Tag Archives: tense

Spanish Lesson Intermediate 3 – Tips to learn the irregular verbs of El Presente de Subjuntivo

Posted on 11. Aug, 2010 by in Pronunciation, Spanish Grammar, Spanish Vocabulary, Videos

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¡Hola! ¿Qué tal estáis?

Today we are going to see the present subjunctive (presente de subjuntivo) tense of irregular verbs. It is difficult to remember all the different tenses for all irregular verbs, so I am going to show you some useful tips that will make it easier. I hope they help.

Basically, the key with the present subjunctive is to make sure that you are confident with the present tense of irregular verbs first. Once you are familiar with these irregular verbs you just have to modify their endings for the subjunctive.

For example:

(E=IE)

Pensar: to think
(yo) piense: I think
(tú) pienses: you think
(usted) piense: you think (formal)
(él/ella) piense: he/she thinks
(nosotros) pensemos: we think
(vosotros) penséis: you (group) think
(ustedes) piensen: you (group) think (formal)
(ellos) piensen: they think
Querer: to want
Comenzar/empezar: to start
Perder: to lose
Entender: to understand
Despertarse: to wake up

(O=UE)

Volver: to return
(yo) vuelva: I return
(tú) vuelvas: you return
(usted) vuelva: you return (formal)
(él/ella) vuelva: he/she returns
(nosotros) volvamos: we return
(vosotros) volváis: you (group) return
(ustedes) vuelvan: you (group) return (formal)
(ellos) vuelvan: they return
Encontrar: to find
Poder: to be able/can
Dormir: to sleep
Costar: to cost
Recordar: to remember
Acostarse: to go to bed

(E=I)

Pedir: to ask for/to order
(yo) pida: I ask for
(tú) pidas: you ask for
(usted) pida: you ask for (formal)
(él/ella) pida: he/she asks for
(nosotros) pidamos: we ask for
(vosotros) pidáis: you (group) ask for
(ustedes) pidan: you (group) ask for (formal)
(ellos) pidan: they ask for
Servir: to serve
Vestirse: to get dressed

(GO=GA, ZCO=ZCA & YO=YA)

Tener: to have
(yo) tenga: I have
Salir: to go out
(yo) salga: I go out
Hacer: to do / to make
(yo) haga: I do
Poner: to put
(yo) ponga: I put
Venir: to come
(yo) venga: I come
Decir: to say
(yo) diga: I say
Oir: to hear
(yo) oiga: I hear
Conocer: to know (people or places)
(yo) conozca: I know
Traducir: to translate
(yo) traduzca: I translate
Construir: to build
(yo) construya: I build
Destruir: to destroy
Oir: to hear
Huir: to escape

(Other Verbs)

Ser: to be
(yo) sea: I am
Haber: to have
(yo) haya: I have
Ir: to go
(yo) vaya: I go
Saber: to know (information)
(yo) Sepa: I know
Dar: to give
(yo) dé: I give

I hope this lesson has been useful for you. I know it is a tricky topic, but it is really important. Once you become more confident and familiar with these irregular verbs it makes it so much easier to build your sentences and speak with greater fluency.

Have a great week and see you soon.

¡Adiós!

More Irregular Verbs in Spanish – Past Tense (with audio)

Posted on 20. Jul, 2010 by in Pronunciation, Spanish Grammar

Now listen to the second part of our irregular verb audio drills. Practice your listening and repeat after each conjugation.

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Venir (to come)
vine
viniste
vino
vinimos
vinisteis
vinieron

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Poner (to put)
puse
pusiste
puso
pusimos
pusisteis
pusieron

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Querer (to want)
quise
quisiste
quiso
quisimos
quisisteis
quisieron

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Saber (to know)
supe
supiste
supo
supimos
supisteis
supieron

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Tener (to have)
tuve
tuviste
tuvo
tuvimos
tuvisteis
tuvieron

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Traer (to bring)
traje
trajiste
trajo
trajimos
trajisteis
trajeron

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Ver (to see)
vi
viste
vio
vimos
visteis
vieron

Espero que les hayan gustado los ejercicios con los verbos. Nos vemos prontito.

Spanish Lesson Intermediate 1 Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by in Pronunciation, Spanish Grammar, Videos

¡Hola a todos!

Today we are going to practice the Spanish verb tense Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto. The equivalent in English is the Past Perfect: I had done, I had eaten, I had seen, etc.

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Usamos el Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto para expresar una acción pasada anterior a otra acción pasada (we use the Past Perfect to express an action in the past previous to another action in the past)

El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto tiene dos partes:

Primera parte: Verbo haber in Pret. Imperfecto: había, habías, había

Segunda parte: Participio

AR verbs: -ado (trabajado)
ER verbs: -ido (comido)
IR verbs: -ido (vivido)
(Yo) había trabajado: I had worked
(Tú) habías comido: You had eaten

PARTICIPIOS IRREGULARES:

Decir: dicho
Ver: visto
Hacer: hecho

I am now going to read a story illustrating the use of the Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto. Please listen carefully and try to understand. Try also to find the verbs in that tense:

El lunes pasado por la mañana Luisa fue con su hijo Javier al supermercado. Cuando terminó la compra, su hijo se había ido. Preguntó a mucha gente, pero nadie lo había visto. La mujer fue a la policía. Allí explicó que había perdido a su hijo y los policías le hicieron preguntas para saber qué había pasado.La policía no pudo hacer nada y Luisa se fue a su casa pensando que había perdido a su hijo para siempre. Pero ayer por la tarde, un grupo de turistas encontró al niño en la playa. Ellos eran alemanes, habían venido a España porque habían oído que es un país muy interesante. Javier estaba sentado mirando al mar. Los turistas le llevaron a la policía y éstos llamaron a Luisa. El niño estaba cansado y más delgado. No había comido nada en dos días. Luisa fue rápidamente a la policía y recogió a su hijo.

I hope you enjoyed the lesson and see you next week. ¡Hasta la semana que viene! Adiós