While I drink my coffeeBefore you practise: rules and examples
These topics cover this set, including review questions. Open the guide and refer to it while answering.
Negative commands
For a negative tú command use no + subjunctive: -ar → -es, -er / -ir → -as. A reflexive pronoun stays before the verb. Use subjunctive irregular forms.
No corras. No te levantes todavía. No digas nada.Do not run. Do not get up yet. Do not say anything.
The subjunctive after a request or proposal
Querer / pedir / necesitar / proponer que and es importante / posible que introduce a desired action, judgement or possibility. They normally take the subjunctive: start from present yo without -o, then -ar → -e-, -er / -ir → -a-. Person endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en or -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an. Irregular forms include sea, vaya, esté, haya, dé, sepa. Sin que also takes the subjunctive.
Espero que tengas tiempo. Podemos hablar sin que nadie nos interrumpa.I hope you have time. We can talk without anyone interrupting us.
A request or advice with tú
A regular affirmative tú command has the same form as él / ella in the present. Stem changes remain. Common irregular forms: haz, di, ve, pon, sal, sé, ten, ven.
Mira el mapa. Cierra la puerta. Ven aquí.Look at the map. Close the door. Come here.
Three ways to talk about the past
Perfect: he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han + participle (-ado / -ido), linked to the present or an ongoing period. Preterite: a finished event (hablé, comí, viví; fui, tuve, hice). Imperfect: background, states or habits (hablaba, comía, vivía; era, iba, veía). Choose by meaning, not only a time marker; perfect usage varies by region.
Hoy he hablado con Eva. Ayer hablé con ella. Antes hablábamos cada día.I have spoken to Eva today. I spoke to her yesterday. We used to talk every day.
Duration and time reference
Hace + time says how long ago an event happened. Desde hace + time gives the duration of something still true. Llevar + time + gerund emphasises how long an activity has continued. Tardar + time + en + infinitive says how long an action takes. With desde que an ongoing situation or habit can use the present.
Llegué hace un mes. Vivo aquí desde hace un mes. Llevo un mes estudiando. Tardo diez minutos en llegar.I arrived a month ago. I have lived here for a month. I have been studying for a month. It takes me ten minutes to get there.
An action in progress: the gerund
Gerund forms: -ar → -ando, -er / -ir → -iendo (hacer → haciendo). Estar + gerund describes an action in progress. Ver a alguien + gerund means seeing someone doing something.
Estoy preparando la cena. Vi a Marta leyendo.I am preparing dinner. I saw Marta reading.
Verb + preposition + infinitive
Learn the whole pattern: empezar a — start; volver a — do again; acabar de — have just done; tener ganas de — feel like doing. Conjugate the first verb and keep the second action as an infinitive.
Empiezo a entender. Vuelvo a intentarlo. Acabo de llegar. Tengo ganas de descansar.I am starting to understand. I try again. I have just arrived. I feel like resting.
1. Si te invitan a un vermut, no ___ planes para después.
2. ___ un vermut de grifo y quédate a charlar. (pedir, tú)
3. Esa persona ___ un sello y ha ido a correos.
4. Mi amiga ___ dos años escribiéndose con una señora de Cádiz.
5. Para enviar una carta necesitas un sobre y un ___.
6. ¡No te ___! Mañana salimos diez minutos antes.
Review from Nº1These items appeared in the previous issue. See what has changed since then.
7. Esta mañana ___ pan en la panadería de la esquina.
8. Cuando ___ a mi barrio, no conocía a nadie.
9. Las tiendas cierran a las dos y ___ a abrir a las cinco.