Idioms, Idiomatic Usage, and Structures
A0: Entry Level
- Using Soy de [city/country] to say where you are from
- Using me llamo [name] - to say your name
- Tener [número] años = To be [number] years old
- Using hay = there is / there are
- How to say I work/You work/What do you do? with the verb trabajar
- How to say I have / you have (possession)
- How to say How are you? as a greeting
A1: Beginner
- 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 gustar to say you like something
- Using estar (not ser) when talking about locations
- Using hace to talk about the weather
- Using gustar + verb to say like [doing something]
- Using ser (not estar) to describe relationships
- Using necesitar in El Presente to express a need (to do something)
- Expressing obligation with tener que
- 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"
- Using doler to say that something hurts
- Using ser (not estar) to express origin or nationality
- Using ser (not estar) to express an essential or permanent characteristic
- 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)
A2: Lower Intermediate
- Using ser+preposition para (not estar) to indicate a recipient
- Using the infinitive (not the gerund) as the subject/object of the verb
- Using ser (not estar) with the preposition para, to indicate a purpose
- How to say "something bores/annoys/saddens you"
- Expressing obligation with hay que
- Using El Preterito Perfecto (not El Pretérito Indefinido) to talk about experiences
- Using definite articles + mismo to say "the same"
- Using es bueno/malo or está bien/mal
- When to use the perfect tense versus the simple past in European Spanish (Perfecto vs Indefinido)
- Most verbs of perception usually use the present, not the modal poder (I can see, I can smell, I can hear, I can feel)
- Using estar (and not ser) to express relationship statuses
- Using todavía no with El Pretérito Perfecto = not yet (negative expression)
- Using desde (hace) with El Presente instead of El Pretérito Perfecto to express since/for
- Acabar de + [infinitive] = to have just done / just did something
- Expressing instructions and general statements with the impersonal se = one
- 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?
- 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)
B1: Intermediate
- Using ser (not estar) + de to indicate ownership
- Había vs Hubo (Imperfect vs Preterite)
- Using El Imperfecto vs El indefinido (time markers)
- Gustar and similar verbs in past tenses
- How to say "to be looking forward" with tener ganas and estar deseando
- Using El Presente in order to refer to a future action (only future time indications)
- Using ojalá + El Presente de Subjuntivo to express hope (present subjunctive)
- Empezar/comenzar + a + [infinitivo] = to begin/start doing something
- Using the gerund to say by [doing something]
- Using ir in El Pretérito Imperfecto to express was/were going to [do something]
- Using el Preterito Indefinido combined with cuando + Preterito Imperfecto
- Using El Pluscuamperfecto to indicate that a past action happens before another past action (pluperfect)
- Using llevar + gerund to express duration of an action
- Mientras with El Presente de Indicativo or El Presente de Subjuntivo
- Using terminar de+ [infinitive] = to finish doing something
- Using the verb "tardar" = to take time
- Using esperar que + El Presente de Subjuntivo to express hope
- Using El Condicional to express hypothesis/wish/suggestion in the present or future
- Forming passive sentences with "se" (la pasiva refleja)
- Using Cuánto + noun in exclamations about quantities
- Use estar to talk about dates, days of the week and seasons (colloquial)
- Using Estar a punto de + [infinitive] = to be about to do something
- Using acabar/terminar + [infinitive/gerund] = to end up doing something
- Si [if] followed by present indicative + main clause (present tense/future tense)
- Using volver a + [infinitive] to express repetition of an action
- Si [if] followed by present indicative + main clause [command/request/advise]
- Quedar, Quedarse and Quedarle (Different meanings of verb quedar)
- Using poder to say could [do something] for polite requests and suggestions (conditional simple)
- Using se debe/n and se puede/n + infinitive to say you must / you can (passive)
- Using "o sea/es decir" to clarify, explain and express a consequence
- Using gustar in El condicional = would like [to do something]
- How to say I think so/I guess so /I hope so
- Use Hace + length of time + que + El Indefinido to say how long ago something happened
- Difference between saber and conocer (to know)
- Using dejar de + [infinitive] = to stop doing something/to give up something
- Using estar (not ser) + de for a temporary job
- Using "menos" to say except
- Using estar (not ser) + preposition a with fluctuating quantities and prices
- Use El Futuro Próximo (not El Presente Progresivo) for future arrangements
- Using estar hecho de or ser de to indicate what something is made of
- Forming exclamatory sentences with qué + noun + más/tan + adjective
- Using Hace + length of time + que + present tense to say how long one has done something
B2: Upper Intermediate
- Pedir followed by El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo to ask someone to do something
- El Imperfecto progresivo vs El Indefinido progresivo (was +ing)
- Using El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo with verbs giving advice/order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
- Some adjectives change meaning when used with ser or estar
- Using the subjunctive with impersonal expressions
- Quedarse + [gerund] = to do something continuously
- Using gustar to express personal attraction
- Antes de/Después de followed by haber + participle
- Using se debe/se puede to say You must/you can (impersonal sentences)
- Using the subjunctive to express doubt or uncertainty
- Using poder in El pretérito Perfecto and El Pretérito Indefinido for "could" in past actions
- 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 que to express cause
- Cuanto más/cuanto menos... for The more/The less...
- Using convertirse en / ponerse / hacerse / quedarse to express "to become" (verbs of change)
- 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 haber to say would have [done something]
- Using poder to say could have [done something] (modal verbs)
- How to say "to have something done" in Spanish - mainly beauty and body contexts
- How to say "must have [done something] with the verb deber
- Using El Imperfecto Subjuntivo in hypothetical clauses introduced by si followed by El Condicional Simple
- Using El Subjuntivo after puede que to express possibility
- Impersonal sentences using the ellos form of the verb
- Using ser de un/una [noun]
- Using the gerund to say while [doing something]
- Como/cuando/donde/quien with indicative or subjunctive
- 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..."
- Para que followed by El Presente de Subjuntivo (purpose subordinate clauses)
- Deber versus Deber de (obligation and assumption)
- Using [verb] + tanto/a/os/as + [noun]+ que = [verb] so much/many...that...
- How to use olvidar/olvidarse for "to forget" (pronominal verbs/accidental se)
- Using haber + participle (perfect infinitive)
- Using demonstrative adjectives to refer to time (present, past and future)
- Using conjunction al + infinitive/perfect infinitive = when doing/ because of doing [something]
- Using El Futuro Perfecto to talk about the past (future perfect)
- Using preposition a + infinitive to express a command
- Using El Condicional to talk about a future in the past
- Using the "accidental" reflexive (se) with an indirect object pronoun
- Using the verb ser in El Imperfecto vs. El Indefinido
- Using verbs seguir/continuar + gerund = to keep on [doing something]
- Using El Futuro Perfecto to talk about completed actions in the future with reference to another future action (future perfect)
- Using querer in El pretérito Indefinido vs El pretérito Imperfecto
- 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 negative opinion phrases
- How to say I can't wait/I can't wait to do something with "no ver la hora (de/en que)"
- Using the verb tener in El Imperfecto vs. El Indefinido
- Using the subjunctive with verbs that express "wish" and "feeling"
- Pedir followed by El Presente de Subjuntivo to ask someone to do something
- Using volverse to express to become/to turn (verbs of change)
- Using El Imperfecto vs El indefinido (general use)
- Using El Presente de Subjuntivo with verbs giving advice / order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
C1: Advanced
- Using El Pluscuamperfecto Subjuntivo in hypothetical clauses (si) followed by El Condicional Perfecto/ El Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo
- Using ¿a que...? to seek confirmation/ to threat/ to predict
- Using modal verbs in the passive voice
- Si + Imperfect subjunctive for "if only/I wish"
- Darle a alguien por [hacer] algo = to take up something/to feel like doing something (perífrasis verbal)
- Using El Presente to order, advise or make a request
- A tan solo + [length of time] + de for just [some time] before
- El/la/los/las + noun + que + verbo to indicate quantity/intensity (exclamations)
- Using tener + participio to express the completion of an action
- La de + noun + que + verb to intensify
- Using llevar + participio to express the completion of an action so far
- Using El Futuro Simple and El Futuro Perfecto to express surprise or rejection
- Haber de + infinitive to express formal obligation or future action
- Lo que + verb + subject for emphasis
- Using El Futuro simple or El Futuro Perfecto to express objection/disbelief to a statement said before
- Using andar + gerundio to express "going around" [doing something]
- Using the imperative of mirar/oír with specific meanings -irony, attention, supposition
- Using con lo que + indicativo for despite
- Using hacer/mandar + infinitive for "to have something done"
- How to say to have something done with a sentence using the verb in the 3rd person plural
- Using El Pretérito Imperfecto to refer to a present action/future action
- Using Cómo/dónde/quién/qué + ir a + infinitive to state the obvious/impossible
- Using con lo cual / por lo cual to mean therefore (connectives)
- Tal como/cual = Just as... (subordinate manner clauses)
- Using El Condicional simple or El Condicional Perfecto to express objection/disbelief to a statement said before
- Estar para + infinitive to say someone/something is ready for something
- Using "anda, anda que, anda que no" for surprise, encouragement, emphasis (interjections)
- Repetition of a word to give emphasis
- Using Qué + noun/adjective/adverb + que + present subjunctive to express feelings
- Tocar + infinitive for "it is time for someone to do something"
- Using venir a + infinitive to indicate approximation/end of a process (perífrasis verbal)
- Using El Condicional/El Futuro Simple to narrate past actions
- Using Ni que + subjuntivo
- Using ir + [gerund] to emphasise the progression of an action
- Using "como si" + El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo for an ironic reproach
- Cuando + El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo (When + the imperfect subjunctive)
- Using the gerund as a command
- Using poner/poner(se) + a + infinitive = to start to carry out an action
- Tratar/ Tratar de and Tratarse de
- Using ir por to express what point/stage someone has reached
- Using El Presente to narrate past events
- Using dar algo por + participle/adjective
- Using haber + participle for you should/shouldn't have done something
- How to say to remind someone of something with the verb recordar
- Using ser or no ser + mucho de/ muy de/ tanto de/ más de + infinitive
- Using lo de que + conjugated verb / lo de + noun / infinitive / adverb to refer to something already mentioned
- A + [time] + de + infinitive for within + [time] of + gerund
- Using gustar de [algo/hacer algo] to formally express liking
- Por mucho / más / muy que for no matter how much
- Using que at the beginning of a question to express disbelief (without a written accent)
- Using ser fácil/difícil + infinitive vs ser fácil/difícil de + infinitive