Archive for 'Spanish Grammar'
Adverbial phrases Posted by Adir on May 6, 2010
There are some expressions that never change in Spanish. Some of them are called adverbial phrases because they relate to adverbs. Place phrases allá arriba (up there), aquí abajo (down here), por todas partes (everywhere), a la derecha (to the right), a la izquierda (to the left), fuera de (outside of), a lo lejos (in…
Verbs with two participles Posted by Adir on May 5, 2010
Some verbs in Spanish have two past participles: one is used to form los tiempos compuestos and the other is used as an adjective or an adverb. Here’s a list of some common verbs with two past participles. The first form is the regular form and the second one is irregular. absorber (to absorb) –…
Video: The Imperative – Review Posted by Adir on May 3, 2010
Today we have a new video with a review of the Imperative en español. Enjoy!
Progressive constructions in Spanish Posted by Magda on Apr 28, 2010
Progressive constructions Most intermediate learners of Spanish are familiar with the present progressive tense (presente progresivo), which is the most common progressive construction. The present progressive tense is formed using the present tense of the verb ESTAR (to be) + the gerund (-ing form) of the main verb, called. If you need a reminder, this…
The verb “gustar” (to like) Posted by Adir on Apr 5, 2010
The verb “gustar” (to like) in Spanish is a little different from the other verbs because it needs an indirect object to be conjugated. Another peculiarity is that if you like something in the singular, it has one form, and if you like something in the plural, another one. This is because, in Spanish, what…
Las conjunciones O and U, Y and E Posted by Adir on Apr 1, 2010
O and U mean “or”, but their use follows some rules. 1. When O comes before words that start with an O or HO it must be replaced by U. plata u oro (silver or gold) minutos u horas (minutes or hours) 2. When O comes between numbers, we must replace it by Ó (with…
Ser vs Estar Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 26, 2010
One challenge for Spanish learners is distinguishing when to use ser or estar, both of which translate into “to be” in English. Generally, ser is used with adjectives expressing permanent characteristics (including nationality, physical appearance and personality) while estar is used for temporary states or conditions, such as emotions. Sometimes learners believe that a given…