Greetings And Introductions

Buenos Das Good morning.

Buenas Tardes Good afternoon.
Buenas Noches Good night
Hola! Cmo ests? Hi! (Hello) How are you?
Hola! Qu tal?/ Cmo te ha ido?/ Cmo andas? Hi! (Hello) How are things?
Estoy bien/muy bien/ bastante bien, gracias Fine/ Very well/ Pretty well, thanks.
Quiero presentarle (te) a I want to introduce you to (someone)
Mucho gusto conocerle. Pleased to meet you.
Encantado (if the person is male)/Encantada (female) Delighted to meet you.
El gusto es mo. The pleasure is mine.

Words & Phrases For Special Moments

Felicitaciones Congratulations
Felicidades Best Wishes
Feliz Cumpleaos Happy Birthday
Feliz Navidad Merry Christmas (Nochebuena Cristmas Eve)
Feliz Ao Nuevo Happy New Year (Nochevieja New Years Eve)
Salud Cheers! (Also used as Bless You after someone sneezes)
Buen Viaje Have a good trip
Buen Provecho Enjoy your meal
Tenses

Present Indicative Tense (Present Tense)

Preterit Tense (Past Tense)
Imperfect Tense
Preterit Tense versus Imperfect Tense
Future Tense
Conditional Mood
Present Perfect and Past/PluPerfect Tenses
Present and Past Continuous/Progressive Tenses
Time Expressions Using the Verb Hacer

Present Indicative Tense (Present Tense)

Singular
Yo (I)
T (You)
l, Ella, Usted (He, She,You)

Plural
Nosotros/ Nosotras) (We)
Vosotros/ Vosotras (You)
Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes (They,You)

Sentences using subject pronouns with the verb HABLAR (To Speak) in the present
indicative tense:
-Yo hablo espaol bien, which means, I speak Spanish well.
-T hablas espaol bien, which means, You speak Spanish well.
-l/Ella/Usted habla espaol bien, which means, He/She/You speak Spanish well.
-Nosotros hablamos espaol bien, which means, We speak Spanish well.
-Vosotros hablis espaol bien, which means, You speak Spanish well.
-Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablan espaol bien, which means, They/You speak Spanish well.

Stem Changing Verbs

Irregular Verbs

There are other verbs that are only irregular when conjugated in the first-person
singular in the present indicative tense such as:
Dar

Yo Doy

Salir

Yo Salgo

Traer

Yo Traigo

Ver

Yo Veo

Poner

Yo Pongo

Saber

Yo S

Hacer

Yo Hago

Note: The present indicative tense has several uses in Spanish, it expresses an action or situation
presently occurring or that occurs often. It may also be used to express the immediate future or a
time-specific future event.
Example:
1.Mi hermano mayor toca la guitar My big brother plays the guitar. /My big brother does play
the guitar. /My big brother is playing the guitar.
2.La fiesta termina a medianoche The party ends at midnight. /The party will end at midnight.
/The party is ending at midnight.
3.Hablamos maana Well talk tomorrow.
Preterit Tense (Past Tense)

*ER & IR Verbs share the same endings in the preterit tense.

*The endings of the nosotros forms of AR & IR verbs are the same in the preterit as in the
present tense.

Sentences using subject pronouns with the verb HABLAR (To Speak) in the preterit
tense:
-Yo habl espaol bien, which means, I spoke Spanish well.
-T hablaste espaol bien, which means, You spoke Spanish well.
-l/Ella/Usted habl espaol bien, which means, He/She/You spoke Spanish well.
-Nosotros hablamos espaol bien, which means, We spoke Spanish well.
-Vosotros hablasteis espaol bien, which means, You spoke Spanish well.
-Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablaron espaol bien, which means, They/You spoke Spanish well
Stem Changing Verbs
Stem-changing AR and ER verbs are conjugated as regular verbs in the preterit tense. Some stemchanging IR verbs are conjugated as regular verbs in the preterit tense but others are changed when
conjugated in the preterit tense in the third person singular and plural (l/Ella/Usted &
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes).
For example:

Spelling-Changing Verbs
Some Verbs change in spelling to
preserve the sound of the
infinitive.
1. Verbs ending in GAR, CAR &
ZAR change only in the firstperson singular (Yo).

2. There are two types of changes that occur in verbs with stems ending in vowels in the third person
singular and plural (l/Ella/Usted & Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes).

(a) Some of these verbs have a y inserted between two vowels.

Note: The Preterit Tense is used to express anything (actions, states, series of events etc) finished in
the past.
Example:
1.El ao pasado mi hermano cumpli doce aos. Last year my brother was 12 years old. / Last
year my brother turned 12.
2.Fuimos ayer mis amigos y yo a la playa. Yesterday my friends and I went to the beach.
3.Ya le ese libro. I already read that book.

Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs are not all modified the same way in the preterit tense and there isnt really any set
rule, knowing the right modifications for irregular verbs will come by memorizing, reading articles in
the preterit tense and using irregular verbs in composition writing.
Below are lists of some irregular verbs and their modifications:

These verbs are modified differently in the Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes form:

These irregular verbs are completely modified:

Imperfect Tense

Irregular Verbs

Using the Imperfect Tense

1.To describe circumstances that existed for a period of time in the past and consistent past actions as
well as events and actions that used to occur in the past.
(a)Durante la guerra la gente no tena comida. During the war the people had nothing to eat.
(b)Mi mama siempre iba a las clases en el gimnasio. My mom would (used to) always go to the gym.
2.To describe emotions or mental states as well as plans and intentions.
(a)Andrea estaba triste porque su to estuvo enfermo. Andrea was sad because her uncle was sick.
(b)Lana quera llamar a su novio pero l llam antes. Lana wanted to call her boyfriend but he called first.
3.To describe what was happening when another action occurred (note that the finished action is in the
preterit).
(a)Hablbamos de Marcus cuando l lleg. We were talking about Marcus when he showed up.
(b)Estaban en la calle frente al edificio cuando l explot. They were on the street opposite the building when
it exploded.
4.To tell time or someones age in the past.
(a)Eran las siete de la noche cuando o la noticia. It was 7pm when I eard the news.
(b)Megan tena doce aos cuando conoci a Cameron. Megan was 12 when she first met Cameron.

Preterit Tense Versus Imperfect Tense

In addition to memorizing the rules of each tense it is important to understand that the Preterit Tense
is most equivalent to the Past Tense in English. That said we have to appreciate that every language
will not be completely equivalent to English as each language is unique. In Spanish there are two ways
to speak of past events: the Preterit and Imperfect Tenses. The Preterit Tense is used with PAST
COMPLETE ACTIONS/EVENTS, which may be used to speak of the beginning or the end of these
complete actions/events in the past. On the other hand, the Imperfect Tense is used to emphasize the
DURATION OF PAST ACTIONS/EVENTS. As a result of the nature of these tenses, in story telling the
Preterit Tense is used to NARRATE and the Imperfect Tense is used to DESCRIBE.
Future Tense
The Future Tense expresses actions that will, shall or are going to occur.

Sentences using subject pronouns with the verb HABLAR (To Speak) in the future
tense:
-Yo hablar espaol bien, which means, I will speak Spanish well.
-T hablars espaol bien, which means, You will speak Spanish well.
-l/Ella/Usted hablar espaol bien, which means, He/She/You will speak Spanish well.
-Nosotros hablaremos espaol bien, which means, We will speak Spanish well.
-Vosotros hablaris espaol bien, which means, You will speak Spanish well.
-Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablarn espaol bien, which means, They/You will speak Spanish well.

Irregular Verbs

Other examples of the use of the Future Tense:

1.Vendrs a mi casa con Camila maana? Will you come to my house tomorrow with Camila?
2.Los fines de semanas saldr con sus amigos? Does he go out with his friends on weekends?
3.Ser Buena mama, mi hija. My daughter, you will be a great mom.
Conditional Mood

Sentences using subject pronouns with the verb HABLAR (To Speak) in the conditional mood:
El profesor prometi que yo hablara espaol bien, which means, The teacher promised I would speak
Spanish well.
El profesor prometi que t hablaras espaol bien, which means, The teacher promised you would
speak Spanish well.
El profesor prometi que l/ella/usted hablara espaol bien, which means, The teacher promised
he/she/you would speak
Spanish well.
El profesor prometi que nosotros hablaramos espaol bien, which means, The teacher promised
we would speak Spanish
well.
El profesor prometi que vosotros hablarais espaol bien, which means, The teacher promised you
would speak Spanish well.
El profesor prometi que ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaran espaol bien, which means, The teacher
promised they/you would speak
Spanish well.
Irregular Verbs

Using the Conditional Mood

1.The conditional mood is used to express would (possibility) in English:
(a)Le gustara sentarse? Would you like to sit?
(b)Yo habra hecho lo mismo. I would have done the same.
2.The conditional mood is also used to refer to anticipated future actions proposed from a time in the
past:
(a)Manuel prometi que cantara conmigo en la competencia. Manuel promised he would sing with
me in the competition.
(b)Ella dijo que ira directamente a casa para estudiar. She said she would go straight home to
study.

3.The conditional mood can be used to express likelihood or probability in the past:
(a)Qu hora sera cuando comenz el evento? Seran por lo menos las ocho de la noche. What time
was it (could it have been) when the event started? It was (must have been) at least 8 in the night.
(b)Sera muy bueno, no? It must have been really good, wasnt it?
4.The conditional is used for courtesy:
(a)Nos podra traer dos botellas de agua? Could you bring us two bottles of water?
(b)Seor, sabra usted dnde est el restaurante italiano? Sir, do you know where the Italian
restaurant is?

Present Perfect And Past/PluPerfect Tenses

To form the Present Perfect and the Pluperfect/ Past Perfect tenses in Spanish the verb HABER is
used in the present and the imperfect tenses respectively in addition to a past participle. Before
addressing the conjugations of the verb HABER we will look at forming the past participle.
The Past Participle
To form the Past Participle generally takes the following stem changes: AR verbs end with -ADO,
-ER and IR verbs end with -IDO. For example:
1.Hablar = Hablado
2.Comer = Comido
3.Vivir = Vivido
NOTE: If an ER or IR verb ends with a, e or o before the ER or IR stem ending the -ido
ending takes an accent above the i and becomes do. For example:
1.Traer = Tra-er = Trado
2.Leer = Le-er = Ledo
3.Or = O-r = Odo
Conjugating the Verb Haber
For the purposes of forming the present and past perfect/pluperfect tenses the verb HABER is
conjugated in the present and imperfect tenses respectively.

Forming the Perfect Tenses

The Perfect Tenses are formed with conjugations of the verb HABER, which means To have and a
past participle.
The Present Perfect Tense:

The Past Perfect/PluPerfect Tense:

Note: With the Perfect Tenses the Past Participle will always end in o despite the gender or the amount/number
of the subject(s). For example:
1.La nia ha llegado tarde. The girl has arrived late.
2.El hombre ha roto el escritorio. The man has broken the desk.
3.Habamos comprado todo. We had bought everything.
4.Ya haban vendido la casa. They had already sold the house.
Using the Present Perfect and PluPerfect /Past Perfect Tenses
1.The Present Perfect Tense is used to state that an activity has recently taken place or has some impact on the
present. For example:
a.Me he graduado. I have graduated.
b.Ya han discutido y son amigos de nuevo. They have already argued and are friends again.
c.Quin te ha dado esta autoridad? Who has given you this authority?
2.The Pluperfect/Past Perfect Tense is used to state that a past activity had taken place. For example:
a.Ya l haba dicho a ella. He had already told her.
b.Habamos visto esta misma pelcula ayer. We had watched this same movie yesterday.
c.Haban escogido el ganador. They had already chosen the winner.

Present And Past Continuous/Progressive Tenses

To form the Present & Past Continuous Tenses the verb ESTAR is conjugated in the Present and Imperfect Tenses
respectively and used with a Present Participle. We will first address forming the Present Participle.

The Present Participle

-To form the Present Participle usually adds ANDO to the stem of AR verbs and IENDO to the stems of
ER and IR verbs.
1.Hablar = Hablando
2.Comer = Comiendo
3.Vivir = Viviendo
-When the ER and IR verb stems end in vowels, -YENDO instead of IENDO is added.
1.Traer = Tra-er = Trayendo
2.Leer = Le-er = Leyendo
3.Or = O-r = Oyendo
-Stem changing ER and IR verbs are adjusted for sound purposes, the stem changes from E to
I or O to U.
1.Decir = Diciendo

6. Poder = Pudiendo

2.Pedir = Pidiendo

7. Seguir = Siguiendo

3.Preferir = Prefiriendo

8. Sentir = Sintiendo

4.Dormir = Durmiendo

9. Venir = Viniendo

5.Morir = Muriendo
The Present Continuous
The Present Continuous/Progressive Tense is formed by conjugating the verb ESTAR which means To be in the
Present Tense and adding the Present Participle.

The Past Continuous

The Past Continuous/Progressive Tense is formed by conjugating the verb ESTAR which means To be in the
Imperfect Tense and adding the Present Participle.

Using the Present and Past Continuous

The Continuous/Progressive Tenses is used to state that an action is taking place or is in progress at a particular
time.
For example:
Present Continuous
1.Estoy hablando. I am speaking.
2.Estn almorzando. They are having lunch
3.Estamos jugando futbol. We are playing football.
4.Qu ests haciendo ahora? What are you doing now?
5.Ests yendo para comer algo ya? Are you going to eat something right now?
Past Continuous
1.Estbamos cocinando las papas. We were cooking the potatoes.
2.Estabas leyendo cuando yo sal de la casa. You were reading when I left the house.
3.l estaba cantando para su novia. He was singing for his girlfriend.
4.Estaban caminando alrededor de la casa anoche a las nueve. They were walking around the house at 9 oclock
last night.
5.Yo estaba viendo la televisin esta maana cuando llamaste. I was watching the television this morning when
you called.

Time Expressions Using The Verb Hacer

In Spanish there are specific formats to follow for various expressions in the past:
1. For actions that began in the past and continues to the present:
Hace + time period + que + phrase in present tense
E.g. Hace tres meses que no veo a Angela. I havent seen Angela in 3 months.
2.For actions that began and continued for some time in the past:
Haca + time period+ que + phrase in imperfect tense
E.g. Haca tres meses que no vea a Angela cuando la vi ayer. I hadnt seen Angela in 3 months when I saw
her yesterday.
3.To ask how long an action, situation or an event has been going on:
Cunto tiempo hace que ?
Examples:
Cunto tiempo hace que ella est enferma? How long has she been sick?
Cunto tiempo hace que no escuchas al radio? How long have you not listened to the radio?
Or in the imperfect tense:
Cunto tiempo haca que ?
Examples:
Cunto tiempo haca que pasaba usted en Panam antes de salir? How much time had you spent in
Panama before you left.
Cunto tiempo haca que ? no vea a Ana hasta ayer? For how long had you not seen Ana until yesterday?
4.To say ago when using the past tense
E.g. Salieron de la isla hace dos anos. They left the island 2 years ago.