This document provides an overview of several key grammar concepts in Spanish:
[1] The present perfect tense is formed using the present tense of "haber" and the past participle.
[2] Double object pronouns follow the format of verb + indirect object pronoun + direct object pronoun.
[3] Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding "-mente" to the feminine singular form of the adjective and correspond to adverbs ending in "-ly" in English.
3. PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect tense is formed by
using the present tense of the auxiliary
verb "haber" with the past participle.
he hemos
(vosotros) Habéis comido.
has habéis
You-all have eaten.
ha han
(yo) He comido.
I have eaten.
5. ADVERBS
Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the
feminine singular form of the adjective. This ending
corresponds to -ly in English.
Adjective Fem. Form Adverb
claro clara claramente
constante constante constantemente
difícil difícil difícilmente
Bastante-quite Nunca-never
Demasiado-too Peor-worse
Mal-badly Poco-little
Mucho-a lot Siempre-always
Muy-very
6. SUBJUNCTIVE
a menos que ...
unless ..
es fácil que ...
it's likely that ...
es importante que ...
it's important that ...
es imposible que ...
it's impossible that ...
es improbable que ...
it's unlikely that ...
es incierto que ...
it's uncertain that ...
es increíble que ...
it's incredible that ...
7. “SE” IMPERSONAL
the verb is ALWAYS in the third person and you always use
“se”
In English, its usually accomplished by using verbs such as
"himself" or "themselves." Se is used as the reflexive
pronoun for third-person uses (including when usted or
ustedes is the subject). Some can be used reflexively in
Spanish even though they aren't translated that way in
English.
Se comió los tacos. (He ate up the tacos.)
8. PROGRESSIVES
. IR ANDAR SEGUIR
Seguir/Andar/Continuar + gerund (present
participle) = to still do something or to go
on doing it;
Sigo yendo al mismo bar desde hace cinco años.
Ir + gerund = the same, but emphasising
the gradualness or laboriousness of the
process;
Poco a poco voy intentando mejorar mi español.