
19 Passive + agent S + ser + passive participle + por + Agent El libro es leído por él. The book is read by him.
20 Passive + IO S + IO + ser + passive participle El libro le es dado. The book is given to him.
21 Passive + IO + agent S + IO + ser + passive participle + por + Agent El libro le es dado por él. The book is given to him by him.
22 Passive + adverb S + ser + passive participle + Time El libro es leído hoy. The book is read today.
23 Passive + location S + ser + passive participle + Location El libro es puesto sobre la mesa. The book is put on the table.
24 Passive + agent + adverb S + ser + passive participle + Time + por + Agent El libro es leído hoy por él. The book is read by him today.
25 Passive + agent + IO + adverb S + IO + ser + Time + passive participle + por + Agent El libro le es dado hoy por el profesor. The book is given to him by the teacher today.
26 Perfect passive S + haber + sido + participle El libro ha sido leído. The book has been read.
27 Perfect passive + agent S + haber + sido + participle + por + Agent El libro ha sido leído por él. The book has been read by him.
28 Future passive S + ser + participle El libro será leído. The book will be read.
29 Future passive + agent S + ser + participle + por + Agent El libro será leído por él. The book will be read by him.
30 Modal passive S + modal + ser + participle El libro debe ser leído. The book must be read.
31 Negative S + no + V + DO Yo no leo el libro. I do not read the book.
32 Negative passive S + no + ser + participle + por + Agent El libro no es leído por él. The book is not read by him.
33 Yes/no question V + S + DO? ¿Lees el libro? Do you read the book?
34 Passive question S + ser + passive participle? ¿Es leído el libro? Is the book read?
35 Agent question ¿Quién + V + DO? ¿Quién lee el libro? Who is reading the book?
36 IO question ¿A quién + V + DO? ¿A quién le das el libro? To whom do you give the book?
37 Imperative Imperative + DO ¡Lee el libro! Read the book!
38 Imperative + IO Imperative + IO + DO ¡Dale el libro! Give him the book!
39 Passive imperative que + subjunctive + passive ¡Que sea leído el libro! Let the book be read!
40 Verbal noun verb + -ción lectura reading
41 Verbal noun + DO verbal noun + DO la lectura del libro reading the book
42 Infinitive infinitive leer to read
43 Purpose S + V + para + infinitive Como para jugar. I eat in order to play.
44 Relative clause N + que/que + clause El libro que leo es interesante. The book that I read is interesting.
45 Passive relative N + que + ser + passive participle El libro que fue leído por él es interesante. The book that was read by him is interesting.
46 Conditional si + present, conditional + V Si tengo tiempo, leeré el libro. If I have time, I will read the book.
47 Conditional + passive si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional passive Si se leyera el libro, él aprendería. If the book were read, he would learn.
48 Reported speech S + V + que + clause Él dice que lee un libro. He says that he is reading a book.
49 Reported question S + V + si + clause Él pregunta si leo el libro. He asks if I am reading the book.
50 Reported command/request S + V + person + que + subjunctive Él me pide que lea el libro. He asks me to read the book.
INDIRECT OBJECT:
Basic IO S + V + DO + a + IO Yo doy el libro a Juan. I give the book to Juan.
IO pronoun S + IO + V + DO Yo le doy el libro. I give him the book.
IO + noun a + IO + IO pronoun + V + DO A Juan le doy el libro. I give Juan the book.
IO + DO pronoun IO pronoun + DO pronoun + V Se lo doy. I give it to him.
IO question ¿A quién + IO + V + DO? ¿A quién le das el libro? Who do you give the book to?
Gustar-type IO + V + S Me gusta el libro. I like the book.
GENITIVE:
Possession N + de + person el libro de Juan Juan's book
Thing relationship N + de + N la puerta de la casa the door of the house
Material N + de + material mesa de madera wooden table
Content N + de + noun taza de café cup of coffee
Possessive adjective possessive + N mi libro my book
Independent possessive el/la + possessive el mío mine
Whose cuyo/a/os/as + N cuya casa whose house
INDEPENDENT:
Person Masculine singular Feminine singular Masculine plural Feminine plural
my el mío la mía los míos las mías
your (tú) el tuyo la tuya los tuyos las tuyas
his/her/your (usted) el suyo la suya los suyos las suyas
our el nuestro la nuestra los nuestros las nuestras
your (vosotros) el vuestro la vuestra los vuestros las vuestras
their/your (ustedes) el suyo la suya los suyos las suyas
Este libro es el mío. This book is mine.
Esta casa es la mía. This house is mine.
WAS GOING TO:
1. “Was going to” = planned/intended action
Formation:
Subject + iba/ibas/iba/íbamos/ibais/iban + a + infinitive
English Spanish
I was going to iba a
you were going to ibas a
he/she was going to iba a
we were going to íbamos a
you were going to ibais a
they were going to iban a
Examples:
Iba a comer. = I was going to eat.
Iba a estudiar. = I was going to study.
Ella iba a llamarte. = She was going to call you.
Íbamos a viajar. = We were going to travel.
Ellos iban a comprar una casa. = They were going to buy a house.
2. Negative
Subject + no + iba/ibas/etc. + a + infinitive
No iba a comer. = I wasn't going to eat.
Ella no iba a venir. = She wasn't going to come.
No íbamos a hacerlo. = We weren't going to do it.
3. “Was about to”
For “was about to”, Spanish can also use estar a punto de + infinitive:
Subject + estaba + a punto de + infinitive
Estaba a punto de salir. = I was about to leave.
Ella estaba a punto de llorar. = She was about to cry.
So:
I was going to leave → Iba a salir.
I was about to leave → Estaba a punto de salir.
The first emphasizes a plan/intention, while the second emphasizes that the action was imminent.
2- NOUNS
In spanish, there are 2 genders: male and female. we add the suffix -o to a male noun and the suffix -a to a female noun
libro
casa
If it is plural, we add the suffix -s after the gender suffix to a noun
libros
casas
ARTICLES:
INDEFINITE ARTICLES (a/an):
un -> a/an (for a male noun)
una -> a/an (for a female noun)
un libro (a book)
una mesa (a table)
DEFINITE ARTICLES (The):
el -> (for a male noun)
la -> (for a female noun)
los -> (for a male plural noun)
las -> (for a female plural noun)
NOUN ROLES IN A SENTENCE:
Subject (The noun that does the action)
Direct object (The noun that the action is done to)
Indirect object (The noun that recieves the action)
Genitive (The noun that recieves an action)
Ablative: (to express seperation, means cause, or location, often translated as "from", "by", "with" and "in" and etc...)
SUBJECT: el libro (the book) / un libro (a book)
DIRECT OBJECT (THING): el libro (the book) / un libro (a book)
DIRECT OBJECT (PERSON): al niño (the boy) / a un niño (a boy)
INDIRECT OBJECT: al niño (to the boy) / a un niño (to a boy)
POSSESSION: del libro (of the boy) / de un libro (of a boy)
WITH: con el libro (with the boy) / con un libro (with the boy)
WITHOUT: sin el libro sin un libro
FOR: para el libro para un libro
IN: en el libro en un libro
FROM: del libro de un libro
3- ADJECTIVES:
Basic noun + adjective una casa grande
Gender -o → -a alto → alta
Plural (vowel) + s grande → grandes
Plural (consonant) + es azul → azules
Predicate ser/estar + adjective Está feliz
B. Adjectives ending in -e
These usually do not change for gender.
Masculine Feminine English
grande grande big
interesante interesante interesting
inteligente inteligente intelligent
Examples:
un libro interesante = an interesting book
una película interesante = an interesting movie
C. Adjectives ending in a consonant
Most do not change for gender.
Masculine Feminine English
fácil fácil easy
difícil difícil difficult
azul azul blue
Examples:
un examen difícil = a difficult exam
una tarea difícil = a difficult task
Exception
Some adjectives ending in a consonant do change:
Masculine Feminine English
español española Spanish
trabajador trabajadora hardworking
francés francesa French
TO BE VERB:
1. SER
Present Tense
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I soy I am
You (informal) eres You are
He es He is
She es She is
You (formal) es You are
We somos We are
You (informal plural, Spain) sois You are
They son They are
You (plural) son You are
Examples
Soy estudiante.
= I am a student.
Somos amigos.
= We are friends.
Ellos son médicos.
= They are doctors.
Preterite (Simple Past)
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I fui I was
You (informal) fuiste You were
He/She fue He/She was
We fuimos We were
You (informal plural, Spain) fuisteis You were
They fueron They were
Example:
Fui profesor.
= I was a teacher.
Imperfect
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I era I was / used to be
You (informal) eras You were
He/She era He/She was
We éramos We were
You (informal plural, Spain) erais You were
They eran They were
Example:
Era feliz.
= I was happy.
Future
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I seré I will be
You (informal) serás You will be
He/She será He/She will be
We seremos We will be
You (informal plural, Spain) seréis You will be
They serán They will be
Conditional
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I sería I would be
You (informal) serías You would be
He/She sería He/She would be
We seríamos We would be
You (informal plural, Spain) seríais You would be
They serían They would be
2. ESTAR
Present
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I estoy I am
You (informal) estás You are
He/She está He/She is
We estamos We are
You (informal plural, Spain) estáis You are
They están They are
Examples
Estoy cansado.
= I am tired.
Estamos en casa.
= We are at home.
Preterite
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I estuve I was
You (informal) estuviste You were
He/She estuvo He/She was
We estuvimos We were
You (informal plural, Spain) estuvisteis You were
They estuvieron They were
Imperfect
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I estaba I was
You (informal) estabas You were
He/She estaba He/She was
We estábamos We were
You (informal plural, Spain) estabais You were
They estaban They were
Future
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I estaré I will be
You (informal) estarás You will be
He/She estará He/She will be
We estaremos We will be
You (informal plural, Spain) estaréis You will be
They estarán They will be
Conditional
English Pronoun Spanish Translation
I estaría I would be
You (informal) estarías You would be
He/She estaría He/She would be
We estaríamos We would be
You (informal plural, Spain) estaríais You would be
They estarían They would be
SER → used for identity, definition, and things viewed as permanent or inherent.
ESTAR → used for location, temporary states, conditions, and results of actions.
4- PRONOUNS:
1. Subject Pronouns
Used as the subject of a sentence.
English Spanish
I yo
You (informal) tú
He él
She ella
You (formal) usted
We nosotros / nosotras
You (informal plural, Spain) vosotros / vosotras
They (masculine/mixed) ellos
They (feminine) ellas
You (plural) ustedes
Examples:
Yo estudio. = I study.
Ellos trabajan. = They work.
2. Direct Object Pronouns
Replace the person or thing directly receiving the action.
English Spanish
me me
you te
him / it (masculine) lo
her / it (feminine) la
us nos
you all (Spain) os
them (masculine/mixed) los
them (feminine) las
Formation
Subject + direct object pronoun + verb
Examples:
Lo veo.
= I see him.
La conozco.
= I know her.
Nos llaman.
= They call us.
3. Indirect Object Pronouns
Replace the person receiving the direct object.
English Spanish
to me me
to you te
to him/her/you le
to us nos
to you all (Spain) os
to them/you all les
Formation
Subject + indirect object pronoun + verb
Examples:
Le doy el libro.
= I give him the book.
Nos escribió.
= He wrote to us.
Les envié una carta.
= I sent them a letter.
Note: When le or les comes before lo, la, los, las, it changes to se.
Example:
Se lo di.
= I gave it to him/her.
4. Reflexive Pronouns
Used when the subject performs the action on itself.
English Spanish
myself me
yourself te
himself/herself se
ourselves nos
yourselves (Spain) os
themselves se
Examples:
Me levanto.
= I get up.
Se ducha.
= He takes a shower.
Nos sentamos.
= We sit down.
5. Stressed (Prepositional) Pronouns
Used after prepositions such as a, de, con, para, por.
English Spanish
me mí
you ti
him él
her ella
you (formal) usted
us nosotros
you all (Spain) vosotros
them ellos / ellas
you all ustedes
Examples:
Para mí.
= For me.
Con él.
= With him.
Sin nosotros.
= Without us.
Special forms with con
English Spanish
with me conmigo
with you contigo
with himself/herself consigo
Examples:
Ven conmigo.
= Come with me.
Voy contigo.
= I'm going with you.
6. Possessive Pronouns
Replace a possessed noun.
English Spanish
mine el mío / la mía / los míos / las mías
yours el tuyo / la tuya / los tuyos / las tuyas
his/hers el suyo / la suya / los suyos / las suyas
ours el nuestro / la nuestra / los nuestros / las nuestras
yours (Spain) el vuestro / la vuestra / los vuestros / las vuestras
theirs el suyo / la suya / los suyos / las suyas
Examples:
El libro es mío.
= The book is mine.
La casa es nuestra.
= The house is ours.
7. Demonstrative Pronouns
Refer to specific things.
English Spanish
this one este / esta
these estos / estas
that one ese / esa
those esos / esas
that one over there aquel / aquella
those over there aquellos / aquellas
Examples:
Este es bueno.
= This one is good.
Aquellos son viejos.
= Those over there are old.
10. Indefinite Pronouns
Refer to non-specific people or things.
English Spanish
someone alguien
nobody nadie
something algo
nothing nada
everyone todos
everything todo
each cada uno
another otro
any cualquiera
Examples:
Alguien llamó.
= Someone called.
No vi a nadie.
= I didn't see anyone.
5- VERB TENSES:
I speak hablo
You speak hablas
He speaks / She speaks / You speak (formal) habla
We speakhablamos
You speak (plural) habláis
They / You (plural formal) hablan
I am speaking estoy hablando
You are speaking estás hablando
He/She is speaking está hablando
We are speaking estamos hablando
You all are speaking (Spain) estáis hablando
They are speaking están hablando
I spoke hablé
You spoke hablaste
He spoke / She spoke / You spoke (formal) habló
We spoke hablamos
You spoke (plural) hablasteis
They spoke / You spoke (plural formal) hablaron
I was speaking estaba hablando
You were speaking estabas hablando
He/She was speaking estaba hablando
We were speaking estábamos hablando
You all were speaking estabais hablando
They were speaking estaban hablando
PRETERITE CONTINUOUS :
I was speaking (at a specific moment) estuve hablando
You were speaking estuviste hablando
He/She was speaking estuvo hablando
We were speaking estuvimos hablando
You all were speaking estuvisteis hablando
They were speaking estuvieron hablando
I will speak hablaré
You will speak hablarás
He will speak / She will speak / You will speak (formal) hablará
We will speak hablaremos
You will speak (plural) hablaréis
They will speak / You will speak (plural formal) hablarán
I will be speaking estaré hablando
You will be speaking estarás hablando
He/She will be speaking estará hablando
We will be speaking estaremos hablando
You all will be speaking estaréis hablando
They will be speaking estarán hablando
I have spoken -> he hablado
You have spoken has hablado
He has spoken / She has spoken / You have spoken (formal) ha hablado
We have spokenhemos hablado
You have spoken (plural) habéis hablado
They have spoken / You have spoken (plural formal) han hablado
I have been speaking he estado hablando
You have been speaking has estado hablando
He/She has been speaking ha estado hablando
We have been speaking hemos estado hablando
You all have been speaking habéis estado hablando
They have been speaking han estado hablando
They / You (plural formal) habían hablado
I had spoken había hablado
You had spoken habías hablado
He had spoken / She had spoken / You had spoken (formal) había hablado
We had spoken habíamos hablado
You had spoken (plural) habíais hablado
They / You (plural formal) habían hablado
I had been speaking había estado hablando
You had been speaking habías estado hablando
He/She had been speaking había estado hablando
We had been speaking habíamos estado hablando
You all had been speaking habíais estado hablando
They had been speaking habían estado hablando
I will have spoken habré hablado
You will have spoken habrás hablado
He will have spoken / She will have spoken / You will have spoken (formal) habrá hablado
We will have spoken habremos hablado
You will have spoken (plural) habréis hablado
They will have spoken / You will have spoken (plural formal) habrán hablado
I will have been speaking habré estado hablando
You will have been speaking habrás estado hablando
He/She will have been speaking habrá estado hablando
We will have been speaking habremos estado hablando
You all will have been speaking habréis estado hablando
They will have been speaking habrán estado hablando
SUBJUNCTIVE:
hablar -> hablado spoken
trabajar -> trabajado worked
estudiar -> estudiado studied
comer -> comido eaten
beber -> bebido drunk
aprender -> aprendido learned
vivir -> vivido lived
escribir -> escrito written
salir -> salido gone out
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hable that I speak / may speak
tú hables that you speak / may speak
él/ella/usted hable that he/she speaks; that you (formal) speak
nosotros/as hablemos that we speak
vosotros/as habléis that you (plural, Spain) speak
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablen that they speak; that you (plural) speak
IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hablara if/that I spoke / were to speak
tú hablaras if/that you spoke
él/ella/usted hablara if/that he/she spoke
nosotros/as habláramos if/that we spoke
vosotros/as hablarais if/that you (plural, Spain) spoke
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaran if/that they spoke
-SE FORM:
yo hablase if/that I spoke
tú hablases if/that you spoke
él/ella/usted hablase if/that he/she spoke
nosotros/as hablásemos if/that we spoke
vosotros/as hablaseis if/that you (plural, Spain) spoke
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablasen if/that they spoke
FUTURE SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hablare if/when I speak (future, archaic)
tú hablares if/when you speak
él/ella/usted hablare if/when he/she speaks
nosotros/as habláremos if/when we speak
vosotros/as hablareis if/when you (plural, Spain) speak
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaren if/when they speak
PRESENT PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo haya hablado that I have spoken
tú hayas hablado that you have spoken
él/ella/usted haya hablado that he/she has spoken; that you (formal) have spoken
nosotros/as hayamos hablado that we have spoken
vosotros/as hayáis hablado that you (plural, Spain) have spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes hayan hablado that they have spoken; that you (plural) have spoken
PAST PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hubiera hablado if/that I had spoken
tú hubieras hablado if/that you had spoken
él/ella/usted hubiera hablado if/that he/she had spoken
nosotros/as hubiéramos hablado if/that we had spoken
vosotros/as hubierais hablado if/that you (plural, Spain) had spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes hubieran hablado if/that they had spoken
HUBIESE FORM:
yo hubiese hablado if/that I had spoken
tú hubieses hablado if/that you had spoken
él/ella/usted hubiese hablado if/that he/she had spoken
nosotros/as hubiésemos hablado if/that we had spoken
vosotros/as hubieseis hablado if/that you (plural, Spain) had spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes hubiesen hablado if/that they had spoken
FUTURE PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hubiere hablado if/when I have spoken (archaic)
tú hubieres hablado if/when you have spoken
él/ella/usted hubiere hablado if/when he/she has spoken
nosotros/as hubiéremos hablado if/when we have spoken
vosotros/as hubiereis hablado if/when you (plural, Spain) have spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes hubieren hablado if/when they have spoken
6- PASSIVE TENSES:
I am done soy hecho (rare)
You are done eres hecho
He/She is done es hecho
We are done somos hechos
You all are done sois hechos
They are done son hechos
I am being done estoy siendo hecho
You are being done estás siendo hecho
He/She is being done está siendo hecho
We are being done estamos siendo hechos
You all are being done estáis siendo hechos
They are being done están siendo hechos
I was done fui hecho
You were done fuiste hecho
He/She was done fue hecho
We were done fuimos hechos
You all were done fuisteis hechos
They were done fueron hechos
I was being done era hecho
You were being done eras hecho
He/She was being done era hecho
We were being done éramos hechos
You all were being done erais hechos
They were being done eran hechos
I will be done seré hecho
You will be done serás hecho
He/She will be done será hecho
We will be done seremos hechos
You all will be done seréis hechos
They will be done serán hechos
I will be being done estaré siendo hecho
You will be being done estarás siendo hecho
He/She will be being done estará siendo hecho
We will be being done estaremos siendo hechos
You all will be being done estaréis siendo hechos
They will be being done estarán siendo hechos
I have been done he sido hecho
You have been done has sido hecho
He/She has been done ha sido hecho
We have been done hemos sido hechos
You all have been done habéis sido hechos
They have been done han sido hechos
I had been done había sido hecho
You had been done habías sido hecho
He/She had been done había sido hecho
We had been done habíamos sido hechos
You all had been done habíais sido hechos
They had been done habían sido hechos
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo sea hablado that I be spoken to / may be spoken to*
tú seas hablado that you be spoken to
él/ella/usted sea hablado that he/she be spoken to; that you (formal) be spoken to
nosotros/as seamos hablados that we be spoken to
vosotros/as seáis hablados that you (plural, Spain) be spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes sean hablados that they be spoken to; that you (plural) be spoken to
IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo fuera hablado that/if I were spoken to
tú fueras hablado that/if you were spoken to
él/ella/usted fuera hablado that/if he/she were spoken to
nosotros/as fuéramos hablados that/if we were spoken to
vosotros/as fuerais hablados that/if you (plural, Spain) were spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes fueran hablados that/if they were spoken to
-SE FORM:
yo fuese hablado that/if I were spoken to
tú fueses hablado that/if you were spoken to
él/ella/usted fuese hablado that/if he/she were spoken to
nosotros/as fuésemos hablados that/if we were spoken to
vosotros/as fueseis hablados that/if you (plural, Spain) were spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes fuesen hablados that/if they were spoken to
FUTURE SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo fuere hablado that/if I be spoken to (archaic)
tú fueres hablado that/if you be spoken to
él/ella/usted fuere hablado that/if he/she be spoken to
nosotros/as fuéremos hablados that/if we be spoken to
vosotros/as fuereis hablados that/if you (plural, Spain) be spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes fueren hablados that/if they be spoken to
PRESENT PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo haya sido hablado that I have been spoken to
tú hayas sido hablado that you have been spoken to
él/ella/usted haya sido hablado that he/she has been spoken to
nosotros/as hayamos sido hablados that we have been spoken to
vosotros/as hayáis sido hablados that you (plural, Spain) have been spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes hayan sido hablados that they have been spoken to
PAST PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hubiera sido hablado that/if I had been spoken to
tú hubieras sido hablado that/if you had been spoken to
él/ella/usted hubiera sido hablado that/if he/she had been spoken to
nosotros/as hubiéramos sido hablados that/if we had been spoken to
vosotros/as hubierais sido hablados that/if you (plural, Spain) had been spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes hubieran sido hablados that/if they had been spoken to
-SE FORM:
yo hubiese sido hablado that/if I had been spoken to
tú hubieses sido hablado that/if you had been spoken to
él/ella/usted hubiese sido hablado that/if he/she had been spoken to
nosotros/as hubiésemos sido hablados that/if we had been spoken to
vosotros/as hubieseis sido hablados that/if you (plural, Spain) had been spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes hubiesen sido hablados that/if they had been spoken to
FUTURE PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE:
yo hubiere sido hablado that/if I have been spoken to (archaic)
tú hubieres sido hablado that/if you have been spoken to
él/ella/usted hubiere sido hablado that/if he/she has been spoken to
nosotros/as hubiéremos sido hablados that/if we have been spoken to
vosotros/as hubiereis sido hablados that/if you (plural, Spain) have been spoken to
ellos/ellas/ustedes hubieren sido hablados that/if they have been spoken to
7- NEGATION
Add the word -no before a sentence:
Basic negation no + verb No hablo
Continuous no + estar + gerund No estoy hablando
Perfect no + haber + participle No he hablado
Command no + subjunctive No hables
Negative question ¿no + verb...? ¿No hablas?
Nothing no + verb + nada No veo nada
Nobody no + verb + nadie No veo a nadie
Never no + verb + nunca No voy nunca
Neither/nor ni...ni Ni esto ni eso
Neither/either tampoco Yo tampoco
No/none ningún/ninguna No tengo ningún libro
¡No corras! Don't run!
11- QUESTIONS:
YES/NO QUESTIONS:
Same word order, we just add ¿ at the beginning and ? at the end:
¿Hablas español?
Spanish allows the subject to come after the verb
¿Juan habla español? OR ¿Habla Juan español?
Both are correct.
QUESTION WORDS:
qué what
quién who
quiénes who (plural)
cuál which / what
cuáles which (plural)
cuándo when
dónde where
adónde where to
de dónde where from
cómo how
cuánto how much
cuánta how much (feminine)
cuántos how many
cuántas how many (feminine)
por qué why
(Question Word) + (Sentence)
12- ADVERBS:
Spanish Transliteration English
bien bien well
mal mal badly
así así like this / thus
mejor mejor better
peor peor worse
despacio despacio slowly
rápido rápido quickly / fast
deprisa deprisa quickly / hurriedly
lentamente lentamente slowly
cuidadosamente cuidadosamente carefully
cuidadosamente cuidadosamente carefully
fácilmente fácilmente easily
difícilmente difícilmente with difficulty
correctamente correctamente correctly
incorrectamente incorrectamente incorrectly
claramente claramente clearly
simplemente simplemente simply
especialmente especialmente especially
exactamente exactamente exactly
realmente realmente really
directamente directamente directly
indirectamente indirectamente indirectly
juntos juntos together
separadamente separadamente separately
solamente solamente only
principalmente principalmente mainly
normalmente normalmente normally
generalmente generalmente generally
habitualmente habitualmente habitually
naturalmente naturalmente naturally
finalmente finalmente finally
totalmente totalmente totally
completamente completamente completely
parcialmente parcialmente partially
perfectamente perfectamente perfectly
seriamente seriamente seriously
personalmente personalmente personally
especialmente especialmente especially
únicamente únicamente solely
2. Adverbs ending in -mente
This is one of the most important productive adverb-forming mechanisms in Spanish.
Formation
feminine singular adjective + -mente
Adjective Adverb English
rápida rápidamente quickly
lenta lentamente slowly
clara claramente clearly
cuidadosa cuidadosamente carefully
fácil fácilmente easily
probable probablemente probably
posible posiblemente possibly
normal normalmente normally
final finalmente finally
exacta exactamente exactly
Because virtually any suitable adjective can potentially form a -mente adverb, this is an open/productive class, not a closed list.
3. Adverbs of place — lugar
These answer ¿dónde? = “where?”
Spanish Transliteration English
aquí aquí here
acá acá here / over here
ahí ahí there
allí allí there
allá allá over there
cerca cerca near
lejos lejos far
arriba arriba up / above
abajo abajo down / below
delante delante in front
detrás detrás behind
dentro dentro inside
fuera fuera outside
encima encima on top / above
debajo debajo underneath / below
alrededor alrededor around
enfrente enfrente opposite / in front
atrás atrás backward / behind
adelante adelante forward / ahead
dentro dentro inside
afuera afuera outside
adentro adentro inside
dondequiera dondequiera wherever
doquiera doquiera wherever
arriba arriba upstairs/up
abajo abajo downstairs/down
Examples
Estoy aquí.
Estoy aquí.
= I am here.
Vive lejos.
Vive lejos.
= He lives far away.
4. Adverbs of time — tiempo
These answer ¿cuándo? = “when?”
Spanish Transliteration English
ahora ahora now
hoy hoy today
ayer ayer yesterday
anteayer anteayer the day before yesterday
mañana mañana tomorrow
pasado mañana pasado mañana the day after tomorrow
antes antes before / earlier
después después after / afterward
luego luego later / then
pronto pronto soon
tarde tarde late
temprano temprano early
ya ya already / now
todavía todavía still / yet
aún aún still / yet
siempre siempre always
nunca nunca never
jamás jamás never / ever
constantemente constantemente constantly
frecuentemente frecuentemente frequently
ocasionalmente ocasionalmente occasionally
actualmente actualmente currently
recientemente recientemente recently
últimamente últimamente lately
anteriormente anteriormente previously
posteriormente posteriormente subsequently
inmediatamente inmediatamente immediately
previamente previamente previously
finalmente finalmente finally
eventualmente eventualmente eventually / possibly, depending on variety/context
mientras mientras meanwhile / while
entonces entonces then
entretanto entretanto meanwhile
entonces entonces then
antiguamente antiguamente formerly
temporalmente temporalmente temporarily
5. Frequency adverbs
These answer ¿con qué frecuencia? = “how often?”
Spanish Transliteration English
siempre siempre always
nunca nunca never
jamás jamás never
frecuentemente frecuentemente frequently
a menudo a menudo often
muchas veces muchas veces many times / often
normalmente normalmente normally
generalmente generalmente generally
habitualmente habitualmente habitually
regularmente regularmente regularly
raramente raramente rarely
rara vez rara vez rarely
ocasionalmente ocasionalmente occasionally
a veces a veces sometimes
de vez en cuando de vez en cuando from time to time
cada vez cada vez each time
diariamente diariamente daily
semanalmente semanalmente weekly
mensualmente mensualmente monthly
anualmente anualmente annually
6. Adverbs of degree / quantity
These answer questions such as ¿cuánto?, ¿en qué grado?
Spanish Transliteration English
muy muy very
mucho mucho much / a lot
poco poco little / not much
bastante bastante quite / enough / rather
demasiado demasiado too much / too
más más more
menos menos less
tan tan so / as
tanto tanto so much / so many
casi casi almost
apenas apenas barely / hardly
completamente completamente completely
totalmente totalmente totally
absolutamente absolutamente absolutely
enteramente enteramente entirely
sumamente sumamente extremely
extremadamente extremadamente extremely
enormemente enormemente enormously
bastante bastante quite
algo algo somewhat
demasiado demasiado excessively
suficientemente suficientemente sufficiently
exactamente exactamente exactly
aproximadamente aproximadamente approximately
7. Adverbs of affirmation
Spanish Transliteration English
sí sí yes
ciertamente ciertamente certainly
cierto cierto certainly / true
efectivamente efectivamente indeed / effectively
realmente realmente really
verdaderamente verdaderamente truly
claro claro of course
seguramente seguramente surely / probably
indudablemente indudablemente undoubtedly
evidentemente evidentemente evidently
naturalmente naturalmente naturally / of course
desde luego desde luego certainly / of course
por supuesto por supuesto of course
8. Adverbs of negation
Spanish Transliteration English
no no not / no
nunca nunca never
jamás jamás never
tampoco tampoco neither / not either
nada nada nothing / not at all
nadie nadie nobody
ninguno ninguno none
en absoluto en absoluto not at all
de ningún modo de ningún modo in no way
de ninguna manera de ninguna manera in no way
ni siquiera ni siquiera not even
Strictly speaking, nada, nadie, ninguno are pronouns/determiners that can participate in negative constructions, rather than pure adverbs.
9. Adverbs of doubt / probability
Spanish Transliteration English
quizá quizá perhaps
quizás quizás perhaps
acaso acaso perhaps / possibly
tal vez tal vez maybe
probablemente probablemente probably
posiblemente posiblemente possibly
seguramente seguramente surely / probably
eventualmente eventualmente possibly/eventually
a lo mejor a lo mejor maybe
puede que puede que may/might
por ventura por ventura perhaps
supuestamente supuestamente supposedly
Example
Quizás venga mañana.
Quizás venga mañana.
= Perhaps he/she will come tomorrow.
10. Interrogative adverbs
These are extremely important.
Spanish Transliteration English
¿cómo? cómo how?
¿cuándo? cuándo when?
¿dónde? dónde where?
¿adónde? adónde where to?
¿adónde? adónde to where?
¿de dónde? de dónde from where?
¿por qué? por qué why?
¿cuánto? cuánto how much?
¿cuánta? cuánta how much?
¿cuántos? cuántos how many?
¿cuántas? cuántas how many?
Examples:
¿Cómo estás?
¿Cómo estás?
= How are you?
¿Dónde vives?
¿Dónde vives?
= Where do you live?
¿Cuándo vienes?
¿Cuándo vienes?
= When are you coming?
11. Relative adverbs
The same basic forms can function as relative adverbs.
Spanish Transliteration English
como como as / the way that
cuando cuando when
donde donde where
adonde adonde where/to where
cuanto cuanto as much as
Notice the accent difference:
Interrogative Relative
cómo como
cuándo cuando
dónde donde
adónde adonde
cuánto cuanto
Example:
Hazlo como quieras.
Hazlo como quieras.
= Do it as/how you want.
12. Exclamative adverbs
Spanish Transliteration English
¡cómo! cómo how!
¡cuánto! cuánto how much!
¡cuán! cuán how / how very
¡qué! qué how/what, depending on construction
Examples:
¡Cómo corre!
¡Cómo corre!
= How fast he/she runs!
¡Cuánto has cambiado!
¡Cuánto has cambiado!
= How much you've changed!
13. Demonstrative adverbs of place
Spanish has a distance-based demonstrative system:
Spanish Transliteration English
aquí aquí here
ahí ahí there
allí allí there
acá acá here / over here
allá allá over there
A useful distinction:
aquí = here
ahí = there, relatively near the listener
allí = there, farther away
acá = here/this area, often more directional or regional
allá = over there / farther away
14. Directional adverbs
Spanish Transliteration English
arriba arriba upward/up
abajo abajo downward/down
adelante adelante forward/ahead
atrás atrás backward/behind
afuera afuera outside
adentro adentro inside
alrededor alrededor around
enfrente enfrente opposite/in front
hacia delante hacia delante forward
hacia atrás hacia atrás backward
hacia arriba hacia arriba upward
hacia abajo hacia abajo downward
15. Adverbs of sequence/order
Spanish Transliteration English
primero primero first
primeramente primeramente firstly
después después afterward
luego luego then
seguidamente seguidamente subsequently
posteriormente posteriormente afterward/subsequently
finalmente finalmente finally
últimamente últimamente lately
antes antes before
previamente previamente previously
a continuación a continuación next/following
entonces entonces then
entretanto entretanto meanwhile
16. Adverbs of duration
Spanish Transliteration English
siempre siempre always
todavía todavía still
aún aún still
ya ya already
constantemente constantemente constantly
continuamente continuamente continuously
temporalmente temporalmente temporarily
permanentemente permanentemente permanently
eternamente eternamente eternally
momentáneamente momentáneamente momentarily
17. Focus adverbs
These focus or restrict part of a sentence.
Spanish Transliteration English
solo solo only
solamente solamente only
únicamente únicamente only
también también also
tampoco tampoco neither/either
incluso incluso even
hasta hasta even / up to
siquiera siquiera even / at least
ni siquiera ni siquiera not even
especialmente especialmente especially
particularmente particularmente particularly
principalmente principalmente mainly
sobre todo sobre todo above all / especially
justamente justamente precisely
precisamente precisamente precisely
exactamente exactamente exactly
18. Comparative adverbs
Spanish Transliteration English
más más more
menos menos less
mejor mejor better
peor peor worse
tan tan as / so
tanto tanto as much
igual igual equally / similarly
igualmente igualmente equally
asimismo asimismo likewise
del mismo modo del mismo modo in the same way
Examples:
Corre más rápido.
Corre más rápido.
= He runs faster.
Trabaja mejor.
Trabaja mejor.
= He works better.
19. Result/consequence adverbs
These connect an idea to its consequence.
Spanish Transliteration English
por eso por eso therefore / that's why
por tanto por tanto therefore
por lo tanto por lo tanto therefore
por consiguiente por consiguiente consequently
consecuentemente consecuentemente consequently
así así thus
así pues así pues therefore
de ahí de ahí hence
entonces entonces then/therefore
en consecuencia en consecuencia consequently
These are generally better classified as adverbial phrases or discourse adverbs, rather than simple adverbs.
20. Causal adverbial expressions
Spanish Transliteration English
por eso por eso because of that
por ello por ello for that reason
por tanto por tanto therefore
por consiguiente por consiguiente consequently
así así thus
de ahí que de ahí que hence the fact that
21. Concessive/contrastive adverbs
Spanish Transliteration English
sin embargo sin embargo however
no obstante no obstante nevertheless
aun así aun así even so
con todo con todo nevertheless
en cambio en cambio on the other hand/in contrast
por el contrario por el contrario on the contrary
contrariamente contrariamente contrary to this
así y todo así y todo even so
22. Sentence/modal adverbs
These modify the speaker's attitude toward the whole proposition.
Spanish Transliteration English
probablemente probablemente probably
posiblemente posiblemente possibly
seguramente seguramente surely/probably
ciertamente ciertamente certainly
evidentemente evidentemente evidently
obviamente obviamente obviously
naturalmente naturalmente naturally/of course
indudablemente indudablemente undoubtedly
aparentemente aparentemente apparently
supuestamente supuestamente supposedly
presuntamente presuntamente allegedly/presumably
francamente francamente frankly
sinceramente sinceramente sincerely/honestly
honestamente honestamente honestly
personalmente personalmente personally
afortunadamente afortunadamente fortunately
desafortunadamente desafortunadamente unfortunately
lamentablemente lamentablemente unfortunately
curiosamente curiosamente curiously
sorprendentemente sorprendentemente surprisingly
23. Adverbs of approximation
Spanish Transliteration English
aproximadamente aproximadamente approximately
casi casi almost
alrededor de alrededor de around/about
más o menos más o menos more or less
aproximadamente aproximadamente approximately
prácticamente prácticamente practically/almost
escasamente escasamente barely/scarcely
24. Adverbs of limitation
Spanish Transliteration English
solo solo only
solamente solamente only
únicamente únicamente only
apenas apenas barely
meramente meramente merely
simplemente simplemente simply
tan solo tan solo only
nada más nada más nothing more / only
25. Adverbs of emphasis
Spanish Transliteration English
muy muy very
realmente realmente really
verdaderamente verdaderamente truly
realmente realmente really
absolutamente absolutamente absolutely
totalmente totalmente totally
completamente completamente completely
sumamente sumamente extremely
extremadamente extremadamente extremely
especialmente especialmente especially
particularmente particularmente particularly
incluso incluso even
hasta hasta even
26. Adverbs of manner of speaking/thinking
Spanish Transliteration English
francamente francamente frankly
sinceramente sinceramente sincerely
honestamente honestamente honestly
claramente claramente clearly
obviamente obviamente obviously
aparentemente aparentemente apparently
supuestamente supuestamente supposedly
literalmente literalmente literally
figurativamente figurativamente figuratively
metafóricamente metafóricamente metaphorically
teóricamente teóricamente theoretically
prácticamente prácticamente practically
27. Adverbs of certainty
Spanish Transliteration English
ciertamente ciertamente certainly
seguramente seguramente surely
indudablemente indudablemente undoubtedly
definitivamente definitivamente definitely
evidentemente evidentemente evidently
obviamente obviamente obviously
claramente claramente clearly
sin duda sin duda undoubtedly
desde luego desde luego certainly
por supuesto por supuesto of course
28. Adverbs of uncertainty
Spanish Transliteration English
quizá quizá perhaps
quizás quizás perhaps
tal vez tal vez maybe
acaso acaso perhaps
posiblemente posiblemente possibly
probablemente probablemente probably
supuestamente supuestamente supposedly
aparentemente aparentemente apparently
a lo mejor a lo mejor maybe
29. Adverbs of recurrence
Spanish Transliteration English
otra vez otra vez again
de nuevo de nuevo again
nuevamente nuevamente again
nuevamente nuevamente anew
repetidamente repetidamente repeatedly
una y otra vez una y otra vez again and again
cada vez cada vez each time
30. “Already / still / yet”
These are especially important in Spanish.
Spanish Transliteration English
ya ya already
todavía todavía still / yet
aún aún still / yet
ya no ya no no longer
todavía no todavía no not yet
aún no aún no not yet
ya sí ya sí now yes / already yes
Examples:
Ya he comido.
Ya he comido.
= I have already eaten.
Todavía estoy aquí.
Todavía estoy aquí.
= I am still here.
Todavía no.
Todavía no.
= Not yet.
31. Adverbs of quantity with verbs
Spanish mucho, poco, bastante, demasiado can modify verbs.
Spanish Transliteration English
mucho mucho a lot
poco poco little
bastante bastante quite a lot
demasiado demasiado too much
más más more
menos menos less
Examples:
Trabajo mucho.
Trabajo mucho.
= I work a lot.
Come poco.
Come poco.
= He eats little.
Habla demasiado.
Habla demasiado.
= He talks too much.
32. Adverbial phrases
Spanish has many expressions functioning as adverbs.
Spanish Transliteration English
a menudo a menudo often
a veces a veces sometimes
de vez en cuando de vez en cuando occasionally
de repente de repente suddenly
de pronto de pronto suddenly
en seguida en seguida immediately
de inmediato de inmediato immediately
por ahora por ahora for now
por fin por fin finally
al final al final in the end
de nuevo de nuevo again
otra vez otra vez again
sin duda sin duda undoubtedly
por supuesto por supuesto of course
desde luego desde luego certainly
en absoluto en absoluto not at all
más o menos más o menos more or less
sobre todo sobre todo especially
en cambio en cambio on the other hand
sin embargo sin embargo however
no obstante no obstante nevertheless
por lo tanto por lo tanto therefore
por eso por eso therefore
por consiguiente por consiguiente consequently
a propósito a propósito deliberately / by the way
por casualidad por casualidad by chance
de verdad de verdad really / truly
en realidad en realidad actually
de hecho de hecho in fact
al menos al menos at least
por lo menos por lo menos at least
en parte en parte partly
en general en general generally
en particular en particular particularly
de nuevo de nuevo again
33. Common compound adverbs
Spanish Transliteration English
asimismo asimismo likewise / also
además además moreover / besides
también también also
tampoco tampoco neither
inclusive inclusive including/even
incluso incluso even
igualmente igualmente equally
así así thus
entonces entonces then
además además additionally
finalmente finalmente finally
primeramente primeramente firstly
seguidamente seguidamente subsequently
posteriormente posteriormente subsequently
34. Adverbs of place with -quiera
Spanish has productive indefinite adverbial forms:
Spanish Transliteration English
dondequiera dondequiera wherever
adondequiera adondequiera wherever/to wherever
comoquiera comoquiera however
cuandoquiera cuandoquiera whenever
doquiera doquiera wherever
dondequiera que dondequiera que wherever
comoquiera que comoquiera que however
cuandoquiera que cuandoquiera que whenever
These are often treated as indefinite adverbs.
35. Correlative adverbial structures
Spanish Transliteration English
cuanto más cuanto más the more
cuanto menos cuanto menos the less
tanto más tanto más all the more
tanto menos tanto menos all the less
más y más más y más more and more
cada vez más cada vez más increasingly
cada vez menos cada vez menos decreasingly
tan... como tan... como as...as
tanto... como tanto... como as much...as
36. Adverbs meaning “only”
Spanish Transliteration English
solo solo only
solamente solamente only
únicamente únicamente only
meramente meramente merely
simplemente simplemente simply
tan solo tan solo only
nada más nada más only/nothing more
Note: solo can also be an adjective meaning “alone/lonely.” As an adverb it means only.
37. Adverbs meaning “also / too”
Spanish Transliteration English
también también also
asimismo asimismo also/likewise
igualmente igualmente likewise/equally
además además besides/additionally
incluso incluso even
hasta hasta even
38. Adverbs meaning “however”
Spanish Transliteration English
sin embargo sin embargo however
no obstante no obstante nevertheless
aun así aun así even so
con todo con todo nevertheless
en cambio en cambio however/on the other hand
por el contrario por el contrario on the contrary
39. Adverbs meaning “therefore”
Spanish Transliteration English
por eso por eso therefore
por ello por ello for that reason
por tanto por tanto therefore
por lo tanto por lo tanto therefore
por consiguiente por consiguiente consequently
así pues así pues therefore
en consecuencia en consecuencia consequently
de ahí de ahí hence
13- CONJUNCTIONS:
Spanish Transliteration English
y y and
e e and
ni ni neither / nor
o o or
u u or
pero pero but
mas mas but
sino sino but rather / but instead
sino que sino ke but rather / but instead
aunque aunke although / even though / though
pues pues for / because / well
empero empero however / nevertheless
Important spelling rules
y → e before an i/hi sound:
María e Isabel.
María and Isabel.
o → u before an o/ho sound:
siete u ocho.
seven or eight.
2. Additive conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
y y and
e e and
ni ni nor / neither
ni... ni... ni... ni... neither... nor...
tanto... como... tanto... komo... both... and...
no solo... sino también... no solo... sino también... not only... but also...
no solo... sino que también... no solo... sino ke también not only... but also...
no solamente... sino también... no solamente... sino también not only... but also...
además de que además de ke besides the fact that
así como así komo as well as
igual que igual ke just as / as well as
al igual que al igual ke just like / as well as
3. Alternative / disjunctive conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
o o or
u u or
o... o... o... o... either... or...
ya... ya... ya... ya... either... or... / sometimes... sometimes...
bien... bien... bien... bien... either... or...
sea... sea... sea... sea... whether... or...
sea... o... sea... o... whether... or...
bien sea... bien sea... bien sea... bien sea... whether... or...
ora... ora... ora... ora... either... or...
fuera... fuera... fuera... fuera... whether... or...
Examples
O vienes o te quedas.
Either you come or you stay.
Bien estudia bien trabaja.
Either he studies or he works.
4. Adversative / contrast conjunctions
These express contrast.
Spanish Transliteration English
pero pero but
mas mas but
sino sino but rather
sino que sino ke but rather
aunque aunke although / though
empero empero however
sin embargo sin embargo however
no obstante no obstante nevertheless
con todo kon todo nevertheless
aun así aun así even so
a pesar de que a pesar de ke despite the fact that / although
pese a que pese a ke despite the fact that / although
si bien si bien although / while
mientras que mientras ke whereas / while
en cambio en kambio whereas / on the other hand
por el contrario por el kontrario on the contrary
Strictly speaking: sin embargo, no obstante, en cambio, etc. are generally treated as conjunctive/discourse adverbial expressions, rather than simple conjunctions.
5. Causal conjunctions
These introduce a reason or cause.
Spanish Transliteration English
porque porke because
pues pues because / for
como komo since / as / because
ya que ya ke since / because
puesto que puesto ke since / given that
dado que dado ke given that
debido a que debido a ke because / due to the fact that
visto que visto ke seeing that / since
habida cuenta de que abida kwenta de ke given that
toda vez que toda bes ke since / given that
en vista de que en bista de ke in view of the fact that
por cuanto por kwanto insofar as / because
merced a que merzed a ke thanks to the fact that
Example
No fui porque estaba enfermo.
I didn't go because I was sick.
6. Result / consecutive conjunctions
These express a consequence.
Spanish Transliteration English
así que así ke so / therefore
de modo que de modo ke so / so that
de manera que de manera ke so / so that
de forma que de forma ke so / so that
por lo que por lo ke so / therefore
por lo cual por lo kwal therefore / wherefore
conque konke so / therefore
luego luego therefore
por tanto por tanto therefore
por consiguiente por konsiguiente consequently
en consecuencia en konsekwensia consequently
de ahí que de aí ke hence / which is why
de suerte que de suerte ke so that / consequently
de tal modo que de tal modo ke in such a way that
de tal manera que de tal manera ke in such a way that
de tal forma que de tal forma ke in such a way that
Note: luego, por tanto, por consiguiente, etc. are often classified as adverbs/conjunctive adverbials, not strict conjunctions.
7. Conditional conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
si si if
como komo if / provided that
siempre que siempre ke provided that / whenever
con tal de que kon tal de ke provided that
con tal que kon tal ke provided that
a condición de que a kondisión de ke on condition that
a condición que a kondisión ke on condition that
en caso de que en kaso de ke in case
en el caso de que en el kaso de ke in the event that
a menos que a menos ke unless
a no ser que a no ser ke unless
salvo que salbo ke unless / except that
excepto que eksepto ke except that
menos que menos ke unless
so pena de que so pena de ke on pain of / under penalty that
Example
Si estudias, aprobarás.
If you study, you will pass.
8. “Unless” conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
a menos que a menos ke unless
a no ser que a no ser ke unless
salvo que salbo ke unless
excepto que eksepto ke unless / except that
exceptuando que ekszeptuando ke except that
menos que menos ke unless
9. Concessive conjunctions
These express although / even though / even if.
Spanish Transliteration English
aunque aunke although / even though
a pesar de que a pesar de ke although / despite the fact that
pese a que pese a ke although
si bien si bien although / while
aun cuando aun kwando even when / although
aun si aun si even if
incluso si inkluso si even if
incluso cuando inkluso kwando even when
por más que por mas ke no matter how much / although
por mucho que por mucho ke no matter how much / although
por poco que por poko ke however little
por muy... que por muy... ke however...
sea como sea sea komo sea whatever the case / however
digan lo que digan digan lo ke digan whatever they say
haga lo que haga aga lo ke aga whatever he/she does
10. Purpose / final conjunctions
These express purpose.
Spanish Transliteration English
para que para ke so that / in order that
a fin de que a fin de ke so that / in order that
con el fin de que kon el fin de ke in order that
con objeto de que kon objeto de ke so that
con el objeto de que kon el objeto de ke in order that
con la finalidad de que kon la finalidad de ke with the aim that
con miras a que kon miras a ke with a view to
de modo que de modo ke so that
de manera que de manera ke so that
de forma que de forma ke so that
Example:
Estudio para que mis padres estén orgullosos.
I study so that my parents will be proud.
11. Temporal conjunctions
These express when, while, before, after, until, since, as soon as, etc.
Spanish Transliteration English
cuando kwando when
mientras mientras while
mientras que mientras ke while / whereas
mientras tanto mientras tanto meanwhile
cuandoquiera que kwando-kiera ke whenever
siempre que siempre ke whenever / whenever that
cada vez que kada bes ke every time that
cada que kada ke whenever / every time
siempre y cuando siempre i kwando as long as
antes de que antes de ke before
antes que antes ke before
después de que después de ke after
luego que luego ke after
apenas apenas as soon as / scarcely
apenas que apenas ke as soon as
en cuanto en kwanto as soon as / as much as
tan pronto como tan pronto komo as soon as
una vez que una bes ke once
una vez una bes once
desde que desde ke since
desde el momento en que desde el momento en ke from the moment that
hasta que asta ke until
mientras tanto mientras tanto meanwhile
entretanto entretanto meanwhile
al tiempo que al tiempo ke while / at the same time as
a medida que a medida ke as / as ... progresses
conforme konforme as / in accordance with
según segun as / according as
según que segun ke according as
no bien no bien as soon as
nada más que nada mas ke as soon as
ni bien ni bien as soon as
bien que bien ke as soon as / although, regionally/contextually
12. Comparative conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
como komo as / like
que ke than
tal como tal komo just as
tal y como tal i komo just as
igual que igual ke just as / just like
lo mismo que lo mismo ke the same as
más que mas ke more than
menos que menos ke less than
tanto como tanto komo as much as
tan... como tan... komo as... as
tanto... como tanto... komo as much... as
más... que mas... ke more... than
menos... que menos... ke less... than
mejor que mejor ke better than
peor que peor ke worse than
antes que antes ke rather than / before
en vez de que en bes de ke instead of the fact that
como si komo si as if
igual que si igual ke si just as if
lo mismo que si lo mismo ke si just as if
13. “As if” conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
como si komo si as if
como que komo ke as though / as if
igual que si igual ke si just as if
lo mismo que si lo mismo ke si just as if
cual si kwal si as if
cual si fuera kwal si fuera as if it were
14. Complement / declarative conjunctions
These introduce a subordinate clause functioning as an object/complement.
Spanish Transliteration English
que ke that
si si whether / if
como komo how
cómo komo how
a que a ke that / to the fact that
de que de ke that
el hecho de que el echo de ke the fact that
la idea de que la idea de ke the idea that
el hecho de que el echo de ke the fact that
por el hecho de que por el echo de ke because of the fact that
Example
Creo que viene.
I think that he is coming.
No sé si viene.
I don't know whether he is coming.
15. Negative conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
ni ni nor
ni... ni... ni... ni... neither... nor...
ni siquiera ni sikiera not even
no... ni... no... ni... not... nor...
no solo... sino que... no solo... sino ke not only... but...
no porque... sino porque... no porke... sino porke not because... but because...
no que... sino que... no ke... sino ke not that... but rather...
16. “Instead / rather than” conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
sino sino but rather
sino que sino ke but rather
en vez de que en bes de ke instead of
en lugar de que en lugar de ke instead of
en lugar de en lugar de instead of
en vez de en bes de instead of
antes que antes ke rather than
más bien que mas bien ke rather than
en lugar de que en lugar de ke instead of the fact that
17. “Without” conjunctions
Spanish Transliteration English
sin que sin ke without
sin que... sin ke without ...
no sin que no sin ke not without
sin necesidad de que sin necesidad de ke without the need for
Example:
Se fue sin que nadie lo viera.
He left without anyone seeing him.
18. “No matter / regardless” conjunctional expressions
Spanish Transliteration English
aunque sea aunke sea even if / even though
sea como sea sea komo sea no matter how / whatever
sea quien sea sea kien sea whoever
sea lo que sea sea lo ke sea whatever
haga lo que haga aga lo ke aga whatever he/she does
diga lo que diga diga lo ke diga whatever he/she says
pase lo que pase pase lo ke pase whatever happens
venga quien venga venga kien venga whoever comes
dondequiera que dondekiera ke wherever
adondequiera que adondekiera ke wherever / wherever to
cuandoquiera que kwandokiera ke whenever
comoquiera que komokiera ke however / in whatever way
quienquiera que kienkiera ke whoever
cualquiera que kwal-kiera ke whichever / whoever
por mucho que por mucho ke no matter how much
por más que por mas ke no matter how much
por poco que por poko ke no matter how little
por muy... que por muy... ke no matter how...
independientemente de que independientemente de ke regardless of whether
19. Correlative conjunctions
These work in pairs.
Spanish structure English
y... y... both... and...
ni... ni... neither... nor...
o... o... either... or...
ya... ya... either... or... / sometimes... sometimes...
bien... bien... either... or...
sea... sea... whether... or...
sea... o... whether... or...
tanto... como... both... and...
tanto... cuanto... as much... as...
no solo... sino también... not only... but also...
no solo... sino que también... not only... but also...
no tanto... como... not so much... as...
más... que... more... than...
menos... que... less... than...
tan... como... as... as...
tal... cual... such... as...
así... como... just as... so...
bien sea... bien sea... whether... or...
ora... ora... either... or...
20. Conjunctions with que
A huge number of Spanish conjunctional expressions are built around que.
Spanish English
porque because
para que so that
aunque although
ya que since / because
puesto que since
dado que given that
a menos que unless
a no ser que unless
salvo que unless
excepto que except that
con tal que provided that
con tal de que provided that
a condición de que on condition that
en caso de que in case
antes de que before
después de que after
hasta que until
desde que since
sin que without
a pesar de que although
pese a que although
si bien although
por más que no matter how much
por mucho que no matter how much
de modo que so that / consequently
de manera que so that / consequently
de forma que so that / consequently
por lo que therefore / so
de ahí que hence
como si as if
igual que just as
tal como just as
mientras que whereas / while
siempre que whenever / provided that
cada vez que every time
tan pronto como as soon as
una vez que once
en cuanto as soon as
a medida que as
a fin de que in order that
con el fin de que in order that
21. Fixed conjunctional phrases
These are especially useful because Spanish frequently uses multi-word conjunctions.
Spanish English
a condición de que on condition that
a fin de que in order that
a menos que unless
a no ser que unless
a pesar de que although
a riesgo de que at the risk that
a sabiendas de que knowing that
a medida que as
al mismo tiempo que at the same time as
antes de que before
así como as well as
con el fin de que in order that
con el objeto de que in order that
con tal de que provided that
con tal que provided that
dado que given that
de ahí que hence
de forma que so that
de manera que so that
de modo que so that
de suerte que so that
después de que after
en caso de que in case
en cuanto as soon as
en la medida en que insofar as
en tanto que while / insofar as
en vista de que seeing that
hasta que until
igual que just as
mientras que whereas
no bien as soon as
no obstante que notwithstanding that
para que so that
pese a que although
por más que no matter how much
por mucho que no matter how much
puesto que since
salvo que unless
según que according as
si bien although
siempre que whenever / provided that
sin que without
so pena de que on pain of
tal como just as
tan pronto como as soon as
toda vez que since / given that
una vez que once
visto que seeing that
14- PREPOSITIONS:
# Spanish Transliteration English meaning
1 a a to, at
2 ante ante before, in the presence of
3 bajo bajo under, below
4 cabe cabe beside, near
5 con con with
6 contra contra against
7 de de of, from
8 desde desde from, since
9 durante durante during
10 en en in, on, at
11 entre entre between, among
12 hacia hacia toward, towards
13 hasta hasta until, up to, as far as
14 mediante mediante by means of
15 para para for, to, in order to
16 por por by, for, through, because of
17 según según according to
18 sin sin without
19 so so under (archaic/formal)
20 sobre sobre on, over, about
21 tras tras behind, after
Modern Spanish also recognizes
Spanish Transliteration English
versus versus versus, against
vía vía via, by way of
cabe and so are archaic/literary and are rarely used in ordinary modern Spanish.
2. a
a has many functions.
Use Spanish example English
Destination Voy a Madrid. I am going to Madrid.
Direction Caminó a la puerta. He walked to the door.
Time Llegó a las tres. He arrived at three.
Indirect object Di el libro a Juan. I gave the book to Juan.
Personal a Vi a María. I saw María.
Purpose Vengo a ayudarte. I come to help you.
Manner a mano by hand
Rate Dos veces a la semana. Twice a week.
Approximate position a la derecha on the right
Distance Está a diez kilómetros. It is ten kilometers away.
Personal a
Vi a María.
I saw María.
But:
Vi el coche.
I saw the car.
3. ante
Spanish English
ante el juez before the judge
ante una situación difícil in the face of a difficult situation
ante todo above all / first of all
Main meanings:
before
in front of
in the presence of
in the face of
faced with
4. bajo
Spanish English
bajo la mesa under the table
bajo presión under pressure
bajo el gobierno de... under the government of...
bajo control under control
5. cabe
cabe is archaic/literary.
Spanish English
cabe el río beside the river
cabe la posibilidad beside/alongside the possibility
Modern Spanish normally uses junto a, al lado de, etc.
6. con
Use Spanish English
Accompaniment con mi hermano with my brother
Instrument con un cuchillo with a knife
Manner con cuidado carefully / with care
Material una mesa con madera a table with wood
Characteristic un hombre con barba a man with a beard
Condition con paciencia with patience
Opposition/context con todo nevertheless
7. contra
Spanish English
contra la pared against the wall
contra el gobierno against the government
contra el viento against the wind
un medicamento contra el dolor medicine against pain
8. de
One of the most important Spanish prepositions.
Use Spanish English
Possession el libro de Juan Juan's book
Origin soy de España I am from Spain
Material mesa de madera wooden table
Content vaso de agua glass of water
Topic hablar de política talk about politics
Cause morir de hambre die of hunger
Time de noche at night
Description una mujer de pelo largo a woman with long hair
Author un libro de Cervantes a book by Cervantes
Partitive un poco de agua a little water
Manner de repente suddenly
Purpose/function máquina de escribir typewriter
Comparison más de diez more than ten
9. desde
Spanish English
desde Madrid from Madrid
desde casa from home
desde 2020 since 2020
desde el lunes since Monday
desde aquí from here
desde entonces since then
10. durante
Spanish English
durante el día during the day
durante la noche during the night
durante dos horas for two hours
durante la guerra during the war
11. en
Use Spanish English
Location en casa at home
Location en España in Spain
Surface en la mesa on the table
Time en enero in January
Vehicle en coche by car
State en peligro in danger
Language en español in Spanish
Manner en secreto secretly
Material/state en piedra in stone
12. entre
Spanish English
entre dos casas between two houses
entre amigos among friends
entre nosotros between/among us
entre las cinco y las seis between five and six
entre todos among everyone
13. hacia
Spanish English
hacia Madrid toward Madrid
hacia el norte toward the north
hacia las cinco around five o'clock
mirar hacia la puerta look toward the door
It can indicate approximate time as well as direction.
14. hasta
Spanish English
hasta Madrid as far as Madrid
hasta mañana until tomorrow
hasta las cinco until five
hasta aquí up to here
hasta diez personas up to ten people
15. mediante
Formal.
Spanish English
mediante un acuerdo through an agreement
mediante este método by means of this method
mediante el uso de tecnología through the use of technology
16. para
Use Spanish English
Recipient para María for María
Purpose para estudiar in order to study
Destination salir para Madrid leave for Madrid
Deadline para mañana for tomorrow / by tomorrow
Intended use un libro para niños a book for children
Opinion/reference para mí for me / in my opinion
Comparison para su edad for his/her age
Employment trabajar para una empresa work for a company
17. por
One of the most important and complicated Spanish prepositions.
Use Spanish English
Cause por miedo because of fear
Reason por eso because of that
Duration por dos horas for two hours
Movement through por la ciudad through the city
Movement along por la calle along the street
Exchange diez euros por un libro ten euros for a book
Agent fue escrito por Cervantes was written by Cervantes
Means por teléfono by telephone
Communication por correo by mail
Approximation por las cinco around five
Per dos veces por semana twice per week
On behalf of hablar por alguien speak for someone
Motive lo hice por ti I did it for you
Passive agent por el autor by the author
Search ir por agua go for water
In exchange cambiar A por B exchange A for B
18. según
Spanish English
según Juan according to Juan
según la ley according to the law
según el libro according to the book
según lo que dices according to what you say
19. sin
Spanish English
sin dinero without money
sin mí without me
sin hablar without speaking
sin problemas without problems
sin que nadie lo sepa without anyone knowing
20. so
Very archaic/formal.
Spanish English
so pena de... under penalty of...
so pretexto de... under the pretext of...
Modern Spanish generally uses other constructions.
21. sobre
Use Spanish English
Physical position sobre la mesa on the table
Above sobre la ciudad over the city
Topic un libro sobre historia a book about history
Approximation sobre las cinco around five
About/approximately sobre cien personas about one hundred people
22. tras
Spanish English
tras la puerta behind the door
tras él behind him
tras la guerra after the war
tras muchos años after many years
It is somewhat formal/literary.
23. versus
Spanish English
Madrid versus Barcelona Madrid versus Barcelona
teoría versus práctica theory versus practice
Usually abbreviated vs.
24. vía
Spanish English
vía Madrid via Madrid
vía aérea by air
vía Internet via the Internet
vía telefónica by telephone
25. Compound / complex prepositions
These are extremely important in Spanish.
Location
Spanish Transliteration English
al lado de al lado de beside / next to
junto a junto a next to
cerca de cerca de near
lejos de lejos de far from
delante de delante de in front of
detrás de detrás de behind
encima de encima de on top of / above
debajo de debajo de underneath / below
dentro de dentro de inside / within
fuera de fuera de outside
enfrente de enfrente de opposite / in front of
en medio de en medio de in the middle of
en torno a en torno a around
alrededor de alrededor de around
en torno de en torno de around
a través de a través de through / across
por encima de por encima de above
por debajo de por debajo de below
por delante de por delante de ahead of / in front of
por detrás de por detrás de behind
26. Time-related complex prepositions
Spanish English
antes de before
después de after
a partir de from / starting from
a comienzos de at the beginning of
a principios de at the beginning of
a mediados de in the middle of
a finales de at the end of
al final de at the end of
al comienzo de at the beginning of
en torno a around
de cara a toward / with a view to
hasta después de until after
desde antes de from before
poco antes de shortly before
poco después de shortly after
27. Cause / reason
Spanish English
a causa de because of
debido a due to
gracias a thanks to
por culpa de because of / through the fault of
por razón de because of
en razón de by reason of
con motivo de on the occasion of / because of
en virtud de by virtue of
merced a thanks to
a consecuencia de as a consequence of
como consecuencia de as a consequence of
en vista de in view of
a raíz de as a result of / following
28. Purpose / intention
Spanish English
con el fin de in order to
con el propósito de with the purpose of
con la intención de with the intention of
con el objeto de for the purpose of
con la finalidad de with the aim of
con miras a with a view to
a fin de in order to
de cara a with a view to
en aras de for the sake of
29. According to / reference
Spanish English
de acuerdo con according to / in accordance with
de conformidad con in accordance with
conforme a according to / in accordance with
en conformidad con in conformity with
en función de depending on / according to
con arreglo a in accordance with
conforme a according to
a juicio de in the opinion/judgment of
a decir de according to what ... says
según according to
30. Opposition / contrast
Spanish English
en contra de against
en oposición a in opposition to
frente a against / facing
enfrente de opposite
a diferencia de unlike / unlike the case of
en contraste con in contrast with
a pesar de despite
pese a despite
al contrario de contrary to
en lugar de instead of
en vez de instead of
31. Exception / exclusion
Spanish English
excepto except
salvo except / save
menos except
a excepción de with the exception of
con excepción de with the exception of
exceptuando excepting
exceptuado excepted
fuera de apart from / outside
aparte de apart from / besides
dejando aparte leaving aside
32. Accompaniment / association
Spanish English
junto con together with
juntamente con together with
en compañía de in the company of
en colaboración con in collaboration with
en asociación con in association with
de acuerdo con in agreement with
en relación con in relation to
33. Means / method
Spanish English
por medio de by means of
a través de through
mediante by means of
por medio de by means of
con ayuda de with the help of
con la ayuda de with the help of
por vía de by way of
vía via
34. Relation / topic
Spanish English
acerca de about
respecto de regarding
respecto a regarding
con respecto a with respect to
en cuanto a as for / regarding
en relación con regarding / in relation to
en lo relativo a regarding
en lo que respecta a as regards
en torno a concerning / around
sobre about
tocante a concerning
referente a regarding
35. Possession / attribution / relation
Spanish English
a nombre de in the name of
en nombre de in the name of
a cargo de in charge of
a cuenta de on account of
por cuenta de on behalf of / at the expense of
a costa de at the expense of
a favor de in favor of
en favor de in favor of
en contra de against
a disposición de at the disposal of
a cargo de under the responsibility of
36. Dependence / basis
Spanish English
en función de depending on
en base a based on
sobre la base de on the basis of
con base en based on
a partir de based on / starting from
en virtud de by virtue of
en razón de by reason of
con arreglo a in accordance with
37. Exchange / substitution
Spanish English
a cambio de in exchange for
en cambio de in exchange for
en lugar de instead of
en vez de instead of
a cambio de in exchange for
a cambio de ello in exchange for that
38. “Instead of”
Spanish English
en lugar de instead of
en vez de instead of
en sustitución de in place of
en reemplazo de in replacement of
a cambio de in exchange for
39. “Within / outside / beyond”
Spanish English
dentro de inside / within
en el interior de inside
en el seno de within
fuera de outside
en el exterior de outside
más allá de beyond
por encima de above / beyond
allende beyond
más acá de this side of
allende is literary/formal.
40. “Around”
Spanish English
alrededor de around
en torno a around
en torno de around
en derredor de around
en los alrededores de around / in the vicinity of
cerca de near
aproximadamente approximately
41. “Through / across”
Spanish English
a través de through / across
por through / along
mediante by means of
por medio de by means of
de parte a parte de from one side to the other
a lo largo de along / throughout
de un lado a otro de from one side to the other
42. “Along”
Spanish English
a lo largo de along
por along / through
a lo largo y ancho de throughout / across
a lo largo de todo throughout
43. “By means of”
Spanish English
mediante by means of
por medio de by means of
a través de through
por vía de by way of
con ayuda de with the help of
valiéndose de by making use of
44. “In spite of”
Spanish English
a pesar de despite
pese a despite
a despecho de in spite of
malgré despite — foreign/French-derived, uncommon
no obstante nevertheless
The last one, no obstante, is normally an adverbial connector rather than a preposition.
45. “Thanks to / because of”
Spanish English
gracias a thanks to
debido a due to
a causa de because of
por culpa de because of
merced a thanks to
por razón de because of
a raíz de as a result of
46. Very important contractions
Spanish has two obligatory contractions involving prepositions.
Full form Contracted form English
a + el al to the
de + el del of/from the
Examples:
Voy al mercado.
I go to the market.
El libro del profesor.
The teacher's book.
No contraction with la, los, las
a la
a los
a las
de la
de los
de las
47. Prepositions before infinitives
Some very common structures are:
Structure English
a + infinitive to / at doing
de + infinitive of / from doing
en + infinitive upon / in doing
para + infinitive in order to
por + infinitive because of / for doing
sin + infinitive without doing
antes de + infinitive before doing
después de + infinitive after doing
al + infinitive upon doing / when doing
Examples:
para estudiar — in order to study
sin hablar — without speaking
antes de comer — before eating
después de trabajar — after working
al llegar — upon arriving
15- DETERMINERS
Spanish Transliteration English
el el the
la la the
los los the
las las the
Examples
Spanish Transliteration English
el libro el libro the book
la casa la kasa the house
los libros los libros the books
las casas las kasas the houses
2. Indefinite articles
Spanish Transliteration English
un un a / an
una una a / an
unos unos some
unas unas some
Examples:
un libro — a book
una casa — a house
unos libros — some books
unas casas — some houses
3. Demonstrative determiners
Spanish has three basic distance distinctions:
near the speaker
relatively near the listener / medium distance
far from both
Masculine
Spanish Transliteration English
este este this
ese ese that
aquel akel that over there
Feminine
Spanish Transliteration English
esta esta this
esa esa that
aquella akelya that over there
Masculine plural
Spanish Transliteration English
estos estos these
esos esos those
aquellos akelyos those over there
Feminine plural
Spanish Transliteration English
estas estas these
esas esas those
aquellas akelyas those over there
Neuter demonstratives
These are not normally used before ordinary nouns, but they are important in the demonstrative system:
Spanish Transliteration English
esto esto this
eso eso that
aquello akelyo that over there
They are generally pronouns, rather than noun determiners.
4. Possessive determiners
Spanish possessives distinguish person/number of the possessor and gender/number of the noun in the plural forms.
First person singular
Spanish Transliteration English
mi mi my
mis mis my
mi libro — my book
mis libros — my books
Second person singular
Spanish Transliteration English
tu tu your
tu casa — your house
tus casas — your houses
Note: plural is tus.
Third person singular
Spanish Transliteration English
su su his / her / its / your
Plural:
sus — his / her / its / your
First person plural
Spanish Transliteration English
nuestro nuestro our
nuestra nuestra our
nuestros nuestros our
nuestras nuestras our
Second person plural
Spanish Transliteration English
vuestro vuestro your
vuestra vuestra your
vuestros vuestros your
vuestras vuestras your
This is particularly associated with Spain; many Latin American varieties use su/sus instead.
Third person plural
Spanish Transliteration English
su su their
sus sus their
Complete possessive table
Possessor Singular noun Plural noun
I mi mis
you tu tus
he/she/you formal su sus
we nuestro/nuestra nuestros/nuestras
you plural vuestro/vuestra vuestros/vuestras
they/you plural su sus
5. Interrogative determiners
These occur before a noun in questions.
Spanish Transliteration English
qué ke what / which
cuál kwal which
cuáles kwales which
cuánto kwanto how much
cuánta kwanta how much
cuántos kwantos how many
cuántas kwantas how many
Examples
¿Qué libro quieres?
What book do you want?
¿Cuál libro...?
Which book...?
(Possible in some varieties, though qué libro is generally more standard.)
¿Cuántos libros tienes?
How many books do you have?
¿Cuánta agua quieres?
How much water do you want?
Important
qué and cuánto/a/os/as are straightforward interrogative determiners when they directly modify nouns.
cuál/cuáles are traditionally more often classified as interrogative pronouns, although they can occur in noun-modifying constructions in some varieties.
6. Exclamative determiners
These are essentially the exclamative counterparts of interrogative forms.
Spanish Transliteration English
qué ke what / what a
cuánto kwanto how much
cuánta kwanta how much
cuántos kwantos how many
cuántas kwantas how many
Examples:
¡Qué casa tan grande!
What a big house!
¡Cuánto dinero!
What a lot of money!
¡Cuántos libros!
What a lot of books!
7. Universal quantifying determiners
These express all / every / each.
Spanish Transliteration English
todo todo all / every
toda toda all / every
todos todos all / everyone
todas todas all / everyone
cada kada each / every
ambos ambos both
ambas ambas both
Examples:
todo el día
all day
toda la semana
all week
todos los estudiantes
all the students
cada día
every day
ambos libros
both books
8. Indefinite / existential determiners
This is one of the largest groups.
Spanish Transliteration English
algún algun some / any
alguno alguno some / any
alguna alguna some / any
algunos algunos some
algunas algunas some
ningún ningun no / not any
ninguno ninguno none / no
ninguna ninguna no / none
cualquier kwal-kyer any / any given
cualquiera kwal-kyera any / whichever
cualesquiera kwal-es-kyera any / whichever
otro otro another / other
otra otra another / other
otros otros other / others
otras otras other / others
mismo mismo same
misma misma same
mismos mismos same
mismas mismas same
tal tal such
tales tales such
cierto sierto certain
cierta sierta certain
ciertos siertos certain
ciertas siertas certain
varios varios several
varias varias several
bastante bastante enough / quite a lot of
bastantes bastantes enough / quite a few
demasiado demasiado too much
demasiada demasiada too much
demasiados demasiados too many
demasiadas demasiadas too many
poco poko little / few
poca poka little / few
pocos pokos few
pocas pokas few
mucho mucho much / a lot of
mucha mucha much / a lot of
muchos muchos many / a lot of
muchas muchas many / a lot of
tanto tanto so much / as much
tanta tanta so much / as much
tantos tantos so many / as many
tantas tantas so many / as many
suficiente suficiente enough
suficientes suficientes enough
9. Algún / alguno
Before a masculine singular noun:
algún libro
some book / any book
Standalone:
alguno
some one / one
Forms:
Form Use
algún masculine singular before noun
alguno masculine singular standalone
alguna feminine singular
algunos masculine plural
algunas feminine plural
10. Ningún / ninguno
Before a masculine singular noun:
ningún libro
no book / not any book
Standalone:
ninguno
none
Forms:
Form Use
ningún masculine singular before noun
ninguno masculine singular standalone
ninguna feminine
ningunos/ningunas rare/unusual in ordinary usage
11. Cualquier / cualquiera
Form English
cualquier libro any book
cualquier persona any person
cualquiera anyone / any one
cualesquiera any ones / whichever
cualquier is the shortened form used directly before a singular noun.
cualquier día
any day
12. Other indefinite determiners
Spanish Transliteration English
cada kada each / every
cada uno de kada uno de each one of
sendos sendos one each / respective
sendas sendas one each / respective
ambos ambos both
ambas ambas both
demás demás other / the rest
tal tal such
tales tales such
cierto sierto a certain
cierta sierta a certain
ciertos siertos certain
ciertas siertas certain
determinado determinado certain / particular
determinada determinada certain / particular
determinados determinados certain / particular
determinadas determinadas certain / particular
semejante semejante such / similar
semejantes semejantes such / similar
dicho dicho said / aforementioned
dicha dicha said / aforementioned
dichos dichos said / aforementioned
dichas dichas said / aforementioned
Some of these are more accurately classified as indefinite adjectives, determinative adjectives, or adjectival determiners, depending on the grammar used.
13. Demás
demás means the other(s), the remaining.
Spanish English
los demás estudiantes the other students
las demás personas the other people
demás cosas other things
It normally appears with el/la/los/las when used as a noun phrase:
los demás
14. Sendos / sendas
This is a special distributive determiner.
Spanish English
sendos libros one book each
sendas casas one house each
It does not simply mean “several” or “both.”
Example:
Los tres estudiantes recibieron sendos premios.
The three students each received a prize.
15. Ambos / ambas
Spanish English
ambos libros both books
ambas casas both houses
16. Cardinal numeral determiners
Numbers can function as determiners when they specify the quantity of a noun.
0–20
Spanish Transliteration English
cero sero zero
uno uno one
dos dos two
tres tres three
cuatro kwatro four
cinco sinko five
seis seis six
siete siete seven
ocho ocho eight
nueve nueve nine
diez dies ten
once onse eleven
doce dose twelve
trece trese thirteen
catorce katorse fourteen
quince kinse fifteen
dieciséis diesiséis sixteen
diecisiete diesisiete seventeen
dieciocho diesiocho eighteen
diecinueve diesinueve nineteen
veinte beinte twenty
The system continues:
veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés...
treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta...
cien, ciento uno...
mil, dos mil...
un millón, dos millones...
Examples
tres libros — three books
cien personas — one hundred people
mil estudiantes — one thousand students
17. Ordinal determiners
Ordinal numbers can also modify nouns.
Spanish Transliteration English
primer / primero primer / primero first
segundo segundo second
tercero tersero third
cuarto kwarto fourth
quinto kinto fifth
sexto seksto sixth
séptimo séptimo seventh
octavo oktabo eighth
noveno nobeno ninth
décimo désimo tenth
undécimo undésimo eleventh
duodécimo duodésimo twelfth
decimotercero desimotersero thirteenth
decimocuarto desimokwarto fourteenth
vigésimo bijésimo twentieth
trigésimo trigésimo thirtieth
centésimo sentésimo hundredth
milésimo milésimo thousandth
Shortened masculine forms
Before a masculine singular noun:
primer libro
first book
tercer libro
third book
Not:
primero libro
tercero libro
18. Fractional / multiplicative determiners
These can specify quantities.
Spanish English
medio / media half
tercio / tercia third
cuarto / cuarta quarter / fourth
quinto / quinta fifth
doble double
triple triple
cuádruple quadruple
quíntuple fivefold
décuple tenfold
Examples:
media hora
half an hour
doble cantidad
double the amount
19. Determiner-like quantity expressions
These are frequently included in broad Spanish determiner inventories.
Spanish English
un montón de a lot of
una gran cantidad de a large quantity of
una cantidad de a quantity of
una serie de a series of
un número de a number of
gran cantidad de a large amount of
gran número de a large number of
una multitud de a multitude of
un grupo de a group of
una parte de a part of
la mayoría de the majority of
la minoría de the minority of
la mitad de half of
un par de a couple of
docenas de dozens of
cientos de hundreds of
miles de thousands of
These are generally quantifying noun phrases, rather than simple determiners.
20. Relative determiner cuyo
cuyo is particularly important because it is a genuine relative determiner.
Spanish Transliteration English
cuyo kuyo whose
cuya kuya whose
cuyos kuyos whose
cuyas kuyas whose
Examples:
El hombre cuyo hijo vive aquí.
The man whose son lives here.
La mujer cuya casa compramos.
The woman whose house we bought.
Notice that cuyo agrees with the possessed noun, not with the possessor.
21. Relative cuanto
Forms that can function in determiner-like contexts:
Spanish English
cuanto as much as / all that
cuanta as much as / all that
cuantos as many as / all those
cuantas as many as / all those
Examples:
Cuantos libros necesites, puedes tomar.
As many books as you need, you can take.
These have a more specialized relative/quantifying function.
22. Demonstrative + noun
Near
Spanish English
este libro this book
esta casa this house
estos libros these books
estas casas these houses
Medium
Spanish English
ese libro that book
esa casa that house
esos libros those books
esas casas those houses
Far
Spanish English
aquel libro that book over there
aquella casa that house over there
aquellos libros those books over there
aquellas casas those houses over there
23. Possessive + noun
Spanish English
mi libro my book
tu libro your book
su libro his/her/their book
nuestro libro our book
vuestro libro your book
mis libros my books
tus libros your books
sus libros his/her/their books
nuestros libros our books
vuestros libros your books
24. Quantifier + noun
Spanish English
mucho tiempo much time
mucha agua much water
muchos libros many books
muchas personas many people
poco tiempo little time
pocas personas few people
demasiado dinero too much money
demasiadas personas too many people
bastante comida enough/quite a lot of food
suficientes libros enough books
varios libros several books
otra oportunidad another opportunity
otras personas other people
25. Negative determiners
Spanish English
ningún libro no book
ninguna casa no house
ningún estudiante no student
ninguna persona no person
ni un libro not even one book
ni una persona not even one person
Important
ningún is the shortened form of ninguno before a masculine singular noun:
ningún hombre
But:
ninguno de los hombres
26. Determiner combinations
Spanish allows certain combinations, but not every determiner can freely combine with every other determiner.
Common combinations:
Structure Example English
Article + quantifier los muchos libros the many books
Article + ordinal el primer libro the first book
Article + numeral los tres libros the three books
Article + demonstrative generally avoided —
Article + possessive generally avoided in standard modern Spanish —
Demonstrative + numeral estos tres libros these three books
Demonstrative + quantifier estas muchas personas these many people
Possessive + numeral mis tres libros my three books
Possessive + quantifier mis muchos libros my many books
Quantifier + numeral muchos tres libros ❌ —
cada + numeral cada tres días every three days
todos + numeral todos los tres libros all three books
16- IF CONDITIONAL
Zero Conditional Si + Present Indicative + Present Indicative Si estudias, aprendes. If you study, you learn.
First Conditional Si + Present Indicative + Future Indicative Si estudias, aprobarás. If you study, you will pass.
First (Present Result) Si + Present Indicative + Present Indicative Si hace frío, llevo un abrigo. If it is cold, I wear a coat.
First (Imperative Result) Si + Present Indicative + Imperative Si tienes hambre, come. If you are hungry, eat.
Second Conditional Si + Imperfect Subjunctive + Conditional Si tuviera dinero, compraría una casa. If I had money, I would buy a house.
Third Conditional Si + Past Perfect Subjunctive + Conditional Perfect Si hubieras estudiado, habrías aprobado. If you had studied, you would have passed.
Mixed (Past → Present) Si + Past Perfect Subjunctive + Conditional Si hubiera estudiado medicina, sería médico. If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor (now).
Mixed (Present → Past) Si + Imperfect Subjunctive + Conditional Perfect Si fuera más responsable, habría terminado el proyecto. If I were more responsible, I would have finished the project.
yo hablaría I would speak
tú hablarías you would speak
él/ella/usted hablaría he/she would speak; you (formal) would speak
nosotros/as hablaríamos we would speak
vosotros/as hablaríais you (plural, Spain) would speak
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablarían they would speak; you (plural) would speak
yo habría hablado I would have spoken
tú habrías hablado you would have spoken
él/ella/usted habría hablado he/she would have spoken; you (formal) would have spoken
nosotros/as habríamos hablado we would have spoken
vosotros/as habríais hablado you (plural, Spain) would have spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes habrían hablado they would have spoken; you (plural) would have spoken
yo estaría hablando I would be speaking
tú estarías hablando you would be speaking
él/ella/usted estaría hablando he/she would be speaking
nosotros/as estaríamos hablando we would be speaking
vosotros/as estaríais hablando you (plural, Spain) would be speaking
ellos/ellas/ustedes estarían hablando they would be speaking
yo habría estado hablando I would have been speaking
tú habrías estado hablando you would have been speaking
él/ella/usted habría estado hablando he/she would have been speaking
nosotros/as habríamos estado hablando we would have been speaking
vosotros/as habríais estado hablando you (plural, Spain) would have been speaking
ellos/ellas/ustedes habrían estado hablando they would have been speaking
yo no hablaría I would not speak
tú no hablarías you would not speak
él/ella/usted no hablaría he/she would not speak; you (formal) would not speak
nosotros/as no hablaríamos we would not speak
vosotros/as no hablaríais you (plural, Spain) would not speak
ellos/ellas/ustedes no hablarían they would not speak; you (plural) would not speak
yo no habría hablado I would not have spoken
tú no habrías hablado you would not have spoken
él/ella/usted no habría hablado he/she would not have spoken; you (formal) would not have spoken
nosotros/as no habríamos hablado we would not have spoken
vosotros/as no habríais hablado you (plural, Spain) would not have spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes no habrían hablado they would not have spoken; you (plural) would not have spoken
yo sería hablado I would be spoken
tú serías hablado you would be spoken
él/ella/usted sería hablado he/she/you would be spoken
nosotros/as seríamos hablados we would be spoken
vosotros/as seríais hablados you all would be spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes serían hablados they/you all would be spoken
yo habría sido hablado I would have been spoken
tú habrías sido hablado you would have been spoken
él/ella/usted habría sido hablado he/she/you would have been spoken
nosotros/as habríamos sido hablados we would have been spoken
vosotros/as habríais sido hablados you all would have been spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes habrían sido hablados they/you all would have been spoken
yo estaría siendo hablado I would be being spoken
tú estarías siendo hablado you would be being spoken
él/ella/usted estaría siendo hablado he/she/you would be being spoken
nosotros/as estaríamos siendo hablados we would be being spoken
vosotros/as estaríais siendo hablados you all would be being spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes estarían siendo hablados they/you all would be being spoken
yo habría estado siendo hablado I would have been being spoken
tú habrías estado siendo hablado you would have been being spoken
él/ella/usted habría estado siendo hablado he/she/you would have been being spoken
nosotros/as habríamos estado siendo hablados we would have been being spoken
vosotros/as habríais estado siendo hablados you all would have been being spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes habrían estado siendo hablados they/you all would have been being spoken
yo no sería hablado I would not be spoken
tú no serías hablado you would not be spoken
él/ella/usted no sería hablado he/she/you would not be spoken
nosotros/as no seríamos hablados we would not be spoken
vosotros/as no seríais hablados you all would not be spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes no serían hablados they/you all would not be spoken
yo no habría sido hablado I would not have been spoken
tú no habrías sido hablado you would not have been spoken
él/ella/usted no habría sido hablado he/she/you would not have been spoken
nosotros/as no habríamos sido hablados we would not have been spoken
vosotros/as no habríais sido hablados you all would not have been spoken
ellos/ellas/ustedes no habrían sido hablados they/you all would not have been spoken
si if indicative/subjunctive
cuando when subjunctive (future), indicative (past)
cuandoquiera que whenever subjunctive
cada vez que every time indicative
a menos que unless subjunctive
salvo que unless subjunctive
excepto si except if indicative
siempre que provided that/as long as subjunctive
con tal de que provided that subjunctive
a condición de que on condition that subjunctive
en caso de que in case subjunctive
por si in case indicative
solo si only if indicative
aunque even if/although indicative or subjunctive
incluso si even if indicative
si... o no whether or not indicative
tan pronto como as soon as subjunctive (future)
en cuanto as soon as subjunctive (future)
antes de que before subjunctive
después de que after indicative/subjunctive
hasta que until subjunctive (future)
mientras while/as long as indicative/subjunctive
17- COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
COMPARING ADJECTIVES:
más + adjective + que (more than)
menos + adjective + que (less than)
tan + adjective + como (as...as)
COMPARING NOUNS:
más + noun + que
menos + noun + que
tanto (as much as/as many as) (male singular)
tanta (as much as/as many as) (female singular)
tantos (as much as/as many as) (male plural)
tantas (as much as/as many as) (female plural)
COMPARING VERBS:
verb + más que
verb + menos que
verb + tanto como
Equality adjective tan + adj + como tan alto como as tall as
Equality noun tanto/a/os/as + noun + como tanto dinero como as much money as
Equality verb verb + tanto como corro tanto como run as much as
More adjective más + adj + que más alto que taller than
More noun más + noun + que más libros que more books than
More verb verb + más que estudio más que study more than
Less adjective menos + adj + que menos alto que less tall than
Less noun menos + noun + que menos dinero que less money than
Less verb verb + menos que trabajo menos que work less than
Relative superlative el/la/los/las + más + adj el más alto the tallest
Least superlative el/la/los/las + menos + adj el menos alto the least tall
Absolute superlative adj + ísimo altísimo extremely tall
Very muy + adj muy alto very tall
18- RELATIVE CLAUSES
Noun + Relative Pronoun + Relative Clause
que who/which/that most common
quien/quienes who/whom people
el que/la que/los que/las que the one(s) who/which emphasis
cuyo/a/os/as whose possession
donde where places
cuando when time
lo que what/that which no noun
el cual/la cual which/who formal
por lo que therefore/which is why consequence
La mujer que trabaja aquí es mi hermana. The woman who works here is my sister.
El libro que compré es interesante. The book that I bought is interesting.
Relative clauses can have a shorter strucutre. HOWEVER, this is optional:
Normal relative noun + que + verb El libro que compré The book that I bought
Past participle reduction noun + participle El libro comprado The bought book
Gerund reduction noun + gerund Los niños jugando The children playing
Infinitive reduction noun + infinitive Algo que hacer Something to do
Adjective reduction noun + adjective El hombre rico The rich man
19- REPORTED SPEECH AND DIRECT SPEECH
Direct Speech: Person + verb of saying + ":" + exact words
Reported Speech:
Statement decir + que + clause Dijo que venía. He/She said that he/she was coming.
Negative statement decir + que + no + clause Dijo que no venía. He/She said that he/she was not coming.
Yes/no question preguntar + si + clause Preguntó si venía. He/She asked if he/she was coming.
WH-question preguntar + question word + clause Preguntó dónde vivía. He/She asked where he/she lived.
Command decir + que + subjunctive Dijo que viniera. He/She told him/her to come.
Request pedir + que + subjunctive Pidió que ayudara. He/She asked him/her to help.
Advice recomendar + que + subjunctive Recomendó que estudiara. He/She recommended that he/she study.
Suggestion sugerir + que + subjunctive Sugirió que fuéramos. He/She suggested that we go.
Offer ofrecer + infinitive Ofreció ayudar. He/She offered to help.
Promise prometer + infinitive Prometió venir. He/She promised to come.
Invitation invitar + a + infinitive Invitó a venir. He/She invited (someone) to come.
Permission permitir + infinitive Permitió entrar. He/She allowed (someone) to enter.
Prohibition prohibir + que + subjunctive Prohibió que entrara. He/She prohibited (someone) from entering.
Opinion pensar/creer + que + clause Pensó que era verdad. He/She thought that it was true.
20- INFINITIVES AND VERBAL NOUNS
Infinitive hablar to speak
-AR gerund hablando speaking
-ER gerund comiendo eating
-IR gerund viviendo living
Continuous estar + gerund be + -ing
Purpose para + infinitive in order to
After verbs verb + infinitive want to go
After prepositions preposition + infinitive without doing
I am happy seeing you Estoy feliz viéndote estar + adjective + gerund + object
I am happy to see you Estoy feliz de verte estar + adjective + de + infinitive
I plan to eat Planeo comer planear + infinitive
I plan eating Planeo comer Spanish uses infinitive, not gerund
I see him run Lo veo correr perception verb + object + infinitive
I see him running Lo veo corriendo perception verb + object + gerund
I eat to play Como para jugar verb + para + infinitive
21- SUBJUNCTIVE
Wish Quiero que vengas I want you to come
Emotion Me alegra que estés aquí I am happy you are here
Doubt Dudo que sea cierto I doubt it is true
Denial No creo que venga I don't think he comes
Request Te pido que escuches I ask you to listen
Advice Recomiendo que estudies I recommend you study
Necessity Es necesario que trabajes It is necessary that you work
Purpose Trabajo para que aprendas I work so you learn
Future time Cuando llegues When you arrive
Unknown relative Busco alguien que pueda ayudar I seek someone who can help
Hypothetical Si tuviera dinero If I had money
Hope Ojalá ganes Hopefully you win
22- TAG QUESTIONS
¿no? right?/isn't it? most common
¿verdad? right?/isn't it? very common
¿cierto? correct? Latin America
¿sí? okay? agreement
¿vale? okay? Spain
¿no es así? isn't it so? formal
You like it, don't you? Te gusta, ¿no?
He is coming, isn't he? Viene, ¿verdad?
You don't know, do you? No sabes, ¿no?
She was here, wasn't she? Estuvo aquí, ¿verdad?
They will arrive, won't they? Llegarán, ¿no?
Don't you speak? ¿No hablas? no + present
Aren't you studying? ¿No estás estudiando? no + estar + gerund
Didn't you go? ¿No fuiste? no + preterite
Haven't you eaten? ¿No has comido? no + haber + participle
Won't you come? ¿No vendrás? no + future
Wouldn't you do it? ¿No lo harías? no + conditional
Can't you help? ¿No puedes ayudar? no + modal
23- MODAL WORDS
Spanish Transliteration English
poder poder can / to be able to
puedo puedo I can
puedes puedes you can
puede puede he/she can
podemos podemos we can
podéis podéis you can
pueden pueden they can
Formation
poder + infinitive
Puedo nadar.
I can swim.
Puede venir mañana.
He/She can come tomorrow.
2. Possibility — “may / might / could”
Spanish English
poder + infinitive may / might / could
puede que + subjunctive it may be that
puede ser que + subjunctive it may be that
es posible que + subjunctive it is possible that
es posible + infinitive it is possible to
quizá(s) + subjunctive perhaps / may
tal vez + subjunctive perhaps / may
acaso + subjunctive perhaps
a lo mejor + indicative maybe
probablemente + subjunctive/indicative probably
posiblemente + subjunctive/indicative possibly
Examples:
Puede que venga.
He/She may come.
Tal vez llueva.
It might rain.
A lo mejor viene.
Maybe he/she will come.
3. Necessity / obligation — “must / have to”
Spanish English
deber + infinitive must / should
tener que + infinitive have to
haber de + infinitive have to / must
haber que + infinitive one must / it is necessary to
hay que + infinitive one must / it is necessary to
ser necesario + infinitive it is necessary to
ser necesario que + subjunctive it is necessary that
ser preciso + infinitive it is necessary to
ser preciso que + subjunctive it is necessary that
hacer falta + infinitive it is necessary to
hacer falta que + subjunctive it is necessary that
deber
Debo estudiar.
I must/should study.
tener que
Tengo que trabajar.
I have to work.
hay que
Hay que estudiar.
One must study. / It is necessary to study.
4. Advice / recommendation — “should / ought to”
Spanish English
deber + infinitive should / ought to
deberías + infinitive you should
convendría + infinitive it would be advisable to
sería conveniente + infinitive it would be advisable to
sería mejor + infinitive it would be better to
es recomendable + infinitive it is advisable to
es aconsejable + infinitive it is advisable to
aconsejar + infinitive advise to
recomendar + infinitive recommend doing
sería preferible + infinitive it would be preferable to
Examples:
Deberías descansar.
You should rest.
Sería mejor esperar.
It would be better to wait.
5. Permission — “may / can”
Spanish English
poder + infinitive can / may
poder + infinitive? may I...?
tener permiso para + infinitive have permission to
estar autorizado para + infinitive be authorized to
estar permitido + infinitive be permitted
permitir + infinitive allow
permitir que + subjunctive allow someone to
dejar + infinitive let / allow
dejar que + subjunctive let / allow
dar permiso para + infinitive give permission to
Examples:
¿Puedo entrar?
May/Can I come in?
Puedes usar mi coche.
You may/can use my car.
Está permitido fumar aquí.
Smoking is permitted here.
6. Prohibition — “must not / may not”
Spanish English
no poder + infinitive cannot / may not
no deber + infinitive must not / should not
no tener permitido + infinitive not be allowed to
estar prohibido + infinitive be forbidden
estar prohibido que + subjunctive it is forbidden that
prohibir + infinitive prohibit
prohibir que + subjunctive prohibit someone from
no permitir + infinitive not allow
no permitir que + subjunctive not allow
Examples:
No puedes entrar.
You may not enter.
No debes fumar aquí.
You must/should not smoke here.
Está prohibido aparcar aquí.
Parking here is prohibited.
7. Probability
Spanish English
poder + infinitive may / might
deber de + infinitive must / be likely to
deber de + infinitive probably
tener que + infinitive must / probably
quizá perhaps
quizás perhaps
tal vez perhaps
acaso perhaps
a lo mejor maybe
probablemente probably
posiblemente possibly
seguramente surely / probably
con toda probabilidad in all probability
es probable que + subjunctive it is likely that
es posible que + subjunctive it is possible that
puede que + subjunctive it may be that
puede ser que + subjunctive it may be that
debe de + infinitive must / is probably
Important distinction
deber + infinitive → obligation/advice:
Debes estudiar.
You must/should study.
deber de + infinitive → probability/inference:
Debe de estar en casa.
He/She must probably be at home.
8. Certainty
Spanish English
saber know
estar seguro de be sure of
estar seguro de que be sure that
estar convencido de be convinced of
estar convencido de que be convinced that
sin duda without doubt
sin ninguna duda without any doubt
indudablemente undoubtedly
ciertamente certainly
seguramente surely
desde luego certainly / of course
por supuesto of course
evidentemente evidently
obviamente obviously
claramente clearly
efectivamente indeed / effectively
en efecto indeed
con certeza with certainty
con seguridad with certainty / surely
9. Uncertainty
Spanish English
quizá perhaps
quizás perhaps
tal vez perhaps
acaso perhaps
a lo mejor maybe
puede que it may be that
puede ser que it may be that
es posible que it is possible that
es probable que it is probable that
posiblemente possibly
probablemente probably
dudosamente doubtfully
difícilmente hardly / probably not
quién sabe who knows
no sé si I don't know whether
no estoy seguro de que I'm not sure that
10. Willingness / intention
Spanish does not have a single modal verb exactly equivalent to English will.
These constructions express intention, willingness, or future expectation:
Spanish English
querer + infinitive want to
pensar + infinitive plan/intend to
tener pensado + infinitive intend to
tener la intención de + infinitive intend to
pretender + infinitive intend to
proponerse + infinitive intend to / set out to
estar dispuesto a + infinitive be willing to
estar decidido a + infinitive be determined to
ir a + infinitive be going to
haber de + infinitive be destined/expected to
Examples:
Quiero estudiar.
I want to study.
Estoy dispuesto a ayudarte.
I am willing to help you.
Voy a estudiar.
I am going to study.
11. Desire
Spanish English
querer want
desear wish / desire
gustaría would like
me gustaría I would like
ojalá hopefully / if only / I hope
esperar hope
esperar que + subjunctive hope that
tener ganas de + infinitive feel like doing
preferir + infinitive prefer to
preferiría + infinitive would prefer to
Examples:
Me gustaría viajar.
I would like to travel.
Ojalá venga.
Hopefully he/she comes.
12. Hope
Spanish English
esperar hope
esperar que + subjunctive hope that
tener esperanza de + infinitive hope to
tener la esperanza de que + subjunctive hope that
confiar en que + subjunctive trust/hope that
ojalá + subjunctive hopefully / if only
13. Necessity expressed through nouns/adjectives
Spanish English
es necesario it is necessary
es preciso it is necessary
es menester it is necessary
es imprescindible it is essential
es obligatorio it is obligatory
es indispensable it is indispensable
es fundamental it is essential
hace falta it is necessary / needed
es preciso que it is necessary that
es necesario que it is necessary that
hace falta que it is necessary that
14. Ability / incapacity
Spanish English
poder + infinitive be able to
ser capaz de + infinitive be capable of
tener capacidad para + infinitive have the ability to
tener la capacidad de + infinitive have the ability to
no poder + infinitive be unable to
ser incapaz de + infinitive be incapable of
no ser capaz de + infinitive be unable to
15. Obligation from external circumstances
Spanish English
tener que + infinitive have to
haber de + infinitive have to
verse obligado a + infinitive be forced to
estar obligado a + infinitive be obliged to
estar forzado a + infinitive be forced to
no tener más remedio que + infinitive have no choice but to
no quedar más remedio que + infinitive have no choice but to
ser necesario + infinitive be necessary to
16. Obligation from rules/laws
Spanish English
deber + infinitive must
tener que + infinitive have to
haber que + infinitive have to / must
hay que + infinitive one must
ser obligatorio + infinitive be obligatory
estar obligado a + infinitive be obliged to
ser de obligado cumplimiento be mandatory
estar sujeto a + noun be subject to
17. Permission / authorization
Spanish English
poder can / may
permitir allow
dejar let / allow
autorizar authorize
dar permiso give permission
dar autorización give authorization
tener permiso para have permission to
tener autorización para have authorization to
estar autorizado para be authorized to
estar permitido be permitted
estar autorizado a be authorized to
18. Volition / refusal
Spanish English
querer want
negarse a + infinitive refuse to
rehusarse a + infinitive refuse to
resistirse a + infinitive resist
no querer + infinitive not want to
no estar dispuesto a + infinitive not be willing to
estar dispuesto a + infinitive be willing to
19. Prediction / expectation
Spanish English
ir a + infinitive be going to
futuro simple will
deber de + infinitive should/must probably
esperar que + subjunctive expect/hope that
esperar + infinitive expect to
tener previsto + infinitive plan/intend to
estar previsto que be scheduled/planned that
estar destinado a + infinitive be destined to
haber de + infinitive be to / will have to
20. Habitual / characteristic tendency
Spanish English
soler + infinitive usually / tend to
tender a + infinitive tend to
acostumbrar a + infinitive usually / be accustomed to
estar acostumbrado a + infinitive be accustomed to
tener tendencia a + infinitive tend to
ser propenso a + infinitive be prone to
Example:
Suelo levantarme temprano.
I usually get up early.
21. Near certainty / inference
Spanish English
deber de + infinitive must / probably
tener que + infinitive must / surely
seguramente surely / probably
probablemente probably
sin duda undoubtedly
con toda probabilidad in all probability
es muy probable que it is very likely that
es casi seguro que it is almost certain that
no cabe duda de que there is no doubt that
todo indica que everything indicates that
parece que it seems that
parecer + infinitive seem to
22. Appearance / evidential modality
Spanish English
parecer seem
parecer que seem that
parecerse appear/resemble
aparentar appear / seem
resultar turn out / prove
resultar que it turns out that
al parecer apparently
por lo visto apparently / apparently so
aparentemente apparently
según parece apparently / it seems
por lo que parece as it seems
23. Regret / hypothetical modality
Spanish conditional forms are important modal forms.
Spanish English
querría I would want
podría could / might
debería should
tendría que would have to
habría que one would have to
me gustaría I would like
preferiría I would prefer
sería would be
estaría would be
haría would do
iría would go
Examples:
Podría ayudarte.
I could help you.
Deberías estudiar.
You should study.
Tendrías que esperar.
You would have to wait.
24. Counterfactual / hypothetical modality
Spanish English
si + imperfect subjunctive if...
si + pluperfect subjunctive if... had...
conditional would...
condicional perfecto would have...
poder + conditional could
deber + conditional should
tener que + conditional would have to
haber que + conditional would be necessary to
Example:
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría.
If I had money, I would travel.
25. “Would”
English would has several Spanish equivalents.
English meaning Spanish
would + verb conditional
would be able to podría
would have to tendría que
would want querría
would like me gustaría
would prefer preferiría
would usually solería / imperfect in context
would do haría
26. “Could”
Spanish English
podría could
podrías you could
podría ser it could be
podría que + subjunctive it could be that
sería posible it would be possible
sería capaz de would be capable of
27. “Should”
Spanish English
deber + infinitive should
debería + infinitive should
convendría + infinitive should / it would be advisable
sería conveniente + infinitive should / advisable
sería mejor + infinitive should / would be better
sería preferible + infinitive should / would be preferable
28. “Must”
Spanish English
deber + infinitive must
tener que + infinitive have to / must
haber de + infinitive must / have to
hay que + infinitive one must
haber que + infinitive one must
ser necesario + infinitive it is necessary to
deber de + infinitive must / probably must
Important distinction:
Debo estudiar.
I must/should study.
Debe de estar en casa.
He/She must be at home. (inference/probability)
29. “May”
Spanish English
poder + infinitive may
puede que + subjunctive may
puede ser que + subjunctive may
quizá(s) may/perhaps
tal vez may/perhaps
es posible que may / it is possible that
acaso perhaps
30. “Might”
Spanish English
podría + infinitive might
puede que + subjunctive might
puede ser que + subjunctive might
quizá(s) + subjunctive might
tal vez + subjunctive might
acaso + subjunctive might
es posible que + subjunctive might
31. “Have to”
Spanish English
tener que + infinitive have to
haber de + infinitive have to
haber que + infinitive have to
hay que + infinitive one has to
verse obligado a + infinitive be forced to
32. “Be able to”
Spanish English
poder + infinitive be able to
ser capaz de + infinitive be capable of
tener capacidad para + infinitive have the ability to
tener la capacidad de + infinitive have the ability to
33. “Be supposed to”
Spanish has several ways of expressing this meaning.
Spanish English
deber + infinitive be supposed to
tener que + infinitive be supposed/required to
estar supuesto a + infinitive be supposed to — regional/nonstandard in some varieties
estar previsto que + subjunctive be scheduled/planned to
se supone que + indicative/subjunctive it is supposed that
se supone que + verb supposedly / is supposed to
Example:
Se supone que debe venir.
He/She is supposed to come.
34. “Used to”
Spanish does not have one exact equivalent of English used to.
Spanish English
soler + infinitive usually / used to
imperfect indicative used to / would
estar acostumbrado a + infinitive be accustomed to
acostumbrar a + infinitive be accustomed to
Example:
Solía vivir aquí.
I used to live here.
35. “Need”
Spanish English
necesitar + infinitive need to
tener que + infinitive need to / have to
hacer falta + infinitive need to
hacer falta que + subjunctive need someone to
ser necesario + infinitive need to / be necessary
ser necesario que + subjunctive need someone to
36. “Dare”
Spanish does not have one exact equivalent of English dare, but uses:
Spanish English
atreverse a + infinitive dare to
osar + infinitive dare to
tener el valor de + infinitive have the courage to
no atreverse a + infinitive not dare to
37. “Be willing to”
Spanish English
estar dispuesto a + infinitive be willing to
estar dispuesto a que + subjunctive be willing for someone to
querer + infinitive want to
aceptar + infinitive agree to
acceder a + infinitive agree/consent to
38. “Be likely to”
Spanish English
ser probable que + subjunctive be likely to
es probable que + subjunctive it is likely that
tener probabilidades de + infinitive be likely to
tener muchas probabilidades de + infinitive be very likely to
ser propenso a + infinitive be prone/likely to
tener tendencia a + infinitive tend to
39. “Be unlikely to”
Spanish English
ser poco probable que + subjunctive be unlikely to
ser improbable que + subjunctive be unlikely to
tener pocas probabilidades de + infinitive be unlikely to
difícilmente + verb hardly / unlikely to
40. Modal adverbs
These are extremely important in Spanish modality.
Spanish English
quizá perhaps
quizás perhaps
tal vez perhaps
acaso perhaps
probablemente probably
posiblemente possibly
seguramente surely / probably
ciertamente certainly
indudablemente undoubtedly
evidentemente evidently
obviamente obviously
aparentemente apparently
claramente clearly
definitivamente definitely
realmente really
verdaderamente truly
efectivamente indeed
naturalmente naturally / of course
lógicamente logically / naturally
supuestamente supposedly
presuntamente allegedly / supposedly
teóricamente theoretically
prácticamente practically
necesariamente necessarily
forzosamente necessarily / inevitably
obligatoriamente obligatorily
voluntariamente voluntarily
libremente freely
opcionalmente optionally
posiblemente possibly
eventualmente eventually / potentially, depending on context
hipotéticamente hypothetically
potencialmente potentially
41. Modal adjectives
Spanish English
posible possible
imposible impossible
probable probable
improbable improbable
necesario necessary
innecesario unnecessary
obligatorio obligatory
opcional optional
obligado obliged
capaz capable
incapaz incapable
probable likely
improbable unlikely
seguro certain / sure
incierto uncertain
dudoso doubtful
evidente evident
claro clear
conveniente advisable / appropriate
preferible preferable
recomendable advisable
aconsejable advisable
imprescindible essential
indispensable indispensable
voluntario voluntary
involuntario involuntary
permitido permitted
prohibido prohibited
autorizado authorized
posible possible
viable viable / feasible
42. Modal nouns
Spanish English
posibilidad possibility
probabilidad probability
necesidad necessity
obligación obligation
permiso permission
autorización authorization
capacidad ability
incapacidad inability
intención intention
voluntad willingness / will
deseo desire
esperanza hope
duda doubt
certeza certainty
seguridad certainty / confidence
obligatoriedad obligatory nature
prohibición prohibition
recomendación recommendation
conveniencia advisability
probabilidad likelihood
eventualidad possibility/eventuality
hipótesis hypothesis
suposición assumption
presunción presumption
tendencia tendency
disposición willingness/readiness
43. Fixed modal expressions
Spanish English
es posible que it is possible that
es imposible que it is impossible that
es probable que it is likely that
es improbable que it is unlikely that
es necesario que it is necessary that
es preciso que it is necessary that
es importante que it is important that
es conveniente que it is advisable that
es recomendable que it is advisable that
es obligatorio que it is obligatory that
es mejor que it is better that
es preferible que it is preferable that
es dudoso que it is doubtful that
es seguro que it is certain that
es evidente que it is evident that
está claro que it is clear that
no cabe duda de que there is no doubt that
puede ser que it may be that
puede que it may be that
parece que it seems that
se supone que it is supposed that
se espera que it is expected that
se necesita que it is necessary that
hace falta que it is necessary that
hay que one must
vale la pena it is worth it
merece la pena it is worth it
no hay más remedio que there is no choice but to
no queda más remedio que there is no choice but to
tener la posibilidad de have the possibility of
tener la obligación de have the obligation to
tener derecho a have the right to
tener permiso para have permission to
estar en condiciones de be in a position to
estar en disposición de be willing/ready to
estar a punto de be about to
estar por + infinitive still need to / be yet to
estar obligado a be obliged to
estar dispuesto a be willing to
ser capaz de be able to
ser incapaz de be unable to
44. “Be about to”
Spanish English
estar a punto de + infinitive be about to
estar próximo a + infinitive be close to
estar por + infinitive be about to / yet to, depending on context
Example:
Estoy a punto de salir.
I am about to leave.
45. “Be meant/intended to”
Spanish English
estar destinado a + infinitive be destined/intended to
estar pensado para + infinitive be designed/intended to
estar diseñado para + infinitive be designed to
tener la intención de + infinitive intend to
estar previsto que + subjunctive be planned/scheduled to
se supone que + indicative be supposed to
46. Master Spanish modal system
Modal meaning Main Spanish construction English
Ability poder + infinitive can / be able to
Capability ser capaz de + infinitive be capable of
Possibility poder + infinitive may / might
Possibility puede que + subjunctive may
Probability deber de + infinitive must/probably
Probability es probable que + subjunctive likely
Necessity tener que + infinitive have to
Obligation deber + infinitive must
General obligation hay que + infinitive one must
Necessity haber de + infinitive have to
Advice deber + infinitive should
Advice convendría + infinitive should/advisable
Permission poder + infinitive may/can
Permission tener permiso para + infinitive be allowed to
Prohibition no poder + infinitive may not/cannot
Prohibition estar prohibido + infinitive be forbidden
Willingness estar dispuesto a + infinitive be willing to
Intention querer + infinitive want to
Intention pensar + infinitive intend/plan to
Future intention ir a + infinitive be going to
Desire querer + infinitive want to
Wish ojalá + subjunctive hopefully / if only
Hope esperar que + subjunctive hope that
Habituality soler + infinitive usually / used to
Tendency tender a + infinitive tend to
Appearance parecer + infinitive seem to
Inference deber de + infinitive must/probably
Hypothesis conditional would
Counterfactual ability podría + infinitive could
Counterfactual obligation tendría que + infinitive would have to
Recommendation sería conveniente + infinitive should/advisable
Need necesitar + infinitive need to
No choice no tener más remedio que + infinitive have no choice but to
Near future estar a punto de + infinitive be about to
Certainty estar seguro de que be sure that
Uncertainty quizá(s) perhaps
Uncertainty tal vez perhaps
Certainty sin duda undoubtedly
Supposition se supone que be supposed to
Expectation se espera que be expected to
The five most important Spanish modal constructions
If you want the core equivalent of the English modal-verb system, start with:
Spanish Basic meaning
poder + infinitive can / may / might / could
deber + infinitive must / should
deber de + infinitive must / probably
tener que + infinitive have to
haber que + infinitive one must / it is necessary to
Then add:
querer + infinitive, soler + infinitive, saber + infinitive, ir a + infinitive, estar a punto de + infinitive, haber de + infinitive, parecer + infinitive, tender a + infinitive, estar dispuesto a + infinitive, ser capaz de + infinitive.
24- THERE IS / HAVE / BE
There is/are hay Hay un problema
There was/were (background) había Había una casa
There was/were (event) hubo Hubo un accidente
There will be habrá Habrá una reunión
There would be habría Habría más opciones
There has/have been ha habido Ha habido cambios
There had been había habido Había habido problemas
There may be puede que haya Puede que haya errores
If there were si hubiera Si hubiera tiempo
have a car tener Tengo un coche
have a brother tener Tengo un hermano
have hunger tener Tengo hambre
have to study tener que + infinitive Tengo que estudiar
have eaten haber + participle He comido
have been haber + estado He estado
had eaten había + participle Había comido
yo tengo I have
tú tienes you have
él/ella tiene he/she has
nosotros tenemos we have
vosotros tenéis you all have
ellos tienen they have
IMPERATIVES:
You (informal, singular) habla / no hables Speak! / Don't speak!
You (formal, singular) hable / no hable Speak! / Don't speak!
We hablemos / no hablemos Let's speak! / Let's not speak!
You (informal, plural — Spain) hablad / no habléis Speak! / Don't speak!
You (formal/informal plural — Latin America & formal Spain) hablen / no hablen Speak! / Don't speak!
Be loved! Sé amado
Don't be loved! No seas amado
Be respected! Sea respetado
Let's be heard! Seamos escuchados
Be prepared! Sean preparados
Let the door be opened Que se abra la puerta