Spanish 4 Grammar Review based on “El norte”
1. “a” personal. When the direct object is a person or persons, we must use the personal “a”. Veo a mi amigo. Miramos a los niños en el parque. Escuchamos al profesor.
2. Possessive adjectives. Possessive adjectives always precede the noun they modify and agree in number and gender. Here is a list of the possessive adjectives:
mi tu su nuestro (a) su
3a. Direct object pronouns. D.O. pronouns always answer the questions Who? or What?
Pronouns replace nouns. See the examples below.
The direct object pronouns in Spanish are: me te lo la
nos os los las
Direct object pronouns precede a verb form.
I see the book. I see it Veo el libro. Lo veo
We watch Marta. We watch her. Miramos a Marta. La miramos
Direct object pronouns can be attached to infinitives and ---ing verb forms.
I want to buy the cars. I want to buy them. Quiero comprarlos.
I am watching the girls. I am watching them. Estoy mirándolas.
3b. Indirect object pronouns. The indirect object answers “To whom or for whom”
The indirect object pronouns are: me te le nos os les
Examples: He gives me a dollar. Él me da un dólar.
I tell him the truth. Yo le digo la verdad (a él).
They write us a letter. Ellos nos escriben una carta.
The positioning of the indirect object pronoun follows the same rules as the direct object pronouns.
4. This / That / These / Those used before nouns.
este estos ese esos
esta estas esa esas
aquel aquellos aquella aquellas (in the distance)
The word QUE is used as a connector - Miguel es el hombre que vive en Iowa.
5. Tener expressions
These special expressions use the verb tener instead of ser or estar.
tener hambre tener sed tener frio tener calor
tener miedo tener sueño tener razón tener celos
Instead of using the word MUY with these expressions, we use mucho or mucha.
I am very scared. Tengo mucho miedo.
I am very thirsty. Tengo mucha sed.
Tener que means to have to ...
I have to eat. Tengo que comer. We have to run. Tenemos que correr.
6. Pronouns as objects of prepositions. After prepositions use the following pronouns:
mí ti él ella Ud. nosotros ellos ellas Uds.
Remember that “con” is a special case for “me and you”. conmigo / contigo
7. Estar is used with the following to express feelings:
cansado triste feliz contento alegre nervioso
ocupado preocupado
8. Preterite vs. Imperfect.
Remember that preterite almost always shows the definite beginning and/or ending of an action.
Remember that imperfect tells of repeated past actions, things that used to happen, tells a person’s age, tells the specific time in the past, sets a scene. You must also remember that certain verbs change meaning when used in the preterite/imperfect.
9. Progressive form. When we want to say that something is happening, we use a form of the verb ESTAR + the --ing form of the verb.
Estoy mirando el programa. Estamos comiendo el sandwich.
In the past use the imperfect of ESTAR + the --ing form.
Estaba mirando el programa. Estábamos comiendo el sandwich.
If we want to say “ going to ...”, we use voy, vas ,vamos, or van + an infinitive.
Voy a mirar la tele. Vamos a jugar al tenis.
Iba a mirar la tele. Íbamos a jugar al tenis.
10. Verbs that are confused:
morir matar pedir preguntar
mirar buscar ver escuchar oír
ser estar llevar tomar
saber conocer creer pensar
pasar gastar volver devolver
fundar encontrar aprender enseñar
probar probarse tratar de intentar
reunirse con conocer conseguir obtener recibir
11. por -> per, by means of, for the sake of, rate, length of time
para -> due date, in order to, intended for, destination
12. Time clock = hora # of times = vez,veces time in general = tiempo
If we want to express “in the morning”, etc. we use the expressions:
por la mañana por la tarde por la noche
If we want to express a specific time (a.m. or p.m.) we use:
de la mañana de la tarde de la noche
12. Remember: a + el = al de + el = del
13. A form we haven’t seen yet. The man was killed by John.
El hombre fue matado por John.
The girls were attacked by the dog.
Las chicas fueron atacadas por el perro.
14. Gender of certain nouns.
el día la noche el trabajo la reunión
la oscuridad la rata la clase
15. Misc. errors
to ride an animal = montar
to ride on a bus, etc. = viajar en ...
to get on a bus, etc. = subir al autobús
to get off a bus = bajar del autobús
to work at a place = trabajar en ...
to arrive to a place = llegar a
Guidelines for success
*Always remember to match the subject and verb endings.
*Always remember to match the noun and adjectives.
*Be aware of the tense you wish to use.
*Organize your ideas.
*Learn to proofread carefully to eliminate errors.
*Use this sheet to assist you in future projects.
*Make long term learning and memory priorities.
