Active Voice

When we speak or write in the active voice, the subject of the verb performs the action. The action falls on the direct object.

The robber opened the window / El ladrón abrió la ventana.

The subject is the robber. The verb is opened. The direct object is the window. Compare to passive voice.

Adjective

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or a pronoun. In grammar to modify a word means to describe, limit, expand or make the meaning particular.

 A beautiful garden / un jardín hemoso; she is pretty/ella es bonita.

The adjective beautiful/Hermosa modifies the noun garden/jardín.

The adjective pretty/ bonita modifies the pronoun she/ella. In Spanish there are different kinds of adjectives. See also comparative adjective, demonstrative adjective, superlative adjective. 

Adverb

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adverb says something about how, when, where, to what extent, or in what way.

Mary runs swiftly/

María corre rápidamente.

 adverb

The adverb swiftly/rápidamente  modifies the verb runs/corre. The adverb shows how she runs.

John is very handsome / Juan es muy guapo.

adverb 

The adverb very/muy modifies the adjective handsome/guapo. The adverb shows how handsome he is.

The boy is talking very fast now

/ El muchacho habla muy rápidamente ahora.

adverb

The adverb very/muy modifies the adverb fast/rápidamente. The adverb shows to what extent he is talking fast. The adverb now/ahora tells us when.

The post office is there /

La oficina de correos está allá.

 adverb

The adverb there/allá modifies the verb is/está. It tells us where the post office is.

Mary writes meticulously /

María escribe meticulosamente.

adverb

The adverb meticulously/meticulosamente  modifies the verb writes/escribe. It tells us in what way she writes.

Affirmative statement, negative statement

A statement in the affirmative is the opposite of a statement in the negative. To negate an affirmative statement is to make it nagative.

Affirmative: I like ice cream / Me gusta el helado.

Negative:I do not like ice cream / No me gusta el helado

Agreement of adjective with noun

Agreement is made on the adjective with the noun it modifies in gender (masculine or feminine)  and number (singular or plural).

            A white house / una casa Blanca.

The adjective blanca is feminine singular because the noun una casa is feminine singular.

            Many white houses / muchas casas blancas.

The adjective blancas is feminine plural because the noun casas is feminine plural.

Agreement of verb with its subject

A verb agrees in person (1^st, 2d, 3d) and in number (singular or plural) with its subject.

            Paul tells the truth / Pablo dice la verdad.

The verb dice (of decir) is 3d person singular because the subject Pablo/Paul is 3d person singular.

            Where are the tourists going? /¿Adónde van los turistas?

The verb van (of ir) 3d person plural because the subject los turistas/ the tourists is 3d person plural.  Vs. subject pronouns 

Antecedent

An antecedent is a word to which a relative pronoun refers. It comes before the pronoun.

                The girl who is laughing loudly is my sister /

                La muchacha que está riendo a carcajadas es mi hermana.

The antecedent is girl/la muchacha. The relative pronoun who/que refers to the girl.

                          The car that I bought is very expensive /

                          El carro que yo compré es muy costoso.

The antecedent is car/ el carro. The relative pronoun the/que refers to the car. Review comprar and reír among the 501  verbs in this book. Note that está riendo is the progressive present. Review example 1 on page xii and examples 1 and 2 on page xxxvi. See also relative pronoun.

Auxiliary Verb

An auxiliary verb is a helping verb. In English grammar it is to have. In Spanish grammar it is haber/to have. An auxiliary verb is used to help form the compound tenses.

            I have eaten/(Yo) he comido

Review the forms of haber in the seven simple tenses on page 256.

Cardinal number

A cardinal number is a number that expresses an amount, such as one, two, three, and so on. See also ordinal number.

Clause

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A predicate may contain more than one word. A conjugated verb form is revealed in the predicate.

                        Mrs. Gómez lives in a large apartment /

                        La señora Gómez vive en un gran apartamento.

The subject is Mrs. Gómez/la señora Gómez. The predicate is lives in a large apartment/ vive en un gran apartamento. The verb is lives/vive. Review vivir among 501 verbs in this book. See also dependent clause, independent clause, predicate.

Comparative adjective

When making a comparison between two persons or things, an adjective is used to express the degree of comparison in the following ways.

Same degree of comparison:

            Helen is as tall as Mary / Elena es tan alta como María.

Lesser degree of comparison:

            Jane is less intelligent that Eva / Juana es menos inteligente que Eva.

Higher degree of comparison:

This apple is more delicious than that one / Esta manzana es más deliciosa que ésa.

See also superlative adjective.

Comparative adverb

An adverb is compared in the same way as an adjective is compared.

See comparative adjective above.

Same degree of comparison:

                        Mr. Robles speaks as well as Mr. Vega/

            El señor Robles habla tan bien como el señor Vega.

Lesser degree of comparison:

            Alice studies less diligently than her sister/

            Alicia estudia menos diligentemente que su hermana.

Higher degree of camparison:

            Albert works more slowly than his brother/

            Alberto trabaja más lentamente que su hermano.

See also superlative  adverb.

Complex Sentence 

A complex sentence contains one independent  clause and one or more dependent clauses.

One independent clause and one dependent clause:

                  Joseph works but is brother doesn’t/

                  José trabaja pero su hermano no trabaja.

The independent clause  is Joseph works. It makes sense when it stands alone because it expresses a complete thought. The dependent  clause is but his brother doesn’t. The dependent clause, which is introduced by the conjunction but/pero, does not make complete  sense when it stands alone because it depends on the thought expressed in the independent clause.

One independent clause and two dependent clauses:

    Anna is a good student because she studies but her sister never studies/

    Ana es una buena alumna porque estudia pero su hermana nunca estudia.

The independent  clause is Anna is a good student. It makes sense when it stands alone because it expresses a complete thought. The first dependent clause is because she studies. This dependent clause, which is introduced by the conjunction

Because/ porque, does not make complete sense when it  stands alone because it depends on the thought expressed in the independent clause. The second dependent clause is but her siste never studies. That dependent clause, which is introduced by the conjugation but/pero, does not make complete sense either when it stands alone because it depends on the thought expressed in the independent clause. See also dependent clause and, independent clause.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses.

Mrs. Fuentes went to the supermarket, she bought a few things, and then she went home

La señora Fuentes fue al supermercado, compró algunas cosas, y entonces fue a casa.

This compound sentence contains three independent clauses. They are independent because they make sense when they standalone. Review the explanation, uses, and examples of the pretérito (Tense No. 3) on page xxiv. Review comprar and ir among the 501 verbs in this book. See also independent clause.

Conditional Perfect Tense

In Spanish grammar, the conditional (el potencial) is considered a mood. This tense is defined with examples on page xxxiii.

Conditional Present Tense

In Spanish grammar, the conditional (el potencial) is considered a mood. This tense is defined with examples on pages xxvi and xxvii.

Conjugation

The conjugation of a verb is the fixed order of all its forms showing their inflections (changes) in the three persons of the singular and plural and in a particular tense.

See also number and person (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd).

Conjunction

A conjunction is a word that connects word or groups of words.

            And/y, or,o, but/pero, because/porque

Charles and Charlotte / Carlos y Carlota

You can stay home or you can come with me /

(Tú) puedes quedarte en casa o venir conmigo.

Contrary to Fact

This term refers to an “if” clause. See if (si) clause.

Declarative sentence

A declarative sentence makes a statement.

            I have finished the work / (yo) he terminado el trabajo.

Review the perfecto de indicativo (Tense No. 8) on page xxxi and terminar among the 501 verbs in this book

Definite article

The definite article in Spanish has four forms and they all mean the.

They are: el, la, los, las.

            El libro/the book, la casa/the house,

            Los libros/the books, Las casas/houses.

The definite articles la, los, las are also used as direct object pronouns. See direct object pronoun.

Demonstrative adjective

A demonstrative adjective is an adjective that points out. It is placed in front of a noun.

            This book/este libro; these books/estos libros;

            This cup/esta taza; these flowers/estas flores

Demonstrative pronoun

A demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that points out. It takes the place of a noun. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces.

            I have two oranges; do you prefer this one or that one?/

            Tengo dos naranjas; ¿prefiere usted ésta o ésa?

            I prefer those [over there] / Prefiero aquéllas.

For demonstrative pronouns that are neuter, see neuter.

Dependent Clause

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. It does not express a complete thought when it stands alone. It is called dependent because it depends on the independent  clause for a complete meaning. Subordinate clause is another term for dependent clause.

            Edward is absent today because he is sick/

            Eduardo está ausente hoy porque está enfermo.

The independent clause is Edward is absent today. The dependent clause  is because he is sick. See also clause, independent clause.

Descriptive Adjective

A descriptive adjective is an adjective that describes a person, place, or thing.

            A pretty girl/una muchacha bonita; a big house/una casa grande;

            An expensive car/un carro costoso.

Direct Object Noun

A direct object noun receives the action of the verb directly. That is why it is called a direct object, as opposed to an indirect object. A direct object noun is normally placed after the verb.

            I am writing a letter / Escribo una carta.

The direct  object is the noun letter/una carta. See also direct object pronoun.

Direct Object Pronoun

A direct object pronoun receives the action of the verb directly. It takes the place of a direct object noun. In Spanish a pronoun that is a direct object of a verb is ordinarily placed in front of the verb.

            I am writing it [the letter] / La escribo.

In the affirmative imperative, a direct object pronoun is placed after the verb and is joined to it, resulting in one word.

            Write it [the letter] now! / ¡Escríbala [ud.] ahora!

An accent mark is added on the vowel I [í] in order to keep the emphasis  on that vowel as it was in escriba before the direct object pronoun la was added to the verb form. Review the simple rule about stressed vowel sounds in Spanish and when accent marks are needed in examples 1,2,3, and 4 on page 560. See also imperative.

Disjunctive Pronoun

A disjunctive pronoun is a pronoun that is stressed; in other words, emphasis is placed on it. It is usually  an object  of a preposition. In Spanish usage, propositional pronoun is another term  for disjunctive pronoun.

            For me/para mí; for you (fam.)/para ti;

            Con usted/with  you; con él / with him; con ella/with her

Note the following exceptions with con:

            Conmigo/with me; contigo/with you (fam.)

            Consigo/with yourself (yourselves, himself, herself, themselves)

Ending of a verb

In Spanish grammar the ending of a verb form changes according to the person and number of the subject and the tense of the verb.

To form the present indicative  tense of a regular –ar type verb like hablar, drop -ar of the infinitive and add the following endings: -o, -as, -a for the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd persons of the plural. You then get: hablo, hablas, habla; hablamos, habláis, hablan.

Review at the top of page xxii. See also stem of a verb.

Feminine

In Spanish grammar the gender of a noun, pronoun, or adjective is feminine or masculine, not male or femail.

Masculine                               Feminine

Noun           Pronoun      Adjective          Noun           Pronoun    Adjective

El hombre  el               guapo              La mujer     ella           hermosa

The man      he              handsome         the woman   she           beautiful

See also gender.

Future Perfect Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxxii and xxxiii. It is also called the future anterior.

Gender

Gender means masculine or feminine.

            Masculine: the boy/el muchacho; the book/el libro

            Feminine: the girl/la muchacha; the house/la casa

Gerund

In English grammar, a gerund is a word formed from a verb. It ends in ing. Actually, it is the present participle of a verb. However, it is not used as a verb. It is used as a noun.

            Seeing is believing / Ver y creer [to see and to believe].

However, in Spanish grammar, the infinitive form of the verb is used, as in the above example, when the verb is used as a noun.

The Spanish gerund is also a word formed from a verb. It is the present participle of a verb. The Spanish gerund [el gerundio] regularly end in ando for ar type verbs (of the first conjugation), in iendo for er type verbs (of the 2^nd conjugation), and iendo for ir type verbs (of the 3^rd conjugation). There are also irregular present participles that end in yendo.

            Hablando/talking           comiendo/eating             viviendo/living

See also present participle.

If (si) clause

An “if” clause is defined with an example at the top of page xxxi where como si (as if) is used. Another term for an “if” clause is contrary to fact, as in English,

If I were king…,if I were rich…

            Si yo tuviera bastante dinero, iría a España /

            If I had enough money, I would go to Spain.

Review the imperfecto de subjuntivo (Tense No. 7) of tener on page 469 and the potencial simple (Tense No. 5) of ir on page 280. See also clause.

Imperative

The imperative is a mood, not a tense. It is used to express a command. In Spanish it is used in the 2^nd  person of the singular (tú), the 3^rd person of the singular (usted), the 1^st person of the plural (nosotros, nosotras), the 2^nd person of the plural (Vosotros, vosotras), and in the 3^rd person of the plural (ustedes). As an example, review the imperativo of comer among the 501 verbs in this book. Review the explanation of the imperativo with examples on pages xxxiv to xxxvi. See also person (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd).

Imperfect Indicative Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxii and xxiii.

Imperfect Subjunctive Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxx and xxxi.

Indefinite Article

In English the indefinite articles are a, an, as in a book, an apple. They are indefinite because they do not refer  to any definite or particular noun.

In Spanish there are two indefinite articles in the singular: one in the masculine form (un) and one in the feminine form (una).

            Masculine singular: un libro/a book

            Feminine singular: una manzana/an apple

In the plural they change to unos and unas.

            Unos libros/some books; unas manzanas/some apples

See also definite article.

Indefinite Pronoun

An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to any definite or particular noun.

            Something / algo; someone, somebody/alguien

Independent Clause

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. It expresses a complete thought when it stands alone.

            The cat is sleeping on the bed / El gato está durmiendo sobre la cama.

See also clause, dependent clause, predicate.

Indicative Mood

The indicative mood is used in sentences that make a statement or ask a question. The indicative  mood is used most of the time when we speak or write in English or Spanish.

            I am going to the movies now / Voy al cine ahora.

            Where are you going?/ ¿Adónde vas?

Indirect Object Noun

An indirect object noun receives the action of the verb indirectly.

            I am writing a letter to Christine or I am writing Christine a letter /

            Estoy escribiendo  una carta a Cristina.

The verb is am writing/estoy escribiendo. The direct object noun is a letter/una carta. The indirect  object noun is Cristina/Christine. See also indirect object pronoun.

Indirect Object Pronoun

An indirect  object pronoun takes the place of an indirect object noun. It receives the action of the verb indirectly.

            I am writing a letter to her or I am writing her a letter /

                        Estoy escribo una carta (a ella).

The indirect object pronoun is (to) her/le. See also indirect object noun.

Infinitive

An infinitive is a verb form. In English, it is normally stated with the proposition to, as in to talk, to drink, to receive. In Spanish, the infinitive form of a verb consists of three major types: those of the 1^st conjugation that end in –ar, the 2^nd conjugation that end in –er, and the 3^rd conjugation that end in –ir. In Spanish grammar, the infinitive  (el infinitivo) is considered a mood.

            Hablar/to talk, to speak; beber/to drink; recibir/ to receive

Interjection

An interjection is a word that expresses emotion, a feeling of joy, of sadness, an exclamation of surprise, and other exclamations consisting of one or two words.

         Ah!/ ¡Ah! Ouch!/ ¡Ay! Darn it/ ¡Caramba! ¡My God!/ ¡Dios mío!

Interrogative Adjective

In Spanish, and interrogative adjective  is an adjective  that is used in a question. As an adjective, it is placed in front of a noun.

            What book do you want? / ¿Qué libro desea usted?

            What time is it? / ¿Qué hora es?

Interrogative Adverb

In Spanish, an interrogative adverb is an adverb that introduces a question. As an adverb, it modifies the verb.

         How are you? / ¿Cómo está usted?

         How much does this book cost? / ¿Cuánto cuesta este libro?

         When will you arrive? / ¿Cuándo llegará usted?

Interrogative Pronoun

An interrogative pronoun is a pronoun that asks a question. There  are interrogative pronouns  that refer to persons and those that refer to things.

            Who is it? / ¿Quién es?

            What are you doing? / ¿Qué hace usted?

Interrogative Sentence

An interrogative sentence asks a question.

         What are you doing? / ¿Qué hace usted?

Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object.

            The professor is talking / El professor nos habla.

See also direct object pronoun, indirect object pronoun, transitive verb.

Irregular Verb

An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow a fixed pattern in its conjugation in the various verb tenses. Basic irregular verbs in Spanish:

            Estar/to be             hacer/to do, to make ir/to go ser/to be

See also conjugation, regular verb.

Limiting adjective

A limiting adjective is an adjective that limits a quantity.

Three lemon/tres limones; a few candies/algunos dulces

Main Clause

Main clause is another term for independent clause. See independent clause.

Masculine

In Spanish grammar the gender of a noun, pronoun, or adjective is masculine or feminine, not male for female. See also feminine, gender.

Mood of Verbs

Some grammarians use the term the mode instead of the mood of a verb. Either term means the manner or way a verb is expressed. In English and Spanish grammar a verb expresses an action or state of being in a particular mood. In Spanish grammar, there are five moods (modos): the infinitive (el infinitivo), the indicative (el indicativo), the imperative (el imperativo), the conditional (el potencial), and the subjunctive (el sujuntivo). In English grammar, there are three moods: the indicative mood, the imperative mood, and the subjunctive mood. Most of the time, in English and Spanish, we speak and write in the indicative mood.

Negative statement, affirmative statement

            See affirmative statement, negative statement

Neuter

A word that is neuter is neither masculine nor feminine. Common neuter demonstrative pronouns in Spanish are esto/this, eso/that, aquello/that [farther away].

            What’s this? / ¿Qué es esto? What’s that? / ¿Qué es eso?

For demonstrative pronouns that are not neuter, see demonstrative pronoun. There is also the neuter pronoun lo. It usually refers to an idea or statement. It is not normally translated into English but often the translation is so.

¿Estás enferma, María? / Are you sick, Mary? Sí lo estoy / Yes, I am.

No lo creo / I don’t think so.

Lo parece / It seems so.

Noun

A noun is a word that names a person, animal, place, thing, condition or state, or quality.

     The man/el hombre, the woman/la mujer, the horse/el caballo,

     The house/ la casa, the pencil/el lapis,

      Happiness/la felicidad, excellence/la excelencia

In Spanish the noun el nombre is the word for name and noun. Another word for noun in Spanish is el sustantivo / substantive

Number

In English and Spanish Grammar, number means singular or plural.

Masc. sing.:    the boy / el muchacho; the pencil / el lápiz; the eye / el ojo

Masc. pl.:        the boys/los muchachos; the pencils / los lápices; the eyes  / los ojos

Fem.sing.:        the girl / la muchacha; the house/ la casa; the cow / la vaca

Fem. Pl.:           the girl / las muchachas; the houses / las casas; the cows/las vacas

Ordinal Number

An ordinal number is a nuber that expresses position in a series, such as first, second, third, and so on. In English and Spanish grammar we talk about 1^st person, 2^nd person, 3^rd person singular or plural regarding subjects and verbs. See also cardinal number and person (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd).

Orthographical Changes In Verb Forms

An orthographical change is a verb for is a change in spelling.

            The verb conocer/to know, to be acquainted with changes in spelling in the 1^st person singular of the present indicative. The letter z is inserted in front of the scond c. When formed regularly, the ending er of the infinitive drops and o is added for the 1^st person singular form of the present indicative. That would result in Conoco, a particular sound to the Spanish ear for a verb form of conocer.  The letter Z is added to keep the sound of s as it is in the infinitive conocer. Therefore, the spelling changes and the form is yo conozco. In the other forms of conocer in the present indicative z is not inserted because they retain the sound S.

There are many verb forms in Spanish that contain orthographical changes. Review the verb conocer in the present indicative tense among the 501 verbs.

Passive Voice

When we speak or write in the active voice and change to the passive voice, the direct object becomes the subject, the subject becomes the object of a preposition, and the verb becomes to be plus the past participle of the active verb. The past participle functions as an adjective.

The window was opened by the robber/La ventana fue abierta por el ladrón.

The subject is la ventana. The verb is fue. The word abierta is a feminine adjective agreeing with la ventana. Actually, it is the past participle of abrir/to open but here it serves as an adjective. The object of the preposition by/por is the robber/el ladrón. See also active voice in this list. Pages xiv & xv

Past Anterior Tense

This tense is defined with examples on p. xxxii. It is also called the preterit perfect.

Past Participle

A past participle  is derived from a verb. It is used to form the compound tenses. Its auxiliary verb in English is to have. In Spanish, the auxiliary verb is haber/to have. It is part of the verb tense.

            Hablar/to speak, to talk            I have spoken / he hablado

            Comer/to eat                            I have eaten /  he comido

            Recibir/to receive                     I have received / he recibido

Review pages xii and xiii for the regular formation of past participle and a list of common irregular past participles. See also auxiliary verb.

Past Perfect Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxxi and xxxii. It is also called the pluperfect indicative tense.

Past Subjunctive Tense

 This tense is defined with examples on pages xxxiii and xxxiv. It is also called the present perfect subjunctive.

Person (1^st,2^nd,3^rd)

Verb forms in a particular tense are learned systematically according to person (1^st,2^nd,3^rd) and number (singular, plural).

Example, showing the present indicative tense of the ver it/to go:

Singular                                                Plural

1^st person: (yo) voy                                 1^st person: (nosotros, nostotras) vamos

2^nd person: (tú) vas                                  2^nd person: (vosotros, vosotras) vais

3^rd person: (Ud., él, ella) va                     3^rd person: (Uds., ellos, ellas) van

Personal Pronoun

A personal pronoun is a pronoun that refers to a person. Review the subject pronouns  on page xl. For examples of other types of pronouns, see also deonstrative pronoun, direct object pronoun, disjunctive pronoun, indefinite pronoun, indirect object pronoun, interrogative pronoun, possessive pronoun, reflexive pronoun, relative pronoun, relative pronoun.

Pluperfect Indicative Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxxi and xxxii. It is also called the past perfect indicative tense.

Pluperfect subjunctive tense

This tense is defined with examples on page xxxiv. It is also called the past perfect subjunctive tense.

Plural

Plural means more than one. See also person (1^st,2^nd, 3^rd) and singular.

Possessive Adjective

A possessive adjective is an adjective that is placed in front of a noun to show possession.

            My book/mi libro my friends/mis amigos our school/nuestra escuela

Possessive Pronoun

A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows possession. It takes the place o a possessive adjective with the noun. Its form agrees in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with what it is replacing.

English:            mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs

Spanish:            Possessive Adjective                                    Possessive Pronoun

                        My book/mi libro                                    mine/el mío

                        My house/mi casa                                    mine/la mía

                        My shoes/mis zapatos                        mine/los míos

Predicate

The predicate is that part of the sentence that tells us something about the subject. The main word of the predicate is the verb.

            Today the tourists are going to the Prado Museum /

            Hoy los turistas van al Museo de Prado

The subject is the tourists/los turistas. The predicate is are going to the Prado Museum/ van al museo de Prado. The verb is are going/van.

Preposition

A preposition is a word that establishes a rapport between words.

With her/con ella   without money/sin dinero   to Spain/a España

At six o’clock/a las seis           between you and me/entre tú y yo

Review verbs with prepositions beginning on page 540.

Prepositional Pronoun

A prepositional pronoun is a pronoun that is an object of a preposition. The term disjunctive pronoun is also used. For examples, see disjunctive pronoun.

Present Indicative Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxi and xxii.

Present Participle

A present participle is derived from a verb form. In English a present participle end in -ing. In Spanish a present participle is called un gerundio.

            Cantando/singing            comiendo/eating  yendo/going

Review pages xi and xii for regular and irregular present participles and their uses. See also gerund.

Present perfect Indicative Tense

This tense is defined with examples on page xxxi.

Present Subjunctive Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxvii to xxx.

Preterit Tense

This tense is defined with examples on pages xxiv and xxv.

Preterit Perfect Tense

This tense is defined with examples on page xxxii. It is also called the past anterior.

Pronoun

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.
            el hombre/él                        la mujer/ella

            The man/he                          the woman/she

Reflexive pronoun and reflexive verb

In English a reflexive pronoun is a personal pronoun that contains self or selves. In Spanish and English a reflexive pronoun is used with a verb that is called reflexive because the action of the verb falls on the reflexive pronoun.

Lavarse               (yo) me lavo.    Afeitarse               Pablo se ha afeitado.      To wash oneself   I wash myself.   To shave oneself    Paul has shaved himself

Review, for example, the reflexive verbs afeitarse, lavarse, levantarse, llamarse among the 501 verbs in this book to become familiar with the reflexive pronouns that go with reflexive verbs in the three persons of the singular and plural.

Regular Verb

A regular verb is a verb that is conjugated in the various tenses according to a fixed pattern. 

Relative Pronoun

A relative pronoun is a pronoun that refers to its antecedent.

            The girl who is talking with John is my sister /

            La muchacha que está hablando con Juan es mi hermana.

The antecedent  is girl/la muchacha. The relative pronoun who/que refers to the girl. See also antecedent.

Sentence

A sentence is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. The verb is contained in the predicate. A sentence expresses a complete thought.

            The train leaves at two o’clock in the afternoon /

            El tren sale a las dos de la tarde.

The subject is train/el tren. The predicate is leaves at two o’clock in the afternoon/sale a las dos de la tarde. The verb is leave/sale. See also complex sentence, compound sentence, simple sentence.

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence is a sentence that contains one subject and one predicate. The verb is the core of the predicate. The verb is the most important word in a sentence because it tells us what the subject is doing.

            Mary is eating an apple from her garden /

            María está comiendo una manzana de su jardín.

The subject is Mary/Maria. The predicate is is eating an apple from her garden/está comiendo una manzana de su jardín. The verb is eating/está comiendo. The direct object is a apple/una manzana. From her garden/de su jardín is an adverbial phrase. It tells you from where the apple came. See also complex sentence, compound sentence.

Singular

Singular means one. See also plural.

Stem of a Verb

The stem of a verb is what is left after we drop the ending of its infinitive form. It is needed to add to it the required  endings of a regular verb in a particular verb tense.

            Infinitive                        Ending of infinitive       Stem

            Hablar/to talk               ar                                    habl

            Comer/to eat                er                                    com

            Escribir/to write           ir                                     escrib

Stem-changing verb

In Spanish there are many verb forms that change in the stem. The verb dormir/to sleep changes the vowel o; for example, (yo) duermo. When the stress does not fall on that o, it does not change; for example, (nosotros) dormimos. Here, the stress is on the vowel i.

Review the present indicative tense dormir among the 501 verbs.

Subject

A subject is that part of a sentence that is related to its verb. The verb says something about the subject.

             Clara and Isabel are beautiful /

             Clara e Isabel son hermosas

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is the mood of a verb that is used in specific cases, e.g., after certain verbs expressing a wish, doubt, emotion, fear, joy, uncertainty, an indefinite expression, and indefinite antecedent, certain conjunctions, and others. The subjunctive mood is used more frequently in Spanish than in English. Review the uses of the subjunctive mood with examples on pages xxvii to xxxi and pages xxxiii to xxxviii. See also mood of verbs. 

Subordinate Clause

Subordinate clause is another term for dependent clause.

See dependent clause.

Superlative Adjective

A superlative adjective is an adjective that expresses the highest degree when making a comparison of more than two persons or things.

Adjective                        Comparative               Superlative

Bueno/good                  major/better                el major/best

Alto/tall                           más alto/taller            El más alto/tallest

Superlative Adverb

A superlative adverb is an adverb that expresses  the highest degree when making a comparison of more than two persons or things.

            Adjective            Comparative                   Superlative

            Lentamente      más lentamente            lo más lentamente

            Slowly                 more slowly                    most slowly

See also comparative adverb.

Tense of a Verb

In English and Spanish grammar, tense means time. The tense of the verb indicates the time of the action or state of being. The three major segments of time are past, present, and future. In Spanish there are fourteen major verb tenses, of which seven are simple tenses and seven are compound. Review pages xxxviii and xl for the names of the fourteen tenses in Spanish and English.

Transitive Verb

A transitive verb is a verb that takes a direct object.

            I am closing the window / Cierro la ventana

The subject is I/(yo). The verb is am closing/cierro. The direct object is the window/la ventana. See also intransitive verb.

Verb

A verb is a word that expresses action or a state of being.

Action:     Los pájaros están volando/The birds are flying.

The verb is éstan volando/are flying

                 La señora López está contenta / Mrs. López is happy.

The verb is está/is.