Spanish Language Verbs and Tenses Syllabus

Give the preterite conjugations of the irregular verbs 'ser' and 'ir' (which share identical forms).

fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron. Context distinguishes 'was/were' from 'went'.

What is notable about the endings of irregular preterite verbs like tener (tuv-), poder (pud-), and poner (pus-)?

They use an irregular stem plus a special unstressed set of endings: -e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -ieron (no accents). Example: tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvisteis, tuvieron.

When is the imperfect (preterito imperfecto) used?

For ongoing/habitual past actions, descriptions, background, repeated actions, time, age, and mental/physical states in the past ('used to', 'was ...-ing').

Give the imperfect endings for regular -ar verbs.

-aba, -abas, -aba, -abamos, -abais, -aban. Example (hablar): hablaba, hablabas, hablaba, hablabamos, hablabais, hablaban.

Give the imperfect endings for regular -er and -ir verbs (shared endings).

-ia, -ias, -ia, -iamos, -iais, -ian. Example (comer): comia, comias, comia, comiamos, comiais, comian.

What are the ONLY three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense?

ser (era, eras, era, eramos, erais, eran), ir (iba, ibas, iba, ibamos, ibais, iban), and ver (veia, veias, veia, veiamos, veiais, veian).

In the preterite vs imperfect contrast, which tense interrupts and which sets the scene? Illustrate.

The imperfect sets the ongoing background; the preterite is the completed/interrupting action. Example: Yo dormia (imperfect) cuando sono (preterite) el telefono.

Which past tense signals a completed action, and which signals a habitual/repeated action? Give trigger words.

Preterite = completed (ayer, anoche, de repente, una vez). Imperfect = habitual (siempre, todos los dias, mientras, generalmente).

How is the present perfect (preterito perfecto) formed in Spanish?

Present tense of haber + past participle. Example: He hablado (I have spoken).

Give the present-tense conjugation of the auxiliary 'haber' used for the present perfect.

he, has, ha, hemos, habeis, han.

How do you form the regular past participle for -ar verbs and for -er/-ir verbs?

-ar: stem + -ado (hablar -> hablado). -er/-ir: stem + -ido (comer -> comido, vivir -> vivido).

Give five common irregular past participles in Spanish.

hacer -> hecho, decir -> dicho, ver -> visto, escribir -> escrito, poner -> puesto (also abrir -> abierto, volver -> vuelto, romper -> roto, morir -> muerto).

How is the pluperfect (pluscuamperfecto) formed, and what does it express?

Imperfect of haber + past participle. It expresses an action completed before another past action ('had done'). Example: Habia comido antes de salir.

Give the imperfect conjugation of 'haber' used to form the pluperfect.

habia, habias, habia, habiamos, habiais, habian.

How do you form the near future (futuro proximo) in Spanish, and what does it express?

ir + a + infinitive. It expresses plans or intentions ('going to'). Example: Voy a estudiar (I am going to study).

How is the simple future tense formed for regular verbs?

Add endings directly to the full infinitive: -e, -as, -a, -emos, -eis, -an. Example (hablar): hablare, hablaras, hablara, hablaremos, hablareis, hablaran.

List several verbs with irregular future/conditional stems.

tener -> tendr-, poner -> pondr-, salir -> saldr-, venir -> vendr-, poder -> podr-, saber -> sabr-, hacer -> har-, decir -> dir-, querer -> querr-, haber -> habr-.

How is the conditional tense formed for regular verbs, and what does it express?

Infinitive + -ia, -ias, -ia, -iamos, -iais, -ian. It expresses 'would', hypotheticals, and politeness. Example (hablar): hablaria, hablarias, hablaria...

The conditional uses the same irregular stems as which other tense?

The simple future. For example, tendr- gives future tendre and conditional tendria.

How can the future tense express probability/conjecture about the present? Give an example.

The future of probability suggests 'must be / probably is' about the present. Example: Seran las tres = It's probably three o'clock. Estara en casa = He is probably at home.

How can the conditional tense express probability/conjecture about the past?

The conditional suggests 'probably was / must have been' about the past. Example: Serian las tres = It was probably three o'clock.

How is the present subjunctive formed (the 'opposite vowel' rule)?

Take the yo form of the present indicative, drop -o, and add opposite-vowel endings. -ar verbs take -e endings; -er/-ir verbs take -a endings.

Give the present subjunctive endings for -ar verbs and for -er/-ir verbs.

-ar: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -eis, -en (hable, hables...). -er/-ir: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -an (coma, comas...; viva, vivas...).

Give the present subjunctive of five verbs with irregular subjunctive forms.

ser -> sea, ir -> vaya, saber -> sepa, dar -> de, estar -> este, haber -> haya. (Remember 'DISHES': Dar, Ir, Ser, Haber, Estar, Saber.)

The subjunctive is used to express wishes and emotions. Give a trigger expression and an example sentence.

Triggers like querer que, esperar que, alegrarse de que. Example: Espero que tengas exito (I hope you succeed).

Why must the two clauses have different subjects for the subjunctive of wishes to be used?

If the subject is the same, Spanish uses an infinitive, not the subjunctive. Different subjects trigger 'que' + subjunctive. Compare: Quiero salir (same subject) vs Quiero que tu salgas (different subjects).

The subjunctive is used after expressions of doubt and denial. Give trigger phrases and an example.

Triggers: dudar que, no creer que, negar que, no es verdad que. Example: Dudo que venga (I doubt he will come).

What happens to the mood when 'no creer que' (doubt) becomes 'creer que' (belief)?

'No creo que' expresses doubt and takes the subjunctive; 'creo que' expresses certainty and takes the indicative. Example: No creo que sea (subj.) vs Creo que es (ind.).

Name several conjunctions that trigger the subjunctive in subordinate (adverbial) clauses.

para que, antes de que, sin que, a menos que, con tal de que, en caso de que, and (for pending future actions) cuando, hasta que, en cuanto.

Explain why 'cuando' sometimes takes the subjunctive and sometimes the indicative.

With 'cuando', a pending/future action takes the subjunctive (Cuando llegue, te llamo), but a habitual/completed action takes the indicative (Cuando llego, siempre te llamo).