Grammar Tips Flashcards
Spanish verbs are divided into two parts, what are they?
The “stem” and the “ending”
The ending is “ar” “er” or “ir”
When conjugating you remove the ending
Can you know whether a verb is irregular (E - IE)? If so, how?
There is no absolute way to know. However, here are two tips.
- Many verbs that have an “e” in the stem follow this pattern.
- Verb groups. Verbs that are spelt similar to each other often follow the same stem changing pattern. For example, pensar changes to yo pienso then it’s likely other verbs ending in “-ensar” follow the same pattern. For example, “comenzar” also changes E-IE for “yo comienzo”
Add que after a verb to create a subclause with a new verb. Translate these sentences.
- I want you to walk with me
- I hope you arrive soon
- I prefer that you don’t talk during the moving
- Quiero que camines conmigo
- Espero que llegues pronto
- Prefiero que no hables durante le película
Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive Verbs are verbs that act on an object. Where a normal verb, like caminar, is simply an action that gets executed. A reflexive verb acts on an object (noun).
The verb’s conjugation encapsulates who is performing the action, and then the object of the verb precedes it.
Example:
levantarse = to get up
levantas = you get up
me levantas = you get me up
Reflexive verbs are actions that require to an object to act on. However, non-reflexive verbs can sometimes be made reflexive. For example, caminar does not typically act on an object - but it can.
Example:
caminar = to walk
caminas = you walk
me caminas = you walk me
Backwards Reflexive Verbs
Similar to a reflexive verb, however, the verb encapsulates the object that is being acted on and the object preceding the verb is the one executing the action.
[executor] [verb stem]-[conjugation]
The executor does the verb to whenever is encapsulated by the conjugation. This is backwards from normal Reflexive Verbs.
Ex:
gustarse = to like
gustas = to like you
Me gustas = I like you
Normal Verbs
The verb is split into:
[stem]-[conjugation],
where the verb encapsulates the action and the conjugation encapsulates the executor of the verb.
Ex:
caminar = to walk
camino = I walk
Descriptive adjectives (color, shape, nationality) typical follow the noun.
Translate these sentences:
1. Red car
2. Intelligent child
- choche rojo
- niño inteligente
Some adjectives can be modified and moved before the noun. When in its normal position after the noun it is standard and descriptive. Places before it can become more qualitative and abstract.
Examples:
1. gran/grande
2. buen/bueno
3. mal/malo
- Un hombre grande = a big man
Un gran hombre = a great man - Un camino bueno = a good path
Un buen camino = a path that is good to take, perhaps the path is especially enjoyable or suitable for what you need. - Un hombre malo = a bad man (does bad things)
Mal tiempo = bad weather (is qualitatively bad)
Why is quejarse reflexive and querer is not?
In Spanish, verbs can be reflexive or non-reflexive, and this distinction affects their meaning and how they’re used in sentences.
A reflexive verb is used when the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action, meaning the action is done by the subject to themselves. For example, in the reflexive form, “yo me lavo” (I wash myself), the action of washing is performed by the subject on themselves.
“Quejarse” is a reflexive verb because the action of complaining or expressing dissatisfaction is directed back at the subject who is feeling or expressing the complaint. For example, “Ella se queja del calor” translates to “She complains about the heat.” Here, the action of complaining is something the subject does to express her own feelings or discomfort.
On the other hand, “querer” (to want or to love) is not reflexive because the action typically involves two parties: the one who wants (the subject) and the thing or person that is wanted (the object). For example, in “Yo quiero un helado” (I want an ice cream), the action of wanting is not directed back at the subject but is directed towards something else.
However, note that some verbs can be both reflexive and non-reflexive, depending on the context. “Querer” is primarily non-reflexive, but it doesn’t have a common reflexive form that alters its basic meaning. The choice between reflexive and non-reflexive forms depends on whether the action reflects back on the subject or is directed towards another object or person.
Comunicar vs Comunicarse
The difference between “comunicar” and “comunicarse” in Spanish lies in their structure and slightly in their meaning, reflecting the distinction between transitive and reflexive verbs.Comunicar is a transitive verb, meaning it typically requires a direct object to complete its action. It is used to convey the act of transmitting information, news, or messages from one entity to another. For example, “El profesor comunica las notas a los estudiantes” (The teacher communicates the grades to the students).Comunicarse, on the other hand, is a reflexive form of “comunicar” and emphasizes the act of communication as an exchange or reciprocal action. It is used to indicate that the subjects are engaging in communication with each other, often highlighting the two-way nature of the interaction. For example, “Los alumnos se comunican entre sí” (The students communicate with each other).In essence, while “comunicar” focuses on the action of transmitting information from one point to another, “comunicarse” emphasizes the mutual or reciprocal exchange of information between parties.
