Spanish Tenses Learned Thus Far

Contents:

Present Tense....................................................................................................pg.1 Present Progressive Tense(Gerund)..pg.2 Preterite Tensepg.3-4 Imperfect Tense .pg.5 Uses of the Preterite vs. Imperfect.pg.6-7 Past Participle pg. 12 Present Perfect Tensepg. 8 Past Perfect Tense (Pluperfect).pg. 9 Informal T Commands (Affirmative and Negative) .......................................pg. 10 Formal T Commands( Affirmative and Negative).pg. 11 Past Participle pg. 12

**When studying please to refer to conjuguemos section of binder for conjugation of individual verbs. ** Also refer to Spanish 1 handout of all verbs and know those specific conjugations also

Present Tense
To conjugate an -ar verb, remove the infinitive ending (-ar) to leave the stem, and add the appropriate ending depending on the subject. AR Verb Endings: - o - as - a - amos - is - an To conjugate an -er verb, remove the infinitive ending (-er) to leave the stem, and add the appropriate ending depending on the subject. ER Verb Endings - o - es - e - emos - is - en To conjugate an -ir verb, remove the infinitive ending (-ir) to leave the stem, and add the appropriate ending depending on the subject. IR Verb Endings -o -es -e -imos -s - en **There are many irregularities in the Present tense. Please see vocabulary sections of binder for specifics

Present Progressive (Gerund)

The present progressive, also known as the gerund, is formed by combining the verb to be (estar) with the present participle. (The present participle is merely the ing form of a verb. In English, present progressive can be used to described what is happening now, or what will happen in the future. o Example: I am studying now. I am studying with Maria tonight. The present progressive is only used to describe an action that is in the process of taking place. To form the present progressive, combine a form of estar with the present participle: Estoy hablando. I am speaking
Estar Conjugation: Estoy Ests Est Estamos Estis Estn

Juan est comiendo. John is eating Mara est escribiendo una carta. Maria is writing a letter.

To form the present participle of regular ar verbs, add ando to the stem of the verb: To form the present participle of regular er and ir verbs, add iendo to the stem of the verb To form the present participle of ir stem changing verbs, change e:I and o:u in the stem and then add iendo to the stem of the verb. Sometimes when forming the present particple it is necessary to change the spelling of a word so that is agrees with the way it is pronounced.

The following examples illustrate the rules for forming the present participle.
decir: diciendo (e:i) dormir: durmiendo (o:u) leer: leyendo (orthographic) seguir: siguiendo (orthographic)

To form the present progressive, simply conjugate the verb estar to agree with the subject of the sentence, and follow it with the present participle Remember, only use the present progressive for actions that are in progress. It is important to remember that we dont use the present progressice to say something like we are going to spain this summer! Use present progressive only for actions that are "in progress."

Preterite Tense
To conjugate regular ar verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending and add one of the following: - - aste - - amos - asteis - aron To conjugate regular er and ir verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending and add one of the following: - - iste - i - imos - isteis - ieron

NOTE: THERE ARE MANY IRREGULARS IN THE PRETERITE! Here are some spelling change rules:

Yo

l, ella, usted

nosotros

ellos, ellas, ustedes

anduve Andar

anduviste

anduvo

anduvimos

anduvieron

conduje Conducir*

condujiste

condujo

condujimos

condujeron

dije Decir*

dijiste

dijo

dijimos

dijeron

estuve Estar

estuviste

estuvo

estuvimos

estuvieron

hice Hacer

hiciste

hizo

hicimos

hicieron

puse Poner

pusiste

puso

pusimos

pusieron

pude Poder

pudiste

pudo

pudimos

pudieron

quise Querer

quisiste

quiso

quisimos

quisieron

supe Saber

supiste

supo

supimos

supieron

tuve Tener

tuviste

tuvo

tuvimos

tuvieron

traje Traer*

trajiste

trajo

trajimos

Trajeron

vine Venir

viniste

vino

vinimos

Vinieron

di Dar

diste

dio

dimos

dieron

vi Ver

viste

vio

vimos

vieron

Fui Ir &Ser

Fuiste

Fue

Fuimos

fueron

Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense (el imperfecto) is one of the several past tenses in Spanish. It is used mainly to describe past habitual actions or to set the scene in the past, what a person used to do or was doing. Below you will find when to use it as well as how to conjugate it for regular and irregular verbs. There are only two sets of endings for regular imperfect verbs, one for -ar verbs and one for both -er and -ir verbs. Simply remove the infinitive ending and add the correct imperfect ending depending on the subject of the action. Regular Imperfect Verb Endings -ar verbs -er and -ir verbs -aba -abas -aba -a -as -a

-bamos -amos -abais -aban -ais -an

Since the 1st person and 3rd person singular have the same conjugation endings, context and subject pronouns will indicate the subject if it is ambiguous.

Irregular Imperfect Forms There are only three verbs with irregular conjugations in the imperfect. No stem-changes, no spelling-changes, only these three: Ir (to go iba Ibas Iba bamos Ibais iban Ser (to be) Era Eras Era ramos Erais eran Ver (to see) Vea Veas Vea veamos Veais vean

Uses of the Preterite vs. the Imperfect

The preterite is used for actions in the past that are seen as completed. Use of the preterite tense implies that the past action had a definite beginning and a definite end. It is important to realize that the beginning and the end may not be clearly stated. The imperfect is used for an actions in the past that are not seen as completed. Use of the imperfect tense implies that the past action have a definite beginning or end. The preterite tells us specifically when an action takes place and the imperfect tells us generally when an action takes place.
Expressions that signal the use of the imperfect: a menudo (often) Generalmente (usually) a veces (sometimes) muchas veces (many times) de vez en cuando (from time to time) cada da (every day) siempre (always) cada ano ( every year) todo el tiempo (all the time) varias veces (several times

Expressions that signal use of preterite: ayer (yesterday) anoche(last night) el ano pasado(last year) hace dos das (two days) la semana pasada( last week) el otro da( the other day) entonces(then) esta manana (this morning)

ayer por la manana( yesterday morning)

Preterite Happened one time Interrupted something going on was the beginning of an event the end of an event Imperfect

Uses of the Imperfect A: Age, attitude, appearance L: Location W: Weather E: Emotions

happened many times was in progress ( was.ing) described a condition repeated of habitual actions in the past

P: physical attributes T: Time

Overview: The Imperfect Tense is used: o To express what used to happen o To express what happened repeatedly in the past o To describe what was going on at a particular time o To describe simultaneous actions. Mientras is usually used to connect the two actions o To describe what is going on in the past when something else began or ended (preterite). Cuando usually links the two action. (Interruption thing Alcoriza discussed) o To describe persons or things in the past o To express the time of day( the hour) in the past. o To indicate the continuance of a situation or an event in the past. It may also indicate the complete event (both beginning and end) The Preterite is used to o Indicate the beginning or the end of an action or event occurring in the past.

Past Participle

To form the past participle, simply drop the infinitive ending (ar,er, or ir) and add ado, or ido. The following common verbs have irregular past participles:
abrir (to open) - abierto (open) cubrir (to cover) - cubierto (covered) decir (to say) - dicho (said) escribir (to write) - escrito (written) hacer (to do) - hecho (done) morir (to die) - muerto (dead) poner (to put) - puesto (put) resolver (to resolve) - resuelto (resolved) romper (to break) - roto (broken) ver (to see) - visto (seen) volver (to return) - vuelto (returned)

Note that compound verbs based on the irregular verbs inherit the same irregularities. Here are a few examples:
componer - compuesto describir - descrito devolver - devuelto

Most past participles can be used as adjectives. Like other adjectives, they agree in gender and number with the nouns that they modify. EXAMPLES:
La puerta est cerrada. The door is closed. Las puertas estn cerradas. The doors are closed. El restaurante est abierto. The restaurant is open. Los restaurantes estn abiertos. The restaurants are open.

Note that for -er and -ir verbs, if the stem ends in a vowel, a written accent will be required. creer - credo or odo Note: this rule does not apply, and no written accent is required for verbs ending in -uir. (construir, seguir, influir, distinguir, etc.) Past Participles can also be used as adjectives: o They are often used with the verb estar to describe a condition or state that results from an action. o They must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify Example: En la entrada hay algunos leferos escritos en espanol.

Present Perfect Tense

When using the present perfect we use HABER! NOTE: The verb haber MUST GO Haber is conjugated as follows: DIRECTLY AFTER THE PAST PARTICIPLE! -he -has Example: T has aumentado de peso. -ha Yo ya he ledo esos libros. -hemos -habis -han We already know that the past participle is formed by dropping the infinitive ending and adding either ado or ido. Remember some past participles are irregular! All pronouns, direct object, indirect object, or reflexive, CANNOT be attached! They must come before haber!
Example(s): Nosotros ya nos hemos duchado. We have already taken a shower.

Most common adverbs with this tense: o Already-ya (+ infinitive) o Never- nunca (used for negative sentences) o Ever-alguna vez ( usually in questions) Example: She had never eaten bread. Ella nunca ha comido pan.

Past Perfect Tense (Pluperfect)

In Spanish, the past perfect tense is formed by using the imperfect tense of the auxiliary verb "haber" with the past participle. Haber is conjugated as follows: haba habas haba habamos habais haban You have already learned in a previous lesson that the past participle is formed by dropping the infinitive ending and adding either -ado or -ido. Remember, some past participles are irregular. haba hablado, haba comido, haba vivido We use the pluperfect to talk about what was done before the previous action

Past Perfect: haber + past participle

Formal T Commands
Commands are used when ordering, or telling someone to do something. This is often referred to as the "imperative" form of the verb.
Compre Ud. el anillo. (You) Buy the ring. Haga Ud. la tarea. (You) Do the homework. Compren Uds. los libros. (You-all) Buy the books. Hagan Uds. el trabajo. (You-all) Do the work.

By now, you are well acquainted with the fact that Spanish has both a formal and an informal style of speech (t / Ud.).
Compre Ud. el anillo. Buy the ring. (formal) Compra (t) los dulces. Buy the candy. (familiar)

The formal commands are formed the same way as the present subjunctive: o Start with the yo form of the present indicative. o Then drop the -o ending. o Finally, add the following endings

-ar verbs: -e (for Ud.), -en (for Uds.) -er and -ir verbs: -a (for Ud.), -an (for Uds.)

The following examples of formal commands use three regular verbs: hablar, comer, and escribir.
Hable Ud. ms lentamente. Hablen Uds. ms lentamente. Speak more slowly. Coma Ud. la cena. Coman Uds. la cena. Eat the dinner.

Remember, if the first person singular (yo) form is irregular, that irregularity is carried over into the formation of the formal command. This also applies to stem changing verbs.
Tengan Uds. un buen viaje. (yo tengo) Have a good trip. Traiga Ud. el dinero. (yo traigo) Bring the money.

As with the present subjunctive, the following verbs are irregular:

dar d Ud. den Uds. estar est Ud. estn Uds. ir vaya Ud. vayan Uds. ser sea Ud. sean Uds. saber sepa Ud. sepan Uds.

Note that affirmative and negative commands use the same verb forms.
Hable Ud. Speak. No hable Ud. Don't speak.

Coma Ud. Eat. No coma Ud. Don't eat.

Escriba Ud. Write. No escriba Ud. Don't write.

Informal T Commands
We learned that commands are used when ordering, or telling someone to do something. Example: Compra (t) el anillo. (You) buy the ring Escribe (t) la tarea. (You) do the homework

Remember that Spanish has both a formal and an informal style of speech (t/Ud.). This distinction applies to commands.
Compre Ud. el anillo. Buy the ring (formal) Compra (t) los dulces. Buy the candy. (Familiar)

The affirmative informal (t) commands are formed the same way as the present indicative Ud. form:
(hablar - ar + a = habla) (comer - er + e = come) (escribir - ir + e = escribe)

Be sure to note that the "t" commands use the usted form, not the t form! Compare the affirmative informal (t) commands with the negative informal (t) commands: Cuenta tus beneficios. Count your blessings. No cuentes tus beneficios. Don't count your blessings. REMEMBER that when forming the negative t commands we put the verb in the present yo forms then switch the ending to its opposite ending t form. Example: Poner: Pongo >pongas Comer: Como>comas

Irregular Commands: The following eight verbs have irregular familiar commands in the affirmative: Decir : di Salir: sal Hacer: haz Ser: s Ir: ve Tener: ten Poner: pon Venir: ven Note that these irregularities only occur with affirmative t commands. As with all other verbs, to form negative informal commands with these verbs, use the "t" form of the present subjunctive. Di la verdad. (Tell the truth.)
No digas mentiras. (Don't tell lies.) Haz tu tarea. (Do your homework.) No hagas eso. (Don't do that.)

Irregular Negative T Commands: Dar: No des Estar: No ests Ser: No seas Ir: No vayas

Future Tense
The future tense is used to tell what "will" happen, or what "shall" happen. I will go to the beach next month. I shall write the letter next week. But, the future tense is not used to express a willingness to do something. For this, use the verb "querer." Quieres ir a la tienda? Will you go to the store? For actions that will occur in the near future, the present tense is more commonly used. Esta noche voy al cine. Tonight I'm going to the movies. Further in the future, use the future tense. El ao que viene ir a Espaa. Next year I'm going to Spain. Regular verbs in the future tense are conjugated by adding the following endings to the infinitive form of the verb: -, -s, -, -emos, -is, -n.

hablar hablars hablar hablaremos hablaris hablarn

There are twelve common verbs that are irregular in the future tense. Their endings are regular, but their stems change. Since the endings are the same as all other future tense verbs, we show only the "yo" form, and have put the irregular stem in bold. We have also grouped them according to their patterns of change.

Caber: to fit Poner: to put Decir Haber Salir Hacer Poder Tener Querer Saber

Yo Cabr Yo pondr Yo dire Yo habr Yo saldr Yo har Yo podr Yo tender Yo querr Yo sabr

The Future Perfect

As with the other perfect tenses, the future perfect is formed by combining the auxiliary verb "haber" with the past participle. In this case, "haber" is conjugated in the future tense. habr habrs habr habremos habris habrn The future perfect tense is used to describe what will have happened in the future before a different action takes place, or by a specific time. Remember, some past participles are irregular. Also remember that the past participle never changes form in the perfect tenses. The past participle will be important in future lessons covering the perfect tenses. To form the past participle, simply drop the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir) and add -ado (for -ar verbs) or -ido (for -er, -ir verbs). The auxiliary verb and the past participle are never separated. To make the sentence negative, add the word "no" before the conjugated form of haber.
(yo) No habr comido. I will not have eaten. (t) No habrs ledo el libro. You will not have read the book.

Object pronouns are placed immediately before the auxiliary verb.

Pablo le habr dado un regalo a su esposa. Pablo will have given a gift to his wife.

With reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun is placed immediatedly before the auxiliary verb. Compare how the present perfect differs from the simple present, when a reflexive verb is used.
Me lavo las manos. (present) I wash my hands.