Spanish grammar lessons for Idioms, Idiomatic Usage, and Structures
A1: Beginner
- Using doler to say that something hurts
- Using ser (not estar) to express an essential or permanent characteristic
- Using ser (not estar) to express origin or nationality
- Using ser (not estar) to say when / where something takes place
- Using ser (not estar) to talk about time, days, dates and seasons
- Using the verb llamarse in El Presente to say what someone's name is (reflexive)
- Using El Presente to talk about regular actions in the present
- Using vez/veces = time/times
- Using ser (not estar) to introduce people
- Using deber, poder, querer + infinitive to express must, can, to want to
- Using estar (not ser) when talking about locations
- Using gustar to say you like something
- Using hace to talk about the weather
- Using hace to talk about the weather
- Using gustar + verb to say like [doing something]
- Using ser (not estar) to describe relationships
- Using hay, está, or an impersonal verb to talk about the weather
- Expressing obligation with tener que
- Using necesitar in El Presente to express a need (to do something)
- Using hay, está, or an impersonal verb to talk about the weather
- Telling the time in Spanish
- Using ser (not estar) to say what you do for a living
- Difference between hay and está
- Using A + la/las + [time] to express at what time something takes place
- Using querría, quería and quisiera to politely say "I would like"
A2: Lower Intermediate
- Using había to say there was / there were
- Sentir vs Sentirse (to feel)
- How to say "to love something/doing something"
- Using estar (not ser) when talking about feelings and emotions
- Use "hace" for "ago" with El Pretérito Indefinido
- Using estar (not ser) when talking about physical condition of something, someone or a place
- Personal "a" verbs (ver, visitar, buscar, conocer)
- Using the infinitive (not the gerund) as the subject/object of the verb
- Using ser+preposition para (not estar) to indicate a recipient
- Traer vs Llevar (to take/to bring)
- Using ser (not estar) with the preposition para, to indicate a purpose
- Using the verb tomar for having food/drink
- Verbs jugar and tocar: differences
- How to say "something bores/annoys/saddens you"
- Expressing obligation with hay que
- When to use the perfect tense versus the simple past (Perfecto vs Indefinido)
- Using todavía no with El Pretérito Indefinido = not yet (negative expression)
- Using es bueno/malo or está bien/mal
- Using El Preterito Perfecto (not El Pretérito Indefinido) to talk about experiences
- Using definite articles + mismo to say "the same"
- Using El Preterito Indefinido to talk about experiences
- Using todavía/aún for "still"
- When to use the perfect tense versus the simple past (Perfecto vs Indefinido)
- Talking about measurements and distances
- Talking about measurements and distances
- Using estar (and not ser) to express relationship statuses
- Using todavía no with El Pretérito Perfecto = not yet (negative expression)
- Most verbs of perception usually use El Presente, not the modal poder
- Using desde (hace) with El Presente instead of El Pretérito Perfecto to express since/for
- Expressing instructions and general statements with the impersonal se = one
- Difference between hay, ahí and ay
- Acabar de + [infinitive] = to have just done / just did something (perífrasis verbal)
- Using gustar to say you like something (he likes, she likes, we like, you like, they like)
- Forming exclamatory sentences with qué [noun] or qué [adjective]
- Using hubo = there was / there were (simple past)
- How to use question tags: ¿no? ¿verdad?
B2: Upper Intermediate
- Using [verb] + tanto/a/os/as + [noun]+ que = [verb] so much/many...that...
- Para que followed by El Presente de Subjuntivo (purpose subordinate clauses)
- Deber versus Deber de (obligation and assumption)
- Using demonstrative adjectives to refer to time (present, past and future)
- Using the subjunctive with verbs that express "wish" and "feeling" (conditional in the main clause)
- Using hacer with subjunctive/infinitive for to make [someone] do something
- Using haber + participle (perfect infinitive)
- Using conjunction al + infinitive/perfect infinitive = when doing/ because of doing [something]
- How to use olvidar/olvidarse for "to forget" (pronominal verbs/accidental se)
- Using preposition a + infinitive to express a command
- Using El Futuro Perfecto to talk about the past (future perfect)
- Using verbs seguir/continuar + gerund = to keep on [doing something]
- Using the "accidental" reflexive (se) with an indirect object pronoun
- Using the verb ser in El Imperfecto vs. El Indefinido
- Using El Futuro Perfecto to talk about completed actions in the future with reference to another future action (future perfect)
- Ojalá with past tenses in the subjunctive
- Using El Condicional to talk about a future in the past
- Using querer in El pretérito Indefinido vs El pretérito Imperfecto
- Different meanings of sobrar
- Using the subjunctive with negative opinion phrases
- Using Hacía + length of time + que + the imperfect tense to express duration in the past
- Using the verb estar in El Imperfecto vs. El Indefinido
- Using the subjunctive with verbs that express "wish" and "feeling"
- Using the verb tener in El Imperfecto vs. El Indefinido
- Pedir followed by El Presente de Subjuntivo to ask someone to do something
- How to say I can't wait/I can't wait to do something with "no ver la hora (de/en que)"
- Using volverse to express to become/to turn (verbs of change)
- Using El Imperfecto vs El indefinido (general use)
- Pedir followed by El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo to ask someone to do something
- El Imperfecto progresivo vs El Indefinido progresivo (was +ing)
- Verbs ver, oír, escuchar + infinitive/gerund
- Decir vs Contar (to tell)
- Some adjectives change meaning when used with ser or estar
- Using the subjunctive with impersonal expressions
- Using gustar to express personal attraction
- Quedarse + [gerund] = to do something continuously (perífrasis verbal)
- Using the subjunctive to express doubt or uncertainty
- Using El Presente de Subjuntivo with verbs giving advice / order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
- Antes de/Después de followed by haber + participle
- Using se debe/se puede to say You must/you can (impersonal sentences)
- Using poder in El pretérito Perfecto and El Pretérito Indefinido for "could" in past actions
- El condicional + que + El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo (wish, advice, feelings)
- Using El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo with verbs giving advice/order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
- Yo que tú / Si yo fuera tú / Yo de ti for If I were you
- Impersonal statements followed by the infinitive or by the subjunctive with que
- Using antes de que/después de que with indicative or subjunctive (subordinate time clauses)
- Using que to introduce a warning or threat
- Using El Condicional Simple to express probability/speculation about the past
- Using por poco/casi/un poco más y + present tense for nearly/almost
- Using que to express cause
- Cuanto/mientras más/cuanto menos... for The more/The less...
- Using convertirse en / ponerse / hacerse / quedarse to express "to become" (verbs of change)
- Different meanings and uses of faltar
- Using poder in El pretérito Indefinido vs El pretérito Imperfecto (could in past actions)
- Using quisiera for I would like (alternative to querría)
- Using El Preterito Perfecto de Subjuntivo after esperar que to express a completed action in the past
- Using the subjunctive with impersonal expressions in the conditional (Sería+adjective+que)
- Using poder to say could have [done something] (modal verbs)
- Using haber to say would have [done something]
- Using dársele bien/mal algo to say you are good/bad at something/doing something
- Using El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo in hypothetical clauses introduced by si followed by El Condicional Simple
- Verbs ver, oír, escuchar, oler, sentir, encontrar in El Imperfecto
- How to say "must have [done something] with the verb deber
- Using El Subjuntivo after puede que to express possibility
- Impersonal sentences using the ellos form of the verb
- Using ser de un/una [noun]
- How to say "to have something done" in Spanish - mainly beauty and body contexts
- Using the gerund to say while [doing something]
- Using El Preterito Perfecto de Subjuntivo after esperar que to express a completed action in the future
- Aunque + El Presente vs El Presente de Subjuntivo
- Using desde que / hasta que (since/until) with indicative and subjunctive (subordinate time clauses)
- Using Qué poco/s + verb/noun to express surprise about a small quantity or infrequency
- Por culpa de/gracias a = because of/thanks to
- Para que followed by El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo (purpose subordinate clauses)
- Using the infinitive to express a request/command/give instructions
- Using [verb] + tan + [adjective/adverb] + que to say "so... that..."
- Different meanings of perder/perderse (to lose/to get lost/to miss)
- Como / cuando / donde / quien with indicative or subjunctive
