The Spanish infinitive is one of the most basic forms of verbs in Spanish and, therefore, you should learn to distinguish them during your intensive Spanish course. This verb form is necessary to know how to conjugate the rest of the verbs in Spanish.

In this article from don Quijote, we tell you all about infinitives in Spanish so you can learn how they are used, when they are used and examples of the most used verbs in the language.

You can also read this article in Spanish, French or Italian.

What is a Spanish infinitive?

An infinitive in Spanish is the verbal form that designates an action or state in a general way, without indicating who performs it or when it occurs. It is a non-personal form of the verb, which means that it does not express time, person, number or mood. The infinitive in Spanish can be defined as the base form of the verb, as it appears in the dictionary next to its definition.

In Spanish, infinitives end in -ar, -er or -ir. The three infinitive endings in Spanish are divided into:

Verbs ending in -ar are first conjugation verbs and are the most numerous and regular. Examples of verbs in the Spanish infinitive form -ar: estudiar (to study), caminar (to walk), cantar (to sing), bailar (to dance), madrugar (to wake up early), jugar (to play), buscar (to look for), comprar (to buy), escuchar (to listen), hablar (to talk), llamar (to call), etc.

Verbs ending in -er are in the second conjugation and include many common verbs. Examples of verbs ending in -er: comer (to eat), beber (to drink), coser (to sew), correr (to run), deber (to have to), leer (to read), romper (to break), vender (to sell), comprender (to understand), etc.

Finally, verbs ending in -ir are those of the third conjugation and are the least frequent of the three types of infinitives, even so, they are also very important. Verbs ending in -ir: vivir (to live), escribir (to write), abrir (to open), cubrir (to cover), pedir (to ask), permitir (to allow), recibir (to receive), servir (to serve), decidir (to decide), etc.

When and how is the Spanish infinitive used?

The infinitive in Spanish can appear in different situations. Here, you are going to learn some of them to understand how and when to use the infinitive in Spanish.

The Spanish infinitive can appear after Spanish propositions. For example:

• Antes de salir, cierra la puerta (Before going out, close the door)
• Estoy cansado de trabajar tanto (I'm tired of working so much)

It also appears after conjugated verbs, especially as a complement:

• Quiero estudiar más (I want to study harder)
• Debes descansar (You should rest)

It can also be the subject of a sentence in noun form. For example:

• Viajar es una experiencia enriquecedora (Traveling is an enriching experience)
• Estudiar requiere disciplina (Studying requires discipline)

Or it can be used in verbal periphrases, that is, in the combination of two verbs:                     

• Voy a llamarte más tarde (I'm going to call you later)
• Tenemos que salir ya (We must leave now)

And it can appear in impersonal instructions:

• No fumar (Not smoking)
• Empujar la puerta (Pushing the door)

The infinitive can also take enclitic pronouns, that is, pronouns that are linked to the verb. For example:

• Quiero acostarme temprano (I want to go to bed early)
• Vas a verlo mañana (You're going to see it tomorrow)

In Spanish, unlike English, the particle “to” is not needed to indicate the infinitive. In English the infinitive would be to eat, to go or to look for. Whereas in Spanish you simply use the verb itself: comer, ir or buscar.

Find the Spanish infinitive

Below you will find example sentences with infinitives in Spanish and with other conjugated verbs. In this exercise you will have to identify the Spanish infinitive verb in each sentence and, if you dare, also the Spanish tenses conjugation. Go for it!

• Me encanta viajar por el mundo (I love traveling the world)
• Ayer comimos en un restaurante mexicano (Yesterday we ate at a Mexican restaurant)
• Mañana saldré temprano para evitar el tráfico (Tomorrow I'll leave early to avoid the traffic)
• Antes de salir, revisa que tengas todo (Before leaving, check that you have everything)
• Vamos a visitar a mis abuelos el domingo (We're going to visit my grandparents on Sunday)
• Ojalá llueva mañana (I hope it rains tomorrow)
• He trabajado mucho esta semana (I've worked hard this week)
• Es importante descansar bien por la noche (It's important to get a good night's sleep)
• Ella quiere aprender francés este año (She wants to learn French this year)
• ¿Viste la película que te recomendé? (Did you see the movie I recommended)

Were you able to guess them all? You will find the correct answers at the end of the article.

 If you still don't know how to use the infinitive or have any doubts, sign up for one of our courses to learn Spanish in Spain with qualified teachers. Start your Spanish adventure now and live a unique experience at don Quijote schools in Spain or Latin America.

Would you like to learn how to express hypotheses, wishes or suggestions in Spanish? The Spanish conditional is the perfect tense for this and as a Spanish student you must learn how to use it to communicate effectively.

Understanding its formation and use and communicating more naturally and precisely with native speakers is possible by using the Spanish conditional. This article by don Quijote helps you understand the Spanish conditional tense. Keep reading and don’t miss anything!

You can read this same text in Spanish, French or Italian.

Spanish conditional tense

The Spanish conditional is a verb tense used to talk about hypothetical or future situations from the past. It is also used to express courtesy, wishes and advice.

For example:

• In a hypothetical situation: “Si tuviera más tiempo, estudiaría otro idioma” (If I had more time, I would study another language)
• To express courtesy: “Me gustaría un café, por favor” (I would like a coffee, please)

Think of the Spanish conditional tense as a way of talking about things that could happen but are not guaranteed. This can help you understand this Spanish tense conjugation.

How to form the Spanish conditional?

The conditional in Spanish is formed by adding the endings -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive of the verb, according to the person and number. These examples with the three Spanish verb endings will help you see how it works:

However, in Spanish there are also irregular verbs that do not follow the same rules as regular verbs. Some irregular verbs with the Spanish conditional are:

• Tener (to have) – Tendría (I would have)
• Hacer (to do) – Haría (I would do)
• Poder (to be able to) – Podría (I would be able to)
• Decir (to say) – Diría (I would say)
• Querer (to want) – Querría (I would want)

The irregular verbs in the Spanish conditional tense are the same as in the simple future. Therefore, if you learn how one works, you will also have mastered the other.

Uses of the simple conditional in Spanish

The conditional has several uses in Spanish. The simple conditional in Spanish does not use auxiliary verbs as in English. If it helps, you can think of the Spanish conditional as the English “would” (I would like) because it would be the equivalent of the Spanish conditional tense.

Below, we explain the most important uses of the simple conditional in Spanish:

a) Hypothetical situations

The Spanish conditional is used to talk about things that could happen if certain conditions are met. For example:

• Si estudiaras más, sacarías mejores notas (If you studied harder, you would get better grades)
• Si fuera rico, viajaría por el mundo (If I were rich, I would travel the world)

b) Courtesy and formal requests

It is also common to use the simple conditional in Spanish to address others politely:

• ¿Podría ayudarme, por favor? (Could you help me, please?)
• Me gustaría reservar una mesa para do (I would like to reserve a table for two)

c) Future in the past

When speaking in the past and mentioning a future action from that moment, the Spanish conditional tense is also used. Examples:

• Dijo que llegaría tarde (He said he would be late)
• Pensábamos que haría frío, pero hacía mucho calor (We thought it would be cold, but it was very hot)

d) Probability in the past

Another use is to express assumptions about past events.

• Serían las diez cuando llegó (It would be ten o'clock when he arrived) (it was probably ten o'clock)
• Juan tendría unos 30 años cuando se casó (Juan would have been about 30 when he got married) (supposition)

e) Advice and suggestions

The Spanish conditional is useful for making recommendations in a polite way.

• Yo que tú, estudiaría más (If I were you, I would study more)
• Deberías descansar un poco (You should get some rest)

Conditional Compound in Spanish

The compound conditional in Spanish is used to talk about situations that would have happened in the past but did not. Thus, the compound conditional in Spanish is formed with the verb haber in the conditional + the participle of the main verb.

Another tip for the compound conditional: this tense in Spanish would be an English equivalent to “would have” + past participle (I would have studied).

Examples of the compound conditional in Spanish:

• Habría estudiado más si hubiera tenido tiempo (I would have studied more if I had had the time)
• Nos habríamos ido antes, pero llovía mucho (We would have left earlier, but it was raining a lot)

Common mistakes in the use of the Spanish conditional

Many students find it difficult to differentiate between the conditional and the subjunctive in Spanish. Remember that the conditional in Spanish expresses the consequence of a hypothesis, while the Spanish subjunctive is used when an action is unreal or improbable.

Furthermore, many people who learn Spanish as a second language make these mistakes when using the conditional:

• It is incorrect to say: “Si tendría tiempo, viajaría” → The correct thing to say would be: “Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría”
• You can't say: “Dijo que vendrá más tarde” → You must say: “Dijo que vendría más tarde”
• If you want to sound more formal in a conversation, don't say: “¿Me puedes ayudar?” → Instead you can say: “¿Podría ayudarme?”

Examples with the conditional in Spanish

A good way to master the conditional in Spanish is to write sentences that start with 'Si...' and use this tense to see how it works in different contexts. But, to help you learn it better, here are some example sentences with the conditional:

1. Me gustaría un café, por favor (I would like a coffee, please)
2. ¿Querría algo más aparte del café? (Would you like anything else apart from coffee?)
3. Si ganara la lotería, compraría una casa en la playa (If I won the lottery, I would buy a house by the beach)
4. Yo en tu lugar, estudiaría más para el examen (If I were you, I would study more for the exam)
5. Si hiciera buen tiempo, iríamos a la playa (If the weather was good, we would go to the beach)
6. Dijo que llegaría a las ocho, pero aún no ha llegado (He said he would be here at eight, but he hasn't arrived yet)
7. Ayer Luis no contestó el teléfono, estaría ocupado (Luis didn't answer the phone yesterday, he must be busy)
8. Yo que tú, hablaría con el profesor para aclarar la duda (If I were you, I would talk to the teacher to clear up the doubt)

We hope we have helped you with the use of the Spanish conditional tense. However, if you still have doubts, don't hesitate to sign up for an intensive Spanish course, our teachers will teach you the tricks you need to master the Spanish conditional tense.

Although the key is to practice and correct common mistakes, don't think twice and come to study Spanish in Spain with don Quijote!

If you have ever wondered how many pronouns there are in Spanish, when to use each one and how, this article is for you. In Spanish there are several types of pronouns that you need to know to fully master the language.

Venture out to learn Spanish in Spain with don Quijote and we will help you improve your command of the language, as well as your use of Spanish personal pronouns in a short time, while you discover the country's unique culture. Don't miss anything!

You can also change the language of this article to Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

What is a pronoun in Spanish?

A Spanish pronoun is a word that replaces a noun in a sentence to avoid repeating it and make the speech flow more smoothly. Pronouns in Spanish can perform different functions within a sentence, such as subject, direct or indirect object, among others.

Pronouns in Spanish are divided into different categories, including:

• Personal pronouns
• Spanish possessive pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns in Spanish
• Relative pronouns
• Indefinite pronouns

Below, you will find a clear explanation of Spanish personal pronouns, their uses and examples to facilitate your learning and understanding of pronouns.

What are Spanish personal pronouns?

Spanish personal pronouns are those that refer to the people involved in the communication. They can replace the subject or the object in a sentence and vary according to grammatical person, number and, in some cases, gender.

Personal pronouns in Spanish are divided into:

1. Subject personal pronouns in Spanish

These type of pronouns in Spanish indicate who performs the action of the verb and are as follows:

The Spanish personal subject pronouns are often omitted because the conjugation of the verb clearly indicates who is performing the action. However, they are used in the following cases:

• To give emphasis or contrast. For example: “Yo prefiero café, pero él quiere té” (I prefer coffee, but he wants tea)
• To clarify the reference when there is ambiguity. For example: “Ella llegó tarde, pero él llegó temprano” (She arrived late, but he arrived early)
• When answering a specific question. Example: “¿Quién rompió la copa de vino? Yo” (Who broke the wine glass? I did)

2. Personal pronouns of complement

Personal pronouns of complement replace the direct or indirect object in a sentence. They are divided into direct and indirect object pronouns.

Direct object pronouns replace the direct object of the sentence, that is, the person or thing that directly receives the action of the verb. They are me, te, lo and la for the singular; while for the plural they are nos, os, los and las.

Indirect object pronouns refer to the person or thing that indirectly receives the action of the verb. These are: for the first-person singular me and the plural nos; for the second person singular is te and the plural os; and for the third person singular is le and the plural, les.

3. Reflexive pronouns in Spanish

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are used when the action of the verb falls on the same subject that performs it. In this case, they would be me, te, nos, os and se.

It should be noted that in some Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the pronoun vos is used instead of tú for the second person singular. The verb conjugation with vos is different from that of tú. For example:

• Tú hablas → Vos hablás (You speak)
• Tú comes → Vos comés (You eat)

Examples of personal pronouns in Spanish

Below you will find some sentences where you can see how and when to use personal pronouns in Spanish:

• Yo siempre desayuno antes de salir de casa (I always have breakfast before leaving home)
• Tú estudias español todos los días (You study Spanish every day)
• Vos tenés que ir al gimnasio mañana (You must go to the gym tomorrow)
• Él juega al fútbol los fines de semana (He plays football at the weekends)
• Ella canta en el coro de la escuela (She sings in the school choir)
• Nosotros viajaremos a España el próximo verano (We will travel to Spain next summer)
• Vosotros sois muy buenos amigos. Ustedes son buenos amigos (You are very good friends)
• Ustedes deben entregar la tarea mañana (You must hand in your homework tomorrow)
• Ellos viven en una ciudad muy grande (They live in a very big city)
• Me gusta mucho la música clásica (I really like classical music)
• Se levantó temprano para ir al trabajo (He got up early to go to work)

Personal pronouns in Spanish are fundamental for communication, as they allow sentences to be more natural and fluent. That's why it's important to know their function and practice using them correctly in different contexts.

But if you still have questions about how to use personal pronouns, don't hesitate to sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses. Our teachers will help you internalize them and master them in no time. Come discover Spain with don Quijote!

Spanish nouns are one of the fundamental bases of Spanish, so if you are willing to master it as a second language, it is crucial that you understand how they work. If there are words that are constantly used in a language, no doubt it is nouns, so it is vital that you understand how and when they are used.

In this article, the donQuijote school gives you the keys to exploring Spanish nouns in depth, the types that exist and the classification they have, as well as exercises for you to practice everything you have learned.

Venture with us into Spanish nouns and learn Spanish in Spain with donQuijote! You can also read this same text in Spanish, French or Italian here.

What is a Spanish noun?

Nouns in Spanish are words that refer to a person, animal, object, idea or feeling. These words are the core of the sentence and, as we have mentioned, they refer to many concepts.

Thus, a noun in Spanish can be anything:

• Person: María, doctor, niño
• Animal: gato, elefante, loro
• Things or objects: mesa, teléfono, coche
• Ideas or feelings: amor, libertad, tristeza

The gender and number of Spanish nouns

Generally, in Spanish nouns can be masculine or feminine, rarely they have no gender. For example, the word hambre is feminine, but in some contexts, it is used with the masculine gender “el hambre”.

Masculine nouns usually end in -o, although there are some exceptions. For example, some masculine nouns are gato (cat), libro (book), día (day) or mapa (map). Feminine nouns end in -a, but there are also exceptions. Some of them are casa (house), mesa (table), mano (hand), foto (photo).

Furthermore, some Spanish nouns can change their meaning according to their gender. Although this is not an absolute rule, it does happen with words such as:

• El cura (priest) and la cura (remedy)
• El capital (money) and la capital (main city)
• El cometa (star) and la cometa (toy)
• El orden (organization) and la orden (order)

On the other hand, the number of Spanish nouns can be singular or plural and must always coincide with the gender. If you need a little advice on how to form plural nouns in Spanish, just add -s or -es to the end of the words. As a rule, the Spanish plural is formed like this, for example: la mesa à las mesas; el papelà los papeles; el vaso à los vasos.

Of course, as with everything, there are exceptions in the formation of the plural, for example, luz would become luces. In addition, there are words that do not vary in singular and plural, such as tijeras (scissors) or vacaciones (vacation).

Types of Spanish nouns

There are several types of nouns in Spanish depending on what they designate.

Common and proper

Common nouns designate objects, beings or people in general. E.g. Gato (cat) or ciudad (city). Whereas proper nouns name specific people and entities, for example: Juan, Laura or Madrid.

Concrete and abstract

Concrete nouns refer to tangible things such as bolígrafo (pen), bolso (bag) or coche (car). On the other hand, abstract nouns express ideas or feelings such as amor (love) or felicidad (happiness).

Countable and uncountable

As the name suggests, countable nouns can be counted: una manzana (one apple), tres libros (three books), cuatro cafés (four coffees). And uncountable nouns have no plural form and are measured in units, such as agua (water) or azúcar (sugar).

Individual and collective

Individual nouns name a single being (pez (fish), mochila (backpack), soldado (soldier)) and collective nouns represent a group (rebaño (flock), bosque (forest), ejército (army)).

Common mistakes in the use of nouns in Spanish

Although they may seem simple, there are some common mistakes that all Spanish students tend to make. Therefore, here are the most common ones so that you can avoid them and learn from them:

1. Confusion with gender: many students confuse the gender of nouns in Spanish. It is not correct to say 'la problema', but the correct form would be 'el problema'.
2. Incorrect use of the plural: forming the plural of some nouns can be complicated. For example, the word 'crisis' is invariable in the plural, therefore, the correct thing to say is 'las crisis' or 'la crisis', while 'los crisis' is incorrect.

Exercises with Spanish nouns

To reinforce these concepts, here are some exercises with Spanish nouns for you to practice all the above:

• Identify the gender and number of the following nouns: camioneta, papeles, sol, flores.
• Complete with the correct article: ___ agua, ___ profesor, ___ idea, ___ mapas.
• Convert these Spanish words to the plural: luz, mes, avión, ordenador, bolsa, móvil.
• Classify the following Spanish nouns as common or proper: María, vaca, Luis, Valencia, profesora, cuaderno.
• Indicate if the following nouns in Spanish are countable or uncountable: harina, silla, aire, plátano, bolígrafo, amistad.

Mastering Spanish nouns is key to effective communication in the language, but if you still have questions after reading our article, don't hesitate to sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses where our teachers will explain everything related to nouns.

Constant practice will make these concepts come naturally in the use of the language, so don't hesitate any longer and start learning Spanish with us!

Answers to the above exercises:

• Camioneta: feminine, singular. Papeles: masculine, plural. Sol: masculine, singular. Flores: feminine, plural.
• El agua. El profesor. La idea. Los mapas.
• Meses. Aviones. Ordenadores. Bolsas. Móviles.
• Proper nouns: María, Luis and Valencia. Common nouns: vaca, profesora, cuaderno.
• Countable nouns: silla, plátano, bolígrafo. Uncountable nouns: harina, aire, amistad.

If you are studying Spanish, one of the most difficult topics to master may be verb conjugations. The Spanish language has many possible conjugations, three different modes, depending on the ending of the verb, the person or the tense.

One of these modes is the Spanish subjunctive, which is one of the verb tenses used in the language to conjugate verbs. The other two modes are the indicative and the imperative. The subjunctive may be one of the most complex. Have you ever wondered how or when to use the subjunctive in Spanish?

You're in the right place! In this donQuijote article, you will learn everything you need to master the Spanish subjunctive mode and speak like a native. Do you want to learn Spanish in Spain? In our schools, you will find everything you need to do so, and our teachers will help you use the Spanish subjunctive in a natural way.

You can also read this article in Spanish, French or Italian.

What is the Spanish subjunctive?

The Spanish subjunctive mode is used to express desires, doubts, emotions, hypotheses, possibilities or unconfirmed situations. It is divided into several tenses: present subjunctive in Spanish, past subjunctive in Spanish, imperfect subjunctive, future subjunctive in Spanish: simple and perfect.

In addition, the subjunctive includes some of the verb tenses that are not often used in everyday but are used in literature in Spanish. Therefore, it is necessary that you know them in case you come across this mode in one of your novels to learn Spanish. And, unlike the indicative mode, which is used to talk about real and concrete facts, the subjunctive mode expresses subjective or hypothetical situations.

Spanish subjunctive verb tenses

The subjunctive in Spanish is divided into several verb tenses, each with its own use.

The present subjunctive Spanish is used for present or future actions with uncertainty or subjectivity. Below you will find examples with the three verb endings (-ar, -er, -ir) conjugated in the present subjunctive Spanish:

• Hablar (Talk): Yo hable, Tú hables, Él/Ella hable, Nosotros hablemos, Vosotros habléis, Ellos hablen.
• Comer (Eat): Yo coma, Tú comas, Él/Ella coma, Nosotros comamos, Vosotros comáis, Ellos coman.
• Vivir (Live): Yo viva, Tú vivas, Él/Ella viva, Nosotros vivamos, Vosotros viváis, Ellos vivan.

The imperfect subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations in the past or in conditional sentences.

• Hablar: Yo hablara/hablase, Tú hablaras/hablases, Él/Ella hablara/hablase, Nosotros habláramos/hablásemos, Vosotros hablarais/hablaseis, Ellos hablaran/hablasen.
• Comer: Yo comiera/comiese, Tú comieras/comieses, Él/Ella comiera/comiese, Nosotros comiéramos/comiésemos, Vosotros comierais/comieseis, Ellos comieran/comiesen.
• Vivir: Yo viviera/viviese, Tú vivieras/vivieses, Él/Ella viviera/viviese, Nosotros viviéramos/viviésemos, Vosotros vivierais/vivieseis, Ellos vivieran/viviesen.

The past subjunctive in Spanish is used to express past actions that are relevant in the present.

• Hablar: Yo haya hablado, Tú hayas hablado, Él/Ella haya hablado, Nosotros hayamos hablado, Vosotros hayáis hablado, Ellos hayan hablado.
• Comer: Yo haya comido, Tú hayas comido, Él/Ella haya comido, Nosotros hayamos comido, Vosotros hayáis comido, Ellos hayan comido.
• Vivir: Yo haya vivido, Tú hayas vivido, Él/Ella haya vivido, Nosotros hayamos vivido, Vosotros hayáis vivido, Ellos hayan vivido.

The past perfect subjunctive is used to talk about past actions that happened before another past action, or in unreal conditional sentences.

• Hablar: Yo hubiera/hubiese hablado, Tú hubieras/hubieses hablado, Él/Ella hubiera/hubiese hablado, Nosotros hubiéramos/hubiésemos hablado, Vosotros hubierais/hubieseis hablado, Ellos hubieran/hubiesen hablado.
• Comer: Yo hubiera/hubiese comido, Tú hubieras/hubieses comido, Él/Ella hubiera/hubiese comido, Nosotros hubiéramos/hubiésemos comido, Vosotros hubierais/hubieseis comido, Ellos hubieran/hubiesen comido.
• Vivir: Yo hubiera/hubiese vivido, Tú hubieras/hubieses vivido, Él/Ella hubiera/hubiese vivido, Nosotros hubiéramos/hubiésemos vivido, Vosotros hubierais/hubieseis vivido, Ellos hubieran/hubiesen vivido.

When to use the subjunctive in Spanish?

The subjunctive is used in different contexts, for example, to express desires, recommendations or suggestions:

• Ojalá llueva mañana (I hope it rains tomorrow)
• Quiero que estudies más (I want you to study harder)

Also to express doubt or uncertainty, but also to express emotions:

• No creo que ella tenga razón (I don't think she's right)
• Dudo que él llegue a tiempo (I doubt he'll be on time)
• Me alegra que estés aquí (I'm glad you're here)
• Me molesta que hablen tan alto (It bothers me that they talk so loudly)

In addition, the subjunctive is used to form hypothetical conditional sentences, for example:

• Si tuviera más tiempo, viajaría por el mundo (If I had more time, I would travel the world)
• Si supieras la verdad, cambiarías de opinion (If you knew the truth, you would change your mind)

To express finality or purpose:

• Estudia para que apruebes el examen (Study so that you pass the exam)
• Te lo explico para que lo entiendas mejor (I'll explain it so that you understand it better)

Examples of the use of the Spanish subjunctive

Below you will find sentences with the subjunctive in Spanish so you can see how the tenses that make up this mood are used, as well as some sentences of desire, doubt or possibility.

• Espero que tú hables con él pronto (I hope you talk to him soon)
• Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría por el mundo (If I had time, I would travel the world)
• Me alegra que hayas terminado tu trabajo (I'm glad you finished your work)
• Si hubieras estudiado más, habrías aprobado el examen (If you had studied harder, you would have passed the exam)
• Ojalá mañana no llueva para poder ir al parque (I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow so I can go to the park)
• Espero que llegues a tiempo a la reunión (I hope you arrive on time for the meeting)
• No estoy segura de sí nos aceptarán en el proyecto de mañana (I'm not sure if they'll accept us on tomorrow's project)
• Si fuera más organizado, terminaría mis tareas a tiempo (If I were more organized, I would finish my homework on time)
• No creo que él diga la verdad sobre lo que pasó (I don't believe he is telling the truth about what happened)

Therefore, the subjunctive in Spanish is a fundamental part of the language, as it allows us to express uncertainty, desire and subjectivity in multiple contexts. Using it correctly enriches communication and adds important nuances to the meaning of sentences. That is why mastering it is essential if you want to become a fluent Spanish speaker.

Did you know that some of the most used words in Spanish are the articles? These particles are essential to communicate effectively in the language, so learning to master them is the next step to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker.

At donQuijote we know that sometimes Spanish articles can be quite a challenge, so here you can find a post with everything you need to know about them, what they are, how they are used and the different types that exist.  Read on so you don't miss anything and come learn Spanish in Spain with us to experience the language firsthand.

You can read this same blog post in Spanish, French or Italian.

What is an article in Spanish?

A Spanish article is a word that accompanies a noun and determines its gender, masculine or feminine, and its number, singular or plural. Articles in Spanish can be definite or indefinite depending on the degree of specificity they express.

These particles are used every day, and they are essential for communication in Spanish. For example, in the sentence, “El perro de mi vecino es un dálmata” (my neighbor's dog is a Dalmatian), there are two articles: “el” and “un”.

Types of Spanish articles

There are two basic types of articles that you must differentiate in Spanish.

Definite article in Spanish

Definite Spanish articles are those that indicate that the noun they accompany is known or specific. The following can be distinguished: el, la, los, las, lo.

• Masculine singular: el → El libro es azul (The book is blue)
• Feminine singular: la → La mesa está rota (The table is broken)
• Masculine plural: los → Los alumnos se van de excursión (The students are going on a field trip)
• Feminine plural: las → Las ventanas están abiertas (The windows are open)

“Lo” is a neuter article that is rarely used but knowing that it exists will help you recognize it if you see it in a text.

Indefinite article in Spanish

On the other hand, the indefinite Spanish articles, which indicate that the noun they accompany is not specific or is unknown. They are: un, una, unos, unas.

• Masculine singular: un → He visto un pájaro en la ventana (I have seen a bird in the window)
• Feminine singular: una → Hay una mariposa en el cristal (There is a butterfly on the glass)
• Masculine plural: unos → ¿Te has comprador unos zapatos nuevos? (Did you buy some new shoes?)
• Feminine plural: unas → Vimos unas puertas gigantescas en la mansion (We saw some gigantic doors in the mansion)

In addition to definite and indefinite articles in Spanish, there are contracted articles, which is a definite Spanish article combined with the preposition 'a' or 'de' and form a contraction. For example: “Vamos al cine” (we’re going to the cinema). This article “al” is formed with the preposition “a” and the article “el”.

When to use articles in Spanish?

In Spanish, articles are important because they help you identify whether you are talking about something specific or not, and to know the gender and number of nouns.

Definite Spanish articles are used when you want to talk about something specific or that you already know.

• El perro está en el jardín (The dog is in the garden) A specific dog that everyone knows. A garden that everyone knows where it is.
• La casa es grande (The house is big) We are talking about a specific house.
• Los niños están jugando (The children are playing) A specific group of children.
• Las flores son hermosas (The flowers are beautiful) Flowers that can be identified.

A rule of thumb that can help you with the use of these articles is that when both you and the other person know what thing or person you are talking about, definite Spanish articles are used.

Indefinite Spanish articles, on the other hand, are used when you are talking about something non-specific, that is, something you don't know well, or it doesn't matter exactly what it is.

• He visto un gato en la calle (I saw a cat in the street) We don't know which cat it was.
• Dame una taza de té, por favor (Give me a cup of tea, please) Any cup will do.
• Compré unos libros interesantes (I bought some interesting books) Some books, not specific.
• Encontré unas fotos viejas (I found some old photos) Photos, not specific.

A rule of thumb for knowing when to use indefinite Spanish articles: when you talk about something that is not known to everyone or that you don't need to specify.

Another tricky aspect of Spanish articles is knowing how to choose gender and number. The first thing you need to know is that the Spanish article must match the gender and number of the noun it accompanies.

For example: un libro, el libro, los libros or una flor, la flor, las flores.

Also, when the definite Spanish article “el” is combined with the prepositions “a” or “de”, a contraction is formed: “al”: a + el and “del”: de + el. For example: Es el libro del professor de matemáticas (It is the math teacher's book).

Common errors in the use of Spanish articles

In Spanish, articles are almost always used with nouns, but they may not be used in your language.

• It would be incorrect to say “Perro está en jardín”
• The correct form would be: “El perro está en el jardín”

You should also not confuse gender and number, as the Spanish article must always agree with the noun.

• It is incorrect to say “el mesa”
• It would be correct to say “la mesa”

Beware of the neuter article “lo”. Although it is not very common, this article exists, and you can see it in some sentences. “Lo” is not a regular article, but is used with adjectives, abstract concepts or ideas, qualities or generalized ideas. For example:

• Lo importante es estudiar todos los días (The important thing is to study every day)
• Me encanta lo bonito de este lugar (I love how beautiful this place is)
• Lo mejor de las vacaciopnes fue la comida (The best part of the vacation was the food)

Examples with Spanish articles

Here are some sentences with definite and indefinite articles in Spanish so that you can see the use and position of each one:

• La casa es muy bonita (The house is very nice)
• Vi un coche rojo en la calle (I saw a red car in the street)
• Compré una flor para mi madre (I bought a flower for my mother)
• Los niños están jugando en el parque (The children are playing in the park)
• Las estrellas brillan mucho esta noche (The stars are very bright tonight)
• Necesito unos zapatos nuevos (I need some new shoes)
• Compré unas manzanas en el mercado (I bought some apples at the market)
• Fuimos al cine ayer (We went to the movies yesterday)
• La portada del libro es muy interesante (The cover of the book is very interesting)
• No me gusta el ruido de la ciudad (I don't like the noise of the city)
• ¿Dónde está la llave del coche? (Where is the car key?)
• Me encontré con un amigo de la infancia (I met a childhood friend)
• Ella es una persona muy generosa (She is a very generous person)
• Los perros de la vecina siempre ladran por la noche (The neighbor's dogs always bark at night)
• El gato duerme en el sofá (The cat sleeps on the sofa)

As a review: the main difference between definite Spanish articles (el, la, los, las, lo) and indefinite Spanish articles (un, una, unos, unas) lies in the degree of specificity. Definite articles in Spanish are used when you talk about something specific that you already know or that you can clearly identify. In contrast, indefinite articles in Spanish are used to refer to something unspecific or unknown.

Using the right article helps differentiate whether the noun is something concrete or general. When reading or listening to Spanish, look closely at the articles and how they accompany nouns. This way you will become familiar with them, and you will be able to distinguish them and use them without any problem.

Now all you need to do is practice, sign up for an intensive Spanish course, talk to your classmates and practice watching Spanish series and movies in their original version. Don't miss your chance and start improving your Spanish now!

Have you ever wondered how to form diminutives in Spanish? If the answer is yes, in this donQuijote article you’ll learn the keys to master this technique in Spanish.

The Spanish diminutive is one of the most useful and easy-to-use tools in the Spanish language. It is used to express smallness, affection, sympathy or even to soften an idea. So, as a student of Spanish, mastering the diminutive can be a fun way to enrich your knowledge and vocabulary, as well as bring you closer to a more natural and colloquial use of the language.

Venture into the language and sign up to learn Spanish in Spain with us, let's explore how diminutives work in Spanish!

Although if you prefer, you can change the language of this article to Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

What is a Spanish diminutive?

If you remember our post about Spanish prefixes and suffixes, you may have guessed that a diminutive in Spanish is a suffix that is added to a word to modify its meaning. Usually, Spanish diminutives indicate smallness, but they can also convey affection, kindness, respect or even an ironic tone, depending on the context.

Here are some of the simplest diminutives in Spanish:

• Casa → Casita (House)
• Flor → Florecita (Flower)
• Mano → Manita (Hand)
• Árbol → Arbolito (Tree)

As you have seen, in Spanish the most common suffixes to form the diminutive are -ito / -ita. These diminutives are used in much of the Spanish-speaking world and are the most frequent. More examples: Libro → Librito (book) or Perro → Perrito (dog).

Another very common diminutive in Spanish is -illo / -illa. It is used mostly in some regions of Spain and Latin America and sometimes has a slightly derogatory or humorous nuance. For example: Pan → Panecillo (bread) or Chico → Chiquillo (boy).

We continue with -ico / -ica. This diminutive is widely used in certain areas of Spain, especially in Aragon, and in countries such as Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica. Some examples are: Pequeño → Pequeñico (boy) or Mano → Manica (hand).

The diminutive -ete / -eta is used less frequently, but you may hear it in some informal contexts. Usually, this diminutive forms words of affective or derogatory value. Examples: Amigo → Amiguete (friend) or Melón → Meloncete (melon).

This diminutive is even less common than the previous one, but it is good to keep in mind since it is often used in colloquial and informal language: -uelo / -uela. It can also give a diminutive or affective feeling. Example: Copa → Copichuela, Joven → Jovenzuelo or Calle → Callejuela.

General rules for forming the diminutive in Spanish

In general, it is very easy to turn a Spanish word into a diminutive, you just must modify the ending and add the suffix. However, there are some grammatical rules that you should know before changing words to diminutives.

If the word ends in a vowel, you simply add the diminutive suffix. For example:

• Gato → Gatito (Cat)
• Mesa → Mesita (Table)
• Abuela → Abuelita (Grandma)
• Limón → Limoncito (Lemon)

If the word ends in a consonant a linking vowel is added before the suffix. For example:

• Amor → Amorcito (Love)
• Arroz → Arrocito (Rice)
• Calor → Calorcito (Heat)
• Nariz → Naricilla (Nose)

In very short words, the suffix is specially adapted to become diminutive:

• Pan → Panecito or Panecillo (Bread)
• Sol → Solecito (Sun)
• Flor → Florcita or Florecilla (Flower)

If you want to make diminutives of a Spanish word with diphthongs or hiatuses it is more complicated, but you can do it without any problem. In these cases, some words require adjustments to maintain the sonority. For example:

• Piedra → Piedrecita (Stone)
• Ruido → Ruidito (Noise)
• Aire → Airecillo (Air)

Examples of the use of Spanish diminutives

Diminutives in Spanish appear in all kinds of contexts from everyday conversations to literature. That's why we bring you several phrases with Spanish diminutives, so you can see how they are used and where in a sentence.

1. Mira que perrito tan bonito (Look at that cute little dog)
2. Voy a tomarme un cafecito antes de salir (I'm going to have a cup of coffee before going out)
3. Hola, mi amorcito, ¿cómo estás? (Hello, my love, how are you?)
4. Me encontré con un librito muy interesante (I came across a very interesting little book)
5. La callejuela estaba decorada con faroles antiguos (The alley was decorated with old lanterns)
6. ¿Puedes darme un panecillo para la merienda? (Can I have a muffin for a snack?)
7. Déjame echarle un ojillo a tu tarea (Let me take a look at your homework)
8. La camisa tiene una manica bordada con flores rojas (The shirt has a sleeve embroidered with red flowers)
9. ¿Me prestas tu ordenador un ratito? (Can I borrow your computer for a while?)
10. Siempre puedes contar con tu amiguete cuando lo necesitas (You can always count on your buddy when you need him)
11. Voy a hacer una comidita ligera para la cena (I'm going to make a light meal for dinner)
12. Después de la cena nos tomamos una copichuela en la terraza (After dinner we have a drink on the terrace)
13. Ese problema es un detallito, no te preocupes (That's a small problem, don't worry)
14. El gatito de mi amiga es muy travieso (My friend's kitty is very naughty)

The diminutive in Spanish not only indicates small size; it can also completely change the nuance of a word or phrase. For example:

• ¿Me podrías dar un momentito? (Could you give me a little moment?) Here it makes the request sound nicer.
• Sólo quiero un poquitito de azúcar (I just want a little bit of sugar). In this example, the amount requested is minimized.
• Sí, claro, ¡el trabajito que me diste es fácil! (Yes, of course, the little job you gave me is easy!) This diminutive can emphasize that the job is complicated.

Tips for Spanish learners

Here are some extra tips for changing words to diminutives in Spanish that can help you better understand and use this linguistic phenomenon:

• Experiment. Try using the diminutive in your conversations. Don't worry if it's confusing at first; with practice it will become more natural.
• Look at the context. Listen to how native speakers use the diminutive and try to imitate it. Is it to express affection, to minimize something, or to make a nicer request?
• Practice with games. Create a list of words and transform them into diminutives. Then use them in sentences to see how they change the meaning of the word or the intention of the phrase.

The diminutive in Spanish is a tool full of nuances that brings richness and naturalness to the language. With a little practice, you will be able to incorporate it into your vocabulary and sound more natural when speaking Spanish. So, take the plunge and, if you still have doubts, don't worry, with donQuijote you can sign up for an intensive Spanish course to improve your command of the language and diminutives.

If you are just starting to learn Spanish, you may have noticed that many syntactic functions are somewhat complicated at first glance, such as the Spanish direct and indirect objects.  Although these pronouns can be confusing and you may have to make an effort to differentiate them, with a little practice you will be able to understand how they work and how to distinguish them.

Therefore, in this article you will find the necessary keys to differentiate the direct and indirect object pronouns in Spanish, how to use each of them and when. Don't miss anything and keep learning Spanish with don Quijote!

You can also read this article in Spanish or Italian.

What is a direct object pronoun in Spanish?

The Spanish direct object is the person, animal or thing on which the action of the verb directly falls. Therefore, this object complements the meaning of the verb since it designates the entity that receives the action.

In addition, the Spanish direct object is constructed without a preposition. It only takes the preposition “a” in certain cases, when it is a person or is personified. For example: “María pasea al perro todas las mañana” (Mary walks the dog every morning).

You may find an example sentence in which the Spanish direct object is replaced by a pronoun. This is one way to identify the direct object in a sentence.

For example: “Sara compra una manzana” (Sara buys an apple) -> “Sara la compra” (Sara buys it). In this sentence “una manzana” (an apple) is the Spanish direct object and is replaced by “la”.

What is an indirect object pronoun in Spanish?

On the other hand, the Spanish indirect object receives the verbal action in an indirect or secondary way. Thus, according to the meaning of the verb, the Spanish indirect object refers to the person, animal or thing that is benefited or harmed by the action; or that is the addressee of the action.

Moreover, the indirect object in Spanish is always preceded by the prepositions “a” or “para” and can be replaced with the pronouns “le” or “les”. For example:

“Luis escribe una carta a su tía” (Luis writes a letter to his aunt) -> Luis le escribe una carta (Luis writes a letter to her). In this example “a su tía” (to his aunt) is the Spanish indirect object and can be replaced by “le”.

Differences between Spanish direct and indirect objects

Both direct and indirect objects in Spanish are complements of the verb, but their difference lies in the information they provide about the action they express. Therefore, the Spanish direct object directly receives the action of the verb, and the Spanish indirect object is the addressee of the action.

Another difference between these two complements is that each one affects a type of verb in the Spanish sentence structure. The Spanish direct object only appears in transitive verbs, while the Spanish indirect object can be attached to both transitive and intransitive verbs, although it is not always necessary.

In addition, both complements can appear together in the same sentence, but this does not always have to be the case. But, as a rule, you will find one or the other, so knowing how to tell them apart is vital.

Here are some tricks to help you distinguish whether it is a Spanish direct or indirect object in a sentence:

• Pronominal substitution. The Spanish direct object can be replaced by the pronouns “lo”, “la”, “los” or “las”. While the Spanish indirect object can be replaced by “le” or “les”.
• Transform the sentence to passive voice. If we change the sentence from active to passive voice, the Spanish direct object becomes the subject of the passive, while the Spanish indirect object does not change its function.
• Asking the verb “Qué” or “A quién”. Another trick is to ask the verb of the sentence what happens (qué) or to whom (a quién) the action happens. This way, you will be able to find out whether the object is direct or indirect.
• Double pronoun “se”. If both objects are used in a sentence, the Spanish indirect pronoun will always change to “se”, while the Spanish direct pronoun will remain “la” or “lo”.

Examples of Spanish direct object

Here are some examples of sentences with Spanish direct object:

• Compré una casa (I bought a house)
• Leí un libro interesante (I read an interesting book)
• Juan pintó un cuadro hermoso (Juan painted a beautiful painting)
• Vimos una película en el cine ayer (We saw a movie at the cinema yesterday)
• Rompí un plato por accidente (I broke a plate by accident)
• Estudié matemáticas toda la tarde (I studied mathematics all afternoon)
• Limpiaron la cocina después de la cena (Cleaned the kitchen after dinner)
• Escribí un poema para mi abuela (I wrote a poem for my grandmother)
• Cocinamos una pizza para la fiesta (We cooked a pizza for the party)
• Bebimos agua después de correr (Drank water after a run)

Examples of Spanish indirect object

Here are some examples of sentences with Spanish indirect objects:

• Escribí una carta a mi amiga (I wrote a letter to my friend)
• Pedro regaló flores a su madre (Pedro gave flowers to his mother)
• Le expliqué la lección a los estudiantes (I explained the lesson to the students)
• Preparé un café para mi padre (I made coffee for my father)
• Conté una historia a los niños (I told a story to the children)
• Siempre digo la verdad a mis padres (I always tell the truth to my parents)
• Le enviaron un paquete a María (Sent a package to Maria)
• Pedimos ayuda al profesor (We asked the teacher for help)
• Mostré las fotos a mis amigos (I showed the pictures to my friends)
• Compré regalos para mi sobrino (I bought presents for my nephew)

If you want to practice finding the differences and learn to identify the Spanish direct and indirect objects, you can do it with the examples above. Also, you can use the trick of substituting for pronouns and find out what type of complement it is.

In the sentences you will see below, you will find some examples above with the substituted pronouns and with the questions to the verb.

• Yo compré una casa -> Yo la compré (¿Qué compré?) -- (I bought it. What did I buy?)
• Le expliqué la lección a los estudiantes -> Les expliqué la lección (¿A quién expliqué la lección?) – (I explained the lesson to them. To whom did I explain the lesson?)
• Juan pintó un cuadro hermoso - > Juan lo pintó (¿Qué pintó Juan?) – (Juan painted it. What did Juan paint?)
• Preparé un café para mi padre -> Le preparé un café (¿Para quién preparé un café?) – (I prepared a coffee for him. Who did I prepare a coffee for?)
• Vimos una película en el cine ayer -> La vimos en el cine ayer (¿Qué vimos en el cine ayer?) – (We saw it at the cinema yesterday. What did we see at the cinema yesterday?)
• Conté una historia a los niños -> Les conté una historia (¿A quién conté una historia?) – (I told them a story. To whom did I tell a story?)

As you may have seen, in some of the previous sentences there are two objects, one direct and one indirect, and in all cases, both can be substituted at the same time. For example: “Conté una historia a los niños” (I told a story to the children) - > Se la conté (I told it to them). In this case, the Spanish indirect object “a los niños” becomes “se”, while the Spanish direct object “una historia” becomes “la”.

Although you may think it is complicated, with a little practice you will be able to differentiate the Spanish direct object pronouns from the indirect one without any problems. And if you have more doubts, you can consult with a qualified teacher in one of our Spanish courses. Come and live a unique and unforgettable experience with donQuijote while you learn Spanish in Spain and master the identification of complements in Spanish.

Starting the year with many resolutions is nothing new, more and more people propose to learn Spanish as a new language, to do more sports, to have a balanced diet, to travel more... Although most of these resolutions are forgotten halfway through the year.

That is why, from Don Quijote Spanish language school, we want to help you with one of these resolutions: to learn Spanish in Spain and, in this article, we will teach you the basic Spanish vocabulary you need to start mastering this language. Don't miss it and keep reading!

You can also read this same article in Spanish, French, Italian and Dutch.

Simple Spanish words

Spanish is a simple language, but it has several more complicated structures or forms when you start studying it. However, with a little practice, perseverance and interest you will be able to master Spanish in no time.

Below you will find the 100 basic Spanish words you need to learn to start mastering Spanish, divided into categories.

Personal pronouns

• Yo - I
• Tú - You
• Él - He
• Ella - She
• Nosotros - We
• Vosotros - You
• Ellos - They

Basic verbs

• Ser - To be
• Estar - To be
• Tener - To have
• Hacer - To do
• Ir – Go
• Venir – Come
• Decir – Say
• Hablar – Speak
• Comer – Eat
• Beber – Drink
• Quere – Want
• Poder – Can
• Saber - Know
• Ver - See
• Escuchar - Listen
• Leer - Read
• Escribir – Write

Common nouns

• Agua - Water
• Comida - Food
• Casa - House
• Escuela - School
• Trabajo - Work
• Amigo/a - Friend
• Familia - Family
• Tiempo - Time
• Niño/a - Child
• Mamá - Mom
• Papá - Dad
• Gente - People
• Perro - Dog
• Gato - Cat
• Libro - Book

Basic adjectives

• Bueno - Good
• Malo - Bad
• Grande - Big
• Pequeño - Small
• Feliz - Happy
• Triste - Sad
• Nuevo - New
• Viejo - Old
• Guapo/a – Handsome / Beautiful
• Feo – Ugly

Adverbs and connectors

• Aquí - Here
• Allí - There
• Ahora - Now
• Luego - Then
• Antes - Before
• Después - After
• Siempre - Always
• Nunca - Never
• También - Also
• Pero – But

Days and numbers

• Lunes - Monday
• Martes - Tuesday
• Miércoles - Wednesday
• Jueves - Thursday
• Viernes - Friday
• Sábado - Saturday
• Domingo - Sunday
• Uno - One
• Dos - Two
• Tres - Three
• Cuatro - Four
• Cinco - Five
• Seis - Six
• Siete - Seven
• Ocho - Eight
• Nueve - Nine
• Diez - Ten

Interrogative words

• Qué - What
• Quién - Who
• Cómo - How
• Dónde - Where
• Cuándo - When
• Por qué - Why

Simple words in Spanish

• Hola - Hello
• Adiós - Goodbye
• Gracias - Thank you
• Por favor - Please
• Perdón - Sorry
• Lo siento - I am sorry
• Si - Yes
• No - No
• Salud – Bless you
• Disculpa - Sorry
• Bien – Good
• Mal - Wrong
• Más - More
• Menos - Less
• Mucho - A lot
• Poco - A little
• Lejos - Far
• Cerca – Near

These are just the 100 basic Spanish words you will learn today, once you control this vocabulary, don't hesitate to keep learning. Spanish must be worked on day by day, so if you need to know more about how to learn Spanish from scratch, you can look at our blog, you will find thousands of posts that will help you to reinforce your learning.

Remember to continue learning Spanish vocabulary and expressions to understand Spanish with the native speakers or you can opt for an intensive Spanish course with DonQuijote and come and discover one of the 11 cities where we have schools.

Are you just starting to learn Spanish and don't know which are the basic Spanish grammar rules you need to master? At donQuijote Spanish school we can help you with that.

Spanish is a rich and structured language and has clear grammar rules that can help you build correct and understandable sentences. That's why, below, we explain 10 essential Spanish grammar rules that every beginner should know before signing up for an intensive Spanish course.

You can also read this article in Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

1. Spanish nouns have gender and number

In Spanish, nouns are classified into several categories, but if there is something to keep in mind about them, it is their gender and number. Each noun has its gender, masculine or feminine, and its number, that is, they can be singular or plural.

For example:

• El árbol / Los árboles (The tree / The trees)
• La casa / Las casas (The house / The houses)
• El perro / Los perros (The dog / The dogs)
• La silla / Las sillas (The chair / The chairs)

However, there are some nouns that are genderless, that is, they are used for both masculine and feminine. For example: el/la artista (the artist), el/la estudiante (the student), la/el paciente (the patient), la/el testigo (the witness) or la/el modelo (the model).

Also, you must keep in mind that, if the noun is accompanied by an adjective or article, these must agree with the gender and number of the noun they accompany. For example:

• El perro marrón / Los perros marrones (The brown dog / The brown dogs)
• La casa bonita / Las casas bonitas (The beautiful house / The beautiful houses)
• El libro antiguo / Los libros antiguos (The old book / The old books)
• La silla azul / Las sillas azules (The blue chair / The blue chairs)

2. Basic sentence structure in Spanish

The basic sentence structure in Spanish is subject + verb + object/complement. With this simple structure you can build clear and understandable sentences. For example:

• “María come una manzana” (Maria eats an apple). The subject is “Maria”, the verb is “come” (eat) and the object is “una manzana”.
• “Ellos tienen cita en el dentista” (They have an appointment at the dentist). The subject is “ellos”; the verb is “tienen” and the complement is “cita en el dentista”.

Although, sometimes, the subject can be omitted and need not be included in the sentence. In the example above, “Ellos tienen cita en el dentista”, the subject can be omitted, and the sentence would have the same sense and meaning: “Tienen cita en el dentista”.

If you want to learn more about it, you can visit our post Spanish sentence structure.

3. Questions in Spanish always have the same structure

As with sentences, questions in Spanish also have a clear order. Most questions usually start with interrogative words such as: qué (what), quién (who), cómo (how) or dónde (where). Also, note that interrogative particles always have accent.

However, in Spanish you can ask questions without the interrogative particle, simply add the question marks “¿?” and pronounce the phrase with the intonation of a question.

For example:

• ¿Quién es el vecino que toca la guitarra? (Who is the neighbor who plays the guitar?)
• ¿Me puedes decir qué hora es? (Can you tell me what time it is?)
• ¿Cómo puedo llegar al metro desde el teatro? (How can I get to the subway from the theater?)
• ¿Hablas español? (Do you speak Spanish?)
• ¿Me prestas tu bolígrafo? (Can I borrow your pen?)

4. Negative sentences in Spanish are easy and simple

In Spanish, to turn an affirmative sentence into a negative one, you simply need to add the word no to it. You can add this particle before the verb or, if it is a question, add it at the beginning of the question.

Some examples:

• Juan estudia español -> Juan no estudia español -> (Juan studies Spanish/Juan doesn’t study Spanish)
• ¿Sabes cómo llegar al metro? -> No sé cómo llegar al metro (Do you know how to get to the subway? / No, I don't know how to get to the subway)
• Mi tía sabe hablar tres idiomas -> Mi tía no sabe hablar tres idiomas (My aunt can speak three languages / My aunt can't speak three languages)
• ¿Quieres pescado para cenar? -> No quiero pescado para cenar (Do you want fish for dinner? / I don't want fish for dinner)

5. Verbs are conjugated according to person, tense and mood

A peculiarity of Spanish and one of the most complex aspects is the conjugation of verbs. Because in Spanish verbs change form according to the person performing the action, the time in which it occurs (present, past, future) and the mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative).

 Examples of various verb tenses in Spanish:

• “Presente” indicative: Yo hablo. Tú hablas. Él/Ella habla. Nosotros/as hablamos. Vosotros/as habláis. Ellos/as hablan.
• “Pretérito pluscuamperfecto” indicative: Yo había cantado. Tú habías cantado. Él/Ella había cantado. Nosotros habíamos cantado. Vosotros habíais cantado. Ellos habían cantado.
• “Presente” subjunctive: Yo coma. Tú comas. Él/Ella coma. Nosotros comamos. Vosotros comáis. Ellos coman.
• “Futuro simple” subjunctive: Yo saliere. Tú salieres. Él/Ella saliere. Nosotros saliéremos. Vosotros saliereis. Ellos salieren.

6. Personal pronouns are optional

Personal pronouns (yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros/as, vosotros/as and ellos/as) are often optional in Spanish. This is because the conjugation of the verb already indicates the person.

For example:

• Yo estudio español -> Estudio español (I study Spanish)
• Nosotros comemos paella los domingos -> Comemos paella los domingos (We eat paella on Sundays)
• Ellos salen de fiesta el viernes -> Salen de fiesta el viernes (They go out to party on Friday)

In the examples above, both forms are correct, with or without personal pronouns and the meaning is the same, it does not vary. Depending on the context and the conversation, personal pronouns can be omitted.

7. Adjectives go after the noun

In Spanish, adjectives are generally placed after the noun they describe. This order is different in other languages such as English. For example:

• Un coche rojo (A red car)
• Una camisa amarilla (A yellow shirt)
• La taza rosa (The pink mug)
• El libro viejo (The old book)

But there is an exception in some adjectives, such as “bueno” or “grande”, which can come before in certain contexts. For example: “Un buen día” (a good day) or “Un gran tamaño” (a great size).

8. Pronouns precede the verb (almost always)

There are several types of pronouns in Spanish (personal, reflexive, direct and indirect) that are placed before the verb. For example:

• Me dio el libro (She gave me the book)
• Se levanta tarde (He gets up late)
• Le gusta la pasta (He likes pasta)

In addition, in compound verb forms or with infinitives, pronouns can be attached to the verb. For example:

• Voy a dártelo (I'm going to give it to you)
• Siéntate, por favor (Please sit down)
• ¿Puedes coserme el pantalón? (Can you sew my pants?)

9. Adverbs are very flexible

The placement of adverbs is very versatile, and they can be used in different positions within the same sentence. Some Spanish adverbs are: cerca (near), aquí (here), allí (there), rápidamente (quickly), etc.

For example:

• María come rápidamente una manzana
• Rápidamente, María come una manzana
• María come una manzana rápidamente

All these forms are correct and convey the same idea, regardless of where the adverb is placed.

10. Words with accent have specific rules

The Spanish accent or tilde is used to indicate the tonic syllable in a word or to differentiate words that are spelled the same way. Thus, we distinguish two methods to put a tilde on Spanish words:

In Spanish, the accent serves to mark emphasis. For example: lámpara (lamp), rápido (fast), canción (song), camión (truck).

While the diacritical tilde is used to differentiate words that are spelled the same:

• tú (pronoun) and tu (possessive)
• sí (affirmation) and si (conditional)
• él (pronoun) and el (article)
• más (adverb/adjective) and mas (conjunction)

With these 10 Spanish grammar rules, the language becomes more accessible to students, especially if you are a beginner. So don't forget to practice the simplest structures and concepts that are key to rapid improvement in Spanish language.