Pretérito pluscuamperfecto

It’s very simple. Pretérito pluscuamperfecto is the past of the past. When we talk about a story happened in the past and make reference to another that happened before … We use Pretérito pluscuamperfecto! As you already know the irregular participles it is very easy! Combine the auxiliary verb HABER in Pretérito imperfecto.

When you started studying Spanish, had you visited any Spanish-speaking country before?

Answer in the comments! (In Spanish!)

Still not sure about when to use each tense? Check this post >> Contraste de pasados.

Do you want Rocío to explain this to you? Watch this video! 

Pretérito imperfecto

When we tell a story from the past and describe the circumstances surrounding it, we use Pretérito imperfecto. Also when an action is usual or lengthens in time. Here you can find its uses and conjugation. Luckily … There are only three irregular verbs! 😊

Do you want to practice? Describe in Spanish how your best childhood friend looked like!

Still not sure about when to use each tense? Check this post >> Contraste de pasados.

Do you want Rocío to explain this to you? Watch this video! 

Pretérito indefinido

Pretérito indefinido is the tense we use to talk about actions completed in the past. They have no relation to the present and are temporary. They are not usual or lengthen in time. Here you can find how to use it and its regular and irregular conjugation.

When was the first time you studied Spanish? Practice your Spanish answering in the comments 😊

Still not sure about when to use each tense? Check this post >> Contraste de pasados.

Rocío explains this all in this video 😊 

Pretérito perfecto

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We use Pretérito perfecto to talk about actions that have happened in the past but related in some way to the present and to talk about experiences we have lived (without a specific time). Its conjugation is very simple: We use the auxiliary verb HABER + the participle but… watch out for the irregular participles!

Have you studied Spanish today? Have you ever lived in a Spanish-speaking country? Leave your comments (In Spanish!) and doubts!

Still not sure about when to use each tense? Check this post >> Contraste de pasados.

Rocío explains this all in this video 😊 

Gerund in Spanish

You’ll find this week’s post very usefull if you want to learn how to use el GERUNDIO in Spanish. It is really easy! 

El gerundio is formed by adding -ando to the root of verbs ending in -ar and -iendo to the root of verbs ending in -er / -ir.  

Example: 

hablar >> hablando 

comer >> comiendo 

vivir >> viviendo 

 

In some cases… is irregular! 

The verbs ending in -ir that in the present tense / presente de indicativo required a change of vowel also modify the vowel in gerund: e >> i. 

Example: 

Pedir >> pidiendo 

sentir >> sintiendo 

venir >> viniendo 

mentir >> mintiendo 

reír >> riendo 

servir >> sirviendo 

decir >> diciendo 

seguir >> siguiendo 

 

Verbs ending in –er or -ir that in the present tense / presente de indicativo required a vowel change also modify the vowel in gerund: -o> -u. 

Example: 

poder >> pudiendo 

dormir >> durmiendo 

morir >> muriendo 

 

If the root ends in a vowel, the i of -iendo becomes a y. i >> y

Examples: 

construir >> construyendo 

leer >> leyendo 

traer >> trayendo 

oír >> oyendo 

ir >> yendo 

 
 

TENER /TO HAVE

We are going to study one of the most important verbs in Spanish: The verb TENER. We will see its uses and its conjugation in presente de indicativo.

We use the verb TENER to talk about:

 

  1. THE POSSESSION

Yo tengo dos perros. /I have two dogs.

Mis padres tienen una casa en La Rioja. /My parents have a house in La Rioja.

 

  1. THE AGE

Tengo veintisiete años. /I am twenty-seven years old.

¿Cuántos años tiene Jorge? /How old is Jorge?

 

  1. MUST

Tienes que venir conmigo a la fiesta. /You have to come with me to the party.

Tengo que decirte la verdad. /I have to tell you the truth.

 

  1. THE SENSATIONS / STATES USING DIFFERENT IDIOMS:

Carmen tiene frío, pero Manuel tiene calor. /Carmen is cold, but Manuel is hot.

Tengo tos, fiebre y dolor de cabeza. /I have a cough, fever and headache.

Here we review its conjugation in presente de indicativo:

How do you feel? Practice using the verb TENER!

In this video you can have an explanation of some of this words 

Adjectives that change meaning with SER and ESTAR

Once the uses and differences of SER and ESTAR have been studied, it is time to learn some vocabulary.

In Spanish there are adjectives that depending if used with SER or with ESTAR change their meaning. Do you know them?

Here you are a list with the most common adjectives. Remember that any adjective changes its meaning if we use it with the verb SER (it means that it is a permanent and defining characteristic of the person, animal or thing) or with the verb ESTAR (it means that this characteristic is temporary and refers at that exact moment).

For example, what is the difference between these two sentences?

  1. Andrea es nerviosa.
  2. Andrea está nerviosa.

In the first sentence we say that Andrea is a nervous person, always. It is a part of her personality, if we think of Andrea we define her as nervous.

In the second sentence we say that now and in this very moment for some reason Andrea is nervous. She is usually a calm person but not today, today she is nervous.

Check the list of the most common adjectives, do you know any other adjective?

Do you need an explanation of the adjectives which change their meaning if we use them with SER or ESTAR? Rocío explains it to you in this video! 

SER o no SER, ¡esa es la cuestión!

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One of the most difficult questions in Spanish is to be able to understand when we have to use SER and when ESTAR… Here you have a brief scheme to make it easier.  

Practice answering these questions: ¿Cómo estás?, ¿Cómo eres?

Do not forget to study the adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether we use the verb SER or the verb ESTAR!

Do you need an explanation of the uses of SER and ESTAR? Rocío explains it to you in this video! 

ESTAR

With this infographic we have tried to simplify the uses of ESTAR.

Remember that the use of SER and ESTAR does not always follow the rule of SER = permanent, ESTAR = temporary.

For example, when we talk about the location (which may or may not be permanent) in Spanish we use the verb ESTAR:

Bangkok está en Tailandia.

Another of the most common uses, among others, is describing the temporary physical states or mood. Check its uses and the conjugation in presente de indicativo and if you have questions write a comment!

Do not forget to study the adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether we use the verb SER or the verb ESTAR!

SER

In this post we will see the most frequent uses of the verb SER and its conjugation in presente de indicativo.

Remember that we cannot always abide by the rule of using “SER when it is permanent and ESTAR when it is temporary”.

We use the verb SER to describe permanent characteristics of people, animals and things but also to talk about quantities, prices and events.

Review all its uses and its conjugation in presente de indicativo and practice in the comments with some phrases. ¡Es muy fácil! 😉

Do not forget to study the adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether we use the verb SER or the verb ESTAR!