section 1 NOUNS &

PRONOUNS

GENDER OF NOUNS
A noun denotes a person, a thing, a place or an idea. In Spanish, all nouns have gender, they are either
masculine or feminine.

Nouns that end in –o are usually masculine and nouns that end in –a
are usually feminine. However, there are exceptions. The words “el”
and “la” are called “definite articles” and they will tell you if a word
is masculine or feminine. That is why it is important that when you
learn a new noun, you learn its definite article.
 NOUNS &
section 1
PRONOUNS

Some masculine nouns end with a consonant but their feminine form ends with -a.

el señor el profesor
la señora la profesora

Some nouns have the same word for both, masculine and feminine.

el estudiante el atleta
la estudiante la atleta

Nouns that end in –ción, -sión, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.

la conversación la ciudad la gratitud

la televisión la libertad la incertidumbre

Some nouns that end in –a are masculine.

FOR EXAMPLE :

el problema
el mapa

A few nouns that end in –o are feminine.

FOR EXAMPLE :

la radio la mano
 NOUNS &
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PRONOUNS

SINGULAR OR PLURAL
Spanish nouns can be singular or plural.

el libro la manzana
los libros las manzanas

The difinite article “el” and “la” becomes “los” and “las”

RULES FOR THE PLURAL FORMATION OF NOUNS

If a noun ends in a vowel, add “-s”

la casa el niño
las casas los niños

If a noun ends in a consonant, add “-es”

el mes la ciudad
los meses las ciudades

If a noun ends in z, add “-es” and change the z to “c”

el lápiz la nariz
los lápices las narices

If a noun ends in –ión, add “-es” and drop the accent mark

el camión la conversación
los camiones las conversaciones
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PRONOUNS

PRONOUNS

SUBJECT PRONOUNS

Subject pronouns tell who is doing the action of the verb.

Yo hablo español : I speak Spanish.

In Spanish, subject pronouns are usually omitted since the verb indicates the doer of the action.

Hablo español. I speak Spanish.

*The vosotros/vosotras form is used primarily in Spain. In

Latin America the ustedes form is used. Spanish has a formal
and an informal form for “you.” The form “usted” is formal and
is used to express respect. The form “tú” is informal and is used
when speaking to someone younger than you, or someone you
are very are familiar with, such as friends and relatives.
 NOUNS &
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PRONOUNS

DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS

The direct object answers the question “what?” or “whom?” The direct object is often replaced with a
pronoun. The pronoun comes before the conjugated verb and it must agree in gender and number with
the noun.

Yo compro flores. I buy flowers.

Yo las compro. I buy them.

Él compra un libro He buys a book.

Él lo compra. He buys it.

Ella no lee una revista. She doesn’t read a magazine.

Ella no la lee. She doesn’t read it.

Te conozco. I know you.

Ella me ama. She loves me.
Ellos nos aman. They love us.

The direct object pronoun can also be attached to an infinitive, or before the first verb.

Yo quiero comprar flores. I want to buy flowers.

Yo quiero comprarlas. I want to buy them.

Ella quiere leer un libro. She wants to read a book.

Ella quiere leerlo. She wants to read it.

Yo quiero comprar flores. I want to buy flowers.

Yo las quiero comprar. I want to buy them.

INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS

The indirect object answers the question “to whom?” or “for whom?” the action of the verb is performed.
The indirect object can be replaced with a pronoun.

Juan me compra un regalo. Juan buys me a gift = Juan buys a gift for me
Papá nos compra un carro. Dad buys us a car = Dad buys a car for us
Ella no te trae el desayuno. She doesn’t bring breakfast to you.
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PRONOUNS

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

Possessive pronouns are similar to possessive adjectives, but they are usually used with the definite article
(el, la, los, las).

Este es tu libro y este es el mío. This is your book and this is mine.
Él tiene mi mochila y yo la suya. He has my backpack and I have his.
section 2 numbers

CARDINAL
NUMBERS

ORDINAL
NUMBERS
section 3 VERBS

VERBS

The infinitive is the basic form of the verb (to learn, to walk). Verbs in the
infinitive in Spanish end in –ar, -er, and –ir. These are the most common
verbs in the three categories.
section 3 VERBS

THE VERB
"HABER"

The verb “haber” is one of the most common verbs in Spanish. In the
present tense its form is “hay” and it has two meanings:

Hay un libro sobre la mesa. Hay dos libros sobre la mesa.

There is a book on the table. There are two books on the table.

¿Hay un hotel en la ciudad? ¿Hay tres niños en la sala?

Is there a hotel in the city? Are there three children in the room?

SER AND ESTAR

Spanish has two verbs that mean “to be”: ser and estar. They are used in
different ways.
section 3 VERBS

THE VERB GUSTAR

The verb gustar means “to like” and the most common forms used are gusta and gustan. The
literal meaning of gustar is “to be pleasing.”

Me gusta este libro I like this book or This book is pleasing to me.

Use gusta for one thing that pleases you or someone else and gustan for more than one thing
that pleases you or someone else.

¿Te gusta esta casa? Do you like this house?

¿Te gustan estas casas? Do you like these houses?
section 3 VERBS

THE VERBS CONOCER & SABER

Saber and conocer express the idea of “to know.” These verbs are not
interchangeable. The verb you use depends on the context.

SABER is used

1- to expres knowledge of a fact, information, or the lack of it

Yo sé dónde está Pedro. I know where Pedro is.

2- to show how to do something

Él sabe cocinar paella. He knows how to cook paella.

3- to say you know something by heart

Yo sé su número de teléfono. I know his phone number.

CONOCER is used

1- to show that one is or is not acquainted with a person, place, or object

Ella no conoce España. She is not acquainted with Spain.

section 3 VERBS

ADVERBS
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They come before the adjectives
they modify and they follow the verbs they modify:

Yo corro muy rápido. I run very fast.

Ella habla español perfectamente. She speaks Spanish perfectly.

Most adjectives are formed by adding –mente to the feminine singular form of an
adjective. The ending –mente equals to –ly in English.

perfecta (perfect) = perfectamente (perfectly)

clara (clear) = claramente (clearly)
generosa (generous) = generosamente (generously)
general (general) = generalmente (generally)

Some adverbs do not follow any pattern. Here is a list of the most common ones:
section 3 VERBS

IRREGULAR VERBS
 section 4 ADJECTIVES

Adjectives describe or modify nouns. They agree with nouns in gender and number.

DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES

Descriptive adjectives describe a person, place, or thing. They usually come after the noun and agree
with the noun in gender and number. Adjectives make the plural the same way as nouns.

el niño alto los niños altos la niña alta las niñas altas

Most adjectives en in –o and their feminine form ends with -a:

un niño alto, una niña alta,

Some adjectives end in –l, -n, and –e and they are both masculine and feminine:

un niño inteligente, una niña inteligente el abrigo marrón, la camisa marrón

Adjectives that en in –r add –a for the feminine:

un hombre trabajador, una mujer trabajadora

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

Possessive adjectives show ownership. They agree with the noun they modify (the thing possessed,
not the possessor).
 section 4 ADJECTIVES

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES
Demonstrative adjectives make reference to the location of an object in relation to the speaker. a
subheading

Este carro es rojo. This car is red.

Ese libro es tuyo. That book is yours.
Aquel libro es mío. That book over there is mine.
Estas casas son bonitas. These houses are pretty.
Esas camisas son caras. Those shirts are expensive.
Aquellas chicas son altas. Those girls over there are tall.
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QUESTION WORDS

¿Qué es esto? What is this?

¿Cuándo es la fiesta? When is the party?
¿Dónde está el banco? Where is the bank?
¿Cómo estás? How are you?
¿Por qué estás triste? Why are you sad?
¿Quién es él? Who is he?
¿Cuál quieres? Which one do you want?

DEFINITE ARTICLE
The definite article makes reference to a specific
person, thing or place. In Spanish, the definite
article (the in English) has four forms,
depending on the noun being masculine,
feminine, singular or plural. The definite article
always agrees in gender and number with the
noun.

INDEFINITE ARTICLE
The indefinite article makes reference to a
nonspecific person, thing or place. In Spanish,
the indefinite article (a, an, some, one in English)
has four forms, depending on the noun being
masculine, feminine, singular or plural. The
indefinite article always agrees in gender and
number with the noun.

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USEFUL VOCABULARY
AND EXPRESSIONS

¿Cómo estás?- How are you? (informal)

No entiendo - I don’t understand
¿Cómo está usted?- How are you (formal) No lo sé - I don’t know
Estoy bien, ¡gracias! - I’m fine, thanks! ¿Puede ayudarme? - Can you help me?
Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you Necesito ayuda - I need help
Buenos días - Good morning Hablo un poco de español - I speak a little bit of
Buenas tardes - Good afternoon Spanish
Buenas noches - Good night, good evening Estoy perdido - I am lost
¿Cómo te llamas? - What is your name? ¿Puede(s) hablar más despacio? – Can you speak
(informal) slower?

¿Cómo se llama? - What is your name? (formal)

¿Cuántos años tiene(s)? - How old are you? Yo soy de… - I’m from…
Necesito… - I need… ¿Habla(s) inglés? - Do you speak English?
Me gustaría… - I would like… ¡Felicitaciones! - Congratulations!
¡Bienvenido! - Welcome! ¡Adiós! - Bye!
¿Dónde está…? - Where is…? ¡Hasta luego! - See you later!
¿Qué hora es? - What time is it? ¡Nos vemos! - See you!
Por supuesto – Of course
Perdone… - Excuse me
Gracias – Thanks
Lo siento - I am sorry
De nada - You’re welcome
Disculpe… - Sorry
Por favor - Please

¿Cuánto cuesta…? – How much is it?

¡Feliz cumpleaños! - Happy birthday!
Una mesa para dos – A table for two
¿Me podría traer…? – Could you bring
me…?
Un café, por favor - A coffee, please
Tengo hambre – I am hungry
Tengo sed – I am thirsty
Tengo frío – I am cold
Tengo calor – I am hot