Spanish grammar lessons:
tenses, verbs, and structure

Cuál vs qué is a topic that often confuses Spanish learners. Qué inquires about definitions, time, explanations, or identifies something. It’s the direct translation of ‘what’. Cuál means ‘what’ when used to ask for personal information and also inquires about preferences (which). Unlike qué, cuál has a plural form.  ¿Qué te dijo Jean? What did ... Read more

As a key Spanish verb, it’s essential to understand how and when to use ser. Ser conveys information related to inherent qualities, which are characteristics associated with an object or person’s identity. Some of the information ser conveys includes: Sus papás son doctores.  His parents are doctors.  Yo soy Daniela y ella es mi mamá.  ... Read more

Yo también vs a mí también are often confused since they both mean ‘me too’, ‘too’ or ‘I also’. But in Spanish, yo también expresses agreement with affirmative sentences formed with most verbs. A mí también also shows agreement, but it only responds to verbs like gustar.  Charlie trabaja todos los días. Yo también.  Charlie ... Read more

There is a significant difference in the pronouns mi vs mí. Mi is a possessive adjective that works in front of singular nouns, and it means ‘my’. Mí, with an accent, is a pronoun that is placed after prepositions in Spanish. These words should not be confused with the object pronoun me.  Mi in Spanish: ... Read more

Del and al are contractions in Spanish that must be used with singular masculine nouns. Al is the contraction of the preposition a + el, whereas del is the contraction of the preposition de + el.  These contractions have a few elements in common – the definite article el and the fact that they can ... Read more

El vs él are two different words. El without an accent is a definite article (the) and more often it’s placed before concrete singular masculine nouns. Él with an accent is a pronoun for the 3rd person singular: it replaces a male subject or object. Depending on the sentence, él means ‘he’ or ‘him’.  El ... Read more

Muy means ‘very’. It intensifies the qualities described by an adjective or another adverb. Mucho is the equivalent of ‘a lot’ or ‘very much’, and it conveys the intensity or degree of an action. Unlike muy, mucho can also express the amount of something.  Key Points: Muy vs Mucho Because they may share the same ... Read more

As key Spanish verbs, mastering the haber vs tener topic is crucial to have effective conversations in Spanish. Son, in this article, you’ll learn the differences and uses of these verbs.  Tener vs Haber: What’s the Difference? In Spanish, tener is used to express possession and obligations when it translates to ‘to have’. Haber conveys ... Read more

The distinction between Gusta vs gustan often confuses most of my Spanish students. As a singular conjugation, gusta is used with singular nouns or infinitive verbs (a single thing or activity) – Me gusta leer y a ella le gusta el chocolate. Conversely, gustan is used for plural nouns, for example, as in nos gustan ... Read more

In Spanish, there are some words and phrases that work with the subjunctive. These Spanish subjunctive triggers are essential and useful for identifying when you need to use the subjunctive mood. So, in this guide, I’ve compiled a list of common verbs and phrases you should know.  Here is a summary of what you’ll find ... Read more

Talking about wishes we had or dreaming about what we’d do if our circumstances were different is something many, if not all of us, do. These are some of the things the imperfect subjunctive Spanish tense allows you to convey.  In this guide, you’ll find all the key information to form and use this subjunctive ... Read more

The indicative and subjunctive moods are an essential part of Spanish grammar. Understanding them is crucial because they allow you to talk about actions from different perspectives. So, in this subjunctive vs indicative Spanish moods guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about them. When to Use Indicative or Subjunctive Indicative & Subjunctive Conjugation ... Read more

Spanish prepositions of place convey precise information about where something or someone is located. Since this type of information is often used in daily interactions, you’ll learn how and when to use these prepositions in this guide.   Here is an overview of what you’ll learn:  I’ve included real-life examples to make this topic as easy ... Read more

As two of the most important verbs in Spanish, understanding the difference between ser and estar is crucial since they allow you to convey basic yet important information. So, the goal of this ser vs estar guide is to provide you with key simple patterns to identify each verb correctly.  I can’t stress enough how ... Read more

Por vs para is a topic that holds a place of honor among all Spanish tricky words. Confusing these basic prepositions can hurt your fluency and, in some cases, affect the meaning of your sentence. Seeing how important these words are, in this guide, you’ll find key information you need to master por and para.  ... Read more

Spanish prepositions are essential words that connect nouns or pronouns with other elements while expressing location, time, direction, and more. In short, prepositions are the glue that holds your sentences together, allowing you to form well-structured sentences.   Since these words are crucial for communication, in this guide, we’ll go over:  List of Prepositions in Spanish ... Read more

De is one of the most frequently used prepositions in Spanish since it allows you to express ownership, relationships, and where someone or something is from, among other things. Seeing that its uses are applied daily, in this guide, you’ll learn how to use de in Spanish.  How & When to Use De De vs ... Read more

Have you ever wondered why some Spanish sentences have an extra a before people or pets and why this word has no English translation? Even though it’s never translated, the personal a in Spanish is required to form complete and accurate sentences.  Since this is such an important part of Spanish grammar, in this guide, ... Read more

The Spanish subjunctive mood is crucial for delivering messages as simple as wishing a person a good day or giving advice. In short, this verb mood is fundamental to understanding and communicating effectively. So, in this subjunctive Spanish guide, you’ll find key information about this mood.  Here is what we’ll cover:  When to Use the ... Read more

Being able to ask questions in Spanish is an essential and fundamental skill that can be handy in everyday situations. As a result, in this guide, you’ll learn the word order, elements, and rules needed to form Spanish questions.  How to Ask Questions in Spanish Word Order for Asking Questions  Key Points Next Steps & ... Read more

Verb mood in Spanish allows you to convey your perspective about the information you share. In short, understanding how Spanish moods work is crucial to accurately expressing ideas and conveying different shades of meaning.  Since this topic is critical to improving your fluency, in this guide, we’ll go over:  What Is Verb Mood & Different ... Read more

Reported speech is an overlooked yet crucial feature in everyday conversations. In short, it allows you to convey what someone else said adequately. Since mastering this topic can boost your fluency, in this reported speech Spanish guide, you’ll learn:  What Is Reported Speech & When to Use It How to form reported speech Verb Changes ... Read more

Most Spanish learners struggle to understand when to use estar instead of ser. The problem with these tricky words is that they both mean ‘to be’, and some of their uses seem to overlap. Since estar is one of the most important verbs in Spanish, in this guide, you’ll learn how and when to use ... Read more

The present subjunctive Spanish tense is used in ordinary life situations, such as wishing someone a good day or a happy birthday. Simply put, this subjunctive tense is indispensable for proper and effective communication. So, in this guide, we’ll cover the key information you need to master this tense.  Here is what you’ll find: Spanish ... Read more

The present indicative is one of the most basic Spanish tenses. Mastering this tense is not only fundamental for holding simple conversations, but it’s also essential for conjugating to more advanced tenses. Therefore, in this present tense Spanish guide, you’ll learn:  How to Form the Present Tense Stem-changing verbs Irregular verbs When & How to ... Read more