Spanish Language Verbs and Tenses Syllabus

Verbs and Tenses syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Verbs and Tenses in Spanish Language, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Present Tense

   5 topics

   • Regular -ar, -er, -ir Verbs
   • Stem-Changing Verbs
   • Irregular Present-Tense Verbs
   • Reflexive Verbs
   • Present Continuous (estar + gerundio)
2. 2

   Past Tenses

   5 topics

   • Preterite (Pretérito Indefinido)
   • Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfecto)
   • Preterite vs Imperfect Contrast
   • Present Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto)
   • Pluperfect (Pluscuamperfecto)
3. 3

   Future and Conditional

   4 topics

   • Near Future (ir a + infinitive)
   • Simple Future
   • Conditional Tense
   • Expressing Probability and Conjecture
4. 4

   The Subjunctive Mood

   6 topics

   • Present Subjunctive Formation
   • Subjunctive with Wishes and Emotions
   • Subjunctive with Doubt and Denial
   • Subjunctive in Subordinate Clauses
   • Imperfect Subjunctive
   • Conditional Sentences (si clauses)
5. 5

   The Imperative

   4 topics

   • Affirmative Commands (tú and usted)
   • Negative Commands
   • Commands with Pronouns
   • Nosotros and Vosotros Commands
6. 6

   Non-Finite Forms and Periphrasis

   4 topics

   • Infinitives
   • Gerunds (gerundio)
   • Past Participles
   • Verbal Periphrasis

Verbs and Tenses flashcards for Spanish Language

18 of 50 cards from the Verbs and Tenses deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How do you conjugate a regular -ar verb in the present tense (e.g., hablar)? List all six endings.

   Drop -ar and add: yo -o, tu -as, el/ella/usted -a, nosotros -amos, vosotros -ais, ellos/ustedes -an. Example: hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, hablais, hablan.

2. What are the present-tense endings for regular -er verbs (e.g., comer)?

   -o, -es, -e, -emos, -eis, -en. Example (comer): como, comes, come, comemos, comeis, comen.

3. What are the present-tense endings for regular -ir verbs (e.g., vivir), and where do they differ from -er verbs?

   -o, -es, -e, -imos, -is, -en. They differ from -er only in the nosotros (-imos vs -emos) and vosotros (-is vs -eis) forms.

4. What is a stem-changing (boot/shoe) verb, and in which persons does the stem change NOT occur?

   A verb whose stressed stem vowel changes in the present tense. The change occurs in all forms EXCEPT nosotros and vosotros (the bottom of the 'boot').

5. Name the three main stem-change patterns for present-tense verbs, with an example of each.

   e -> ie (pensar -> pienso), o -> ue (poder -> puedo), and e -> i (pedir -> pido).

6. Conjugate the e->ie stem-changer 'querer' in the present tense.

   quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, quereis, quieren.

7. Conjugate the o->ue stem-changer 'dormir' in the present tense.

   duermo, duermes, duerme, dormimos, dormis, duermen.

8. Several common verbs are irregular only in the 'yo' form of the present tense. Give the yo forms of hacer, poner, salir, and tener.

   hacer -> hago, poner -> pongo, salir -> salgo, tener -> tengo (tener is also e->ie: tengo, tienes, tiene...).

9. Give the full present-tense conjugation of the irregular verb 'ser' (to be).

   soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son.

10. Give the full present-tense conjugation of the irregular verb 'ir' (to go).

    voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van.

11. Give the full present-tense conjugation of the irregular verb 'estar' (to be), noting the accents.

    estoy, estas, esta, estamos, estais, estan (accents on estas, esta, estais, estan).

12. What is a reflexive verb, and what marks it in the infinitive?

    A verb whose action reflects back on the subject (subject and object are the same). It is marked by the pronoun -se attached to the infinitive, e.g., levantarse, lavarse.

13. List the reflexive pronouns for all six persons.

    me, te, se, nos, os, se.

14. How is the present tense of the reflexive verb 'levantarse' conjugated (yo form and general placement rule)?

    Me levanto, te levantas, se levanta, nos levantamos, os levantais, se levantan. The reflexive pronoun goes before the conjugated verb.

15. How is the present continuous formed in Spanish?

    estar (conjugated in present) + gerundio (present participle). Example: Estoy hablando (I am speaking).

16. How do you form the gerundio (gerund/present participle) for -ar verbs versus -er/-ir verbs?

    -ar verbs: stem + -ando (hablar -> hablando). -er/-ir verbs: stem + -iendo (comer -> comiendo, vivir -> viviendo).

17. What are the irregular gerunds for leer, dormir, and pedir?

    leer -> leyendo (i->y), dormir -> durmiendo (o->u), pedir -> pidiendo (e->i).

18. When is the preterite (preterito indefinido) used?

    For completed actions in the past with a definite beginning/end, single events, or a sequence of finished actions. Example: Ayer comi paella.

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