Here’s the good news: You don’t have to be fluent to start speaking Spanish in real-world situations.

Learning simple, essential phrases can help you build confidence and create natural conversations from day one. Think of these phrases like the building blocks of a conversation; once you have them, you can mix and match to express yourself clearly.

Today, we’ll dive into 25 essential Spanish phrases every beginner should know, complete with pronunciation guides and real-life examples. Let’s get you ready to have those everyday conversations, and no memorization of complicated grammar rules is required.

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What Are “Essential Phrases” and Why Are They Important?

Essential phrases are common word combinations that people use in daily interactions. Instead of focusing on single words, you’re learning how people actually speak, and it saves you from having to translate in your head every time you talk.

Think about it this way: when you learned to drive, you didn’t memorize car parts first, you practiced driving. Phrases are like the “practice” of language learning.

Using ready-to-go phrases helps you:

• Sound more natural
• Respond faster
• Avoid awkward pauses

And because Spanish is consistent in pronunciation, once you learn a phrase, you can say it with confidence!

25 Essential Spanish Phrases (With Pronunciation & Examples)

Basic Rules for Using These Phrases

• Politeness counts: Adding por favor (please) and gracias (thank you) goes a long way.
• Match the situation: Use tú forms for friends and casual settings. Use usted for formal situations.
• Watch your pronunciation: Spanish vowels are short and crisp, with no gliding sounds like in English.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Mistake: Translating literally from English.
  • Fix: Focus on the entire phrase, not individual words.
• Mistake: Forgetting gender (e.g., perdido vs. perdida).
  • Fix: Use -o if you’re male, -a if you’re female.
• Mistake: Mixing up formal and informal speech.
  • Fix: Remember usted for formal conversations, tú for informal ones.

Tip: Practice saying the phrases out loud, muscle memory helps with pronunciation and confidence!

Mini Practice Section

Fill in the blanks:

1. ¡_____ días!
2. Me _____ Ana.
3. ¿_____ cuesta esta camisa?
4. No _____, ¿puede repetirlo?
5. ¡Hasta _____!

Answer Key:

1. Buenos
2. llamo
3. Cuánto
4. entiendo
5. luego

Exceptions and Edge Cases

• Regional Variations: In some countries, you’ll hear “¡Buenas!” instead of “¡Buenos días!” It’s a casual greeting.
• Salúd: Depending on context, “salúd” can mean “cheers,” “health,” or “bless you” after a sneeze.

Pay attention to how locals use these phrases; it’s the best way to learn!

Conclusion

Mastering these 25 phrases gives you a solid foundation for real-world conversations in Spanish. They’re your ticket to getting comfortable speaking without overthinking.

Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint, but every step you take gets you closer to your goal. Why not practice these phrases with a native speaker in a real conversation?

At Homeschool Spanish Academy, you can try a free class with a friendly, certified teacher. We’re 100% online, offer flexible scheduling, and specialize in one-on-one lessons for adults.

Ready to make Spanish a part of your everyday life? Click here to book your free trial class!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

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“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Want more Spanish Resources for Kids? Check these out!

• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• From YouTube to Fluent: How to Use Media to Boost Your Child’s Spanish at Home
• 7 Online Spanish Classes for Kids Offering Free Trials
• 5 Fun and Engaging Ways to Introduce Spanish to Your Preschooler
• Your Child’s First Spanish Conversation: How to Prep, Practice, and Cheer Them On
• 10 Ways Learning Spanish Can Improve Your Child’s Behavior
• 7 Spanish Reading Games for Kids: Boosting Literacy Skills
• 10 Funny Spanish Memes You Can Share With Your Child

The post 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

False friends or cognates can lead to confusion, awkward situations, and even misunderstandings.

But don’t worry. By the end of this blog post, you’ll be able to spot these tricky word pairs and use them correctly with confidence.

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What Are False Friends?

In language learning, false friends / false cognates (or “falsos amigos” in Spanish) are words that look or sound similar in two languages but have very different meanings. They can be misleading because your brain sees a familiar word and jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Think of it like seeing someone at a party who looks just like your cousin. You wave, smile, even start chatting, only to realize it’s a total stranger!

False friends work the same way. They seem familiar, but they’re not who you think they are.

Why Are False Friends Tricky?

Spanish and English share many roots from Latin, so it’s normal to see similar-looking words. Sometimes, these words are true cognates (like “animal” and “animal“), but false friends hide among them, waiting to trip you up.

If you’re just starting to learn Spanish, it’s easy to assume that if a word looks like English, it must mean the same thing. This assumption can cause big misunderstandings.

Tip: When in doubt, double-check the meaning using reliable resources like SpanishPod101 or SpanishDictionary.com.

Common False Friends You Need to Know

Here’s a handy chart of 15 common false friends. Learn these, and you’ll dodge some of the most common mistakes.

Why Do We Make These Mistakes?

• Latin Roots: Spanish and English share many Latin-based words.
• Overconfidence: It’s easy to assume that similar-looking words have the same meanings.
• Fast Thinking: Our brains want to speed things up and fill in gaps based on familiar patterns.

Tip: Slow down when you encounter a familiar-looking Spanish word. Double-check it if you’re not 100% sure!

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Mistake: Assuming “embarazada” means embarrassed.
  • Fix: Learn “avergonzado” for embarrassed.
• Mistake: Thinking “asistir” means to assist.
  • Fix: Use “ayudar” for assist.
• Mistake: Believing “sensible” means sensible.
  • Fix: Know that “sensible” in Spanish is sensitive; “sensato” means sensible.
• Mistake: Mixing up “constipado” and “constipated.”
  • Fix: Learn “estreñido” for constipated.
• Mistake: Calling a school “college.”
  • Fix: “Colegio” = School, “universidad” = university/college.

Pro tip: Keep a small notebook or a digital note to record new false friends as you encounter them.

Mini Practice Section

Fill in the blanks with the correct Spanish word:

1. No quiero ____________ a mi jefe durante su almuerzo. (to bother)
2. Ella está ____________; espera su primer bebé. (pregnant)
3. Mañana voy a ____________ al concierto. (attend)
4. Estoy ____________ y no puedo respirar bien. (cold)
5. El proyecto fue ____________ con éxito. (carried out)

Answer Key:

1. molestar
2. embarazada
3. asistir
4. constipado
5. realizado

Exceptions and Edge Cases

Some false friends behave differently depending on context. For example:

• Actual can mean “real” in rare, formal uses (“actual facts”), but most of the time it’s better understood as “current.”
• Colegio can also mean “college” in some Latin American countries; always consider regional variations.

Tip: Context matters! Always pay attention to how native speakers use a word.

Conclusion

False friends can be confusing, but now you know how to spot them! By being aware of these common pitfalls, you’ll communicate more clearly and avoid those embarrassing slip-ups.

Language learning is a journey full of little victories like mastering tricky words. Celebrate each one! If you’re ready to take the next step and practice with a friendly, native-speaking teacher, why not try a free class with Homeschool Spanish Academy? We’re 100% online, offer flexible scheduling, and have a curriculum designed just for adult learners like you.

Ready to skip the guesswork and start speaking with confidence? Click here to book your free trial class!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Want more Spanish Resources for Kids? Check these out!

• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• From YouTube to Fluent: How to Use Media to Boost Your Child’s Spanish at Home
• 7 Online Spanish Classes for Kids Offering Free Trials
• 5 Fun and Engaging Ways to Introduce Spanish to Your Preschooler
• Your Child’s First Spanish Conversation: How to Prep, Practice, and Cheer Them On
• 10 Ways Learning Spanish Can Improve Your Child’s Behavior
• 7 Spanish Reading Games for Kids: Boosting Literacy Skills
• 10 Funny Spanish Memes You Can Share With Your Child

The post Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

They only seem similar because of how they sound. 

Let’s have a look now at all the shades of meanings of llegar vs llevar with many example sentences. I’ll also show you how to conjugate these -AR verbs in some basic tenses.

Let’s start.

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Llegar Vs llevar – The Basics

You will mainly translate llegar into “to arrive” or “to get,” but you’ll see that is more to this verb, and it often expresses figurative meanings. It is an intransitive verb that doesn’t require a direct object afterward, it will never be followed by who or what.

Mis primos llegaron ayer.

My cousins arrived yesterday.

Llevar, on the other hand, is a transitive verb, and it usually translates into “to take.” Of course, it also has other meanings that I will show you. 

As a transitive verb, it is always followed by a direct object, who, or what.

Lleva el perro al doctor.

Take the dog to the doctor.

Let’s go to the details now of llegar vs llevar. 

Verb Llegar 

I will show you first how to use llegar and how to conjugate it in some basic sentences.

Meaning and Usage of Llegar

As I already mentioned before, llegar mainly translates into “to arrive” and “to get,” let’s see now this and other meanings.

1. To Reach a Place

The easiest meaning to remember is when llegar translates into “to arrive”  or “to get” to a place.

¡Mamá, ya llegué!

Mom, I’m home!

Tus libros llegarán mañana.

Your books will arrive tomorrow.

¿Cuándo llegamos?

When will we arrive?

2. To Be The Time For

You can also use llegar to talk about when things happen in a certain moment.

Y ni nos dimos cuenta cuando llegó el día del ensayo general.

And we didn’t even notice when the day of the dress rehearsal arrived.

Ya quiero que llegue el verano.

I can’t wait for summer to arrive.

3. To Be Sufficient

Llegar also means to be enough

El dinero que recibo no me llega, así que tendré que buscar otro trabajo.

The money I get is not enough, so I will have to look for another job.

4. To Extend

If you use llegar with the preposition a, it can mean to reach something.

El cable no llega, tienes que pasarme uno más largo.

The cable does not reach, you have to give me a longer one.

It can also be used figuratively in this sense.

El precio llegó a su máximo.

The price has reached its maximum.

5. To Get To

Another meaning with the preposition a is to get to something or become someone, used in a figurative meaning.

Así nunca llegarás a ser alguien.

This way, you will never become somebody.

Juntos llegamos a la conclusión que esto no tiene sentido.

Together we came to the conclusion that this makes no sense.

6. To Be Able To

Llegar also means to manage to do something.

¿Llegaste a ver el cantante desde tu lugar?

Did you get to see the singer from your place?

Llegar Expressions 

You can also use llegar in some expressions.

1. Llegar lejos

This expression may be used to predict a bright future for someone. 

Esta chica llegará lejos. 

This girl will go far. 

2. Llegar y besar (el santo)

You’ll use this one to explain the rapidity with which something is done, being successful the first time you do something.

Ayer llegué y besé el santo en el casino. ¡Gané en el bingo y fue mi primera vez!

Yesterday I arrived and kissed the saint in the casino. I won at bingo, and it was my first time!

Conjugation of Llegar

Let’s see how the verb llegar conjugates in the present, past, and future tenses. It’s a -ar verb with very few irregularities that are easy to learn.

Present Tense Conjugation Chart: Llegar

Llegar is regular in the present tense. 

Llegamos mañana a las 4 pm.

We will arrive tomorrow at 4 pm.

El agua llega hasta las rodillas. 

The water reaches our knees.

Preterite Tense Conjugation Chart: Llegar

The verb llegar is regular in all forms of the Spanish preterite tense but the first person singular.

Llegaste justo a tiempo.

You arrived just in time.

Ayer me llegaron juguetes nuevos. 

Yesterday I got new toys.

Future Tense Conjugation Chart: Llegar  

You’ll be happy to hear that llegar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish future simple tense.

¿A qué hora llegarás?

What time will you arrive?

Verb Llevar 

I will show you now how to use llevar and how to conjugate it in some basic sentences.

Meaning and Use of Llevar

As I already mentioned, llevar mainly translates into “to take something,” but it has many other meanings.

1. To Transport

Use llevar to mean to take or carry something from one place to another, or even to give a ride to someone or to escort someone to a place.

Lleva esta ropa a su lugar.

Take these clothes to their place.

Tienes que llevar tus cubiertos al comedor.

You have to take your cutlery to the dining room. 

Me llevas a la estación, por favor. 

Take me to the station, please. 

El portero nos llevó hasta nuestra habitación.

The doorman led us to our room.

2. To Wear

Another common meaning is to wear something.

Me gusta siempre llevar algo negro.

I always like to wear something black.

3. To Spend Time On Something

If you want to say that something “takes” you a certain amount of time, use llevar.

¿Cuánto tiempo lleva llegar hasta la cima?

How long does it take to get to the top?

Llevo cinco horas estudiando y ya no puedo más. 

I have been studying for five hours and I can’t take it anymore. 

4. To Be More Than

Llevar also means to be ahead of something or someone, or to be older.

El piloto mexicano lleva 10 segundos de ventaja.

The Mexican driver is 10 seconds ahead.

Le llevo 4 años a mi hermana.

I am 4 years older than my sister.

5. To Manage

Levar also means to handle something in a literal or figurative sense.

Mi padre lleva la compañía.

My father runs the company.

¿Y cómo llevas lo del divorcio?

And how are you coping with the divorce?

6. To Lead To

In literal meaning, llevar can also mean “to lead to.”

Todos los caminos llevan a Roma.

All the roads lead to Rome.

7. To Have (Auxiliary)

Llevar also can function as an auxiliary verb when used with the past participle.

Llevo leídas cuarenta páginas.

I have read forty pages.  

Llevar expressions 

There are not so many idiomatic expressions with llevar that you will use on a common basis.

1. Llevar consigo

To have it as a consequence or to carry it along. 

El dinero no siempre lleva consigo el estilo.

Money does not always bring style.

Check here other Expressions with llevar.

Conjugation of Llevar

Let’s see how the verb llegar conjugates in the present, past, and future tenses. It’s a regular -ar verb.

Present Tense Conjugation Chart: Llevar

Llevar is regular in the present tense. 

Te llevo si quieres.

If you want, I can give you a ride.

No deberían llevar nada pesado pues es una caminata muy larga.

You should not carry anything that’s too heavy because it is a very long hike.

Preterite Tense Conjugation Chart: Llevar

The verb llevar is regular in all forms of the Spanish preterite tense.

No llevamos nada al cumpleañero.

We didn’t bring anything to the birthday boy.

Su padre llevó la compañía a la bancarrota.

His father drove the company into bankruptcy.

Future Tense Conjugation Chart: Llevar  

You’ll be happy to hear that llevar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish future simple tense.

¿A qué hora llevarán los platos sucios a la cocina?

At what time will you take the dirty dishes to the kitchen?

Check here other forms of conjugation of llevar.

Llegar vs. Llevar  – Multiple-Choice Quiz

Ready to check if you remember all about llegar vs llevar? There’s one correct option for each question.

1. Te _________ al aeropuerto
   1. llevo
   2. llego
2. No deberías _________ este vestido, te va a dar frío.
   1. llevar
   2. llegar
3. ¿Cuánto tardamos en _________?
   1. llevar
   2. llegar
4. Tus libros todavía no _________.
   1. llevan
   2. llegan
5. Ya _________ la primavera.
   1. llevó
   2. llegó
6. Mi marido me _____ cinco años.
   1. lleva
   2. llega
7. No me _________ mi sueldo.
   1. lleva
   2. llega
8. ¿Cómo _________ tu enfermedad?
   1. llevas
   2. llegas
9. ¿Te gustaría _________ la empresa?
   1. llevar
   2. llegar
10. ¿_________ a ver el arco iris?
    1. Llevaste
    2. Llegaste

Keep Practicing Llegar vs Llevar

Did you get it all right? I’m sure you’re motivated right now to keep learning, and llegar vs llevar no longer are troublesome to you.

Why not sign up for a free trial class with Homeschool Spanish Academy? 

Apart from professional benefits, being bilingual has also many advantages in terms of your health—it can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease for example.

What do you get with HSA online Spanish lessons? Native, authentic Spanish instruction and student-tailored Spanish programs. A certified professional teacher will help you with your grammar doubts and fear of speaking.

Sign up now for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy, practice meter vs poner (and much more!) in a 1-to-1 conversation! 

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Want to learn more Spanish grammar? Check out these posts!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• How Spanish Can Boost Your College Applications + 4 Programs that Love Bilingual Students
• How to Finally Roll Your R’s – And Why It’s Not a Big Deal If You Can’t
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing

The post Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

It seems like a small and pretty insignificant word, right? 

Well, you’ll be amazed to discover how many different ways you can use it and how its meaning changes depending on how you use it.

“What?!” you may say. 

Yes. Just look back at the title. 

So, keep reading to learn about the extraordinary que, the different ways you can use it, and how a little accent mark on it can change the meaning of a sentence.

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Say What?

The little word que is one of those ubiquitous pieces of language that seem to hold everything together. 

You can find que everywhere, from questions to conjunctions and interjections. It’s just a fundamental piece of the Spanish language. 

Therefore, you must learn how to use its different meanings properly. 

The best you can do is expose yourself to the language and speak it regularly. You can do that with one of our certified Spanish teachers. We’re sure they’ll be happy to help you master que.

Or you can try to learn the tidbits of grammar here first and apply the theory in your everyday Spanish conversations.

Que and Qué

When looking for the meaning of que, you have to consider if the word has an accent or not.

The word is the same but can be used differently, and the accent plays a critical role.

In a minute, we’ll explore the different meanings of que, but now you must understand that when que has an accent, as in qué, it is because it’s part of a question, an exclamation, or an interjection. 

Look for question or exclamation marks in a sentence; if they are there, it’s likely that the que has a written accent. Spanish speakers call this accent a tilde. 

However, it’s important to mention that the accent means that the word plays a different role in the sentence. 

Let’s dig deeper. You’ll see what I’m talking about. 

What Does “Que” Mean in Spanish?

As explained before, que in Spanish has different meanings. Let’s explore ten of them.

1. What

This might be the definition that people use the most. However, just as in English, you can use “what” in different ways. 

In Spanish, you can also use this version of que in different situations. 

Most times, when que means “what,” it’s part of a question or exclamation and, as such, should be written with an accent.

¿Qué me compraste?

What did you buy me?

¿Qué le pasó a María?

What happened to Maria?

¡Qué gran película!

What a great movie!

¡Qué decepción!

What a disappointment!

Sometimes, qué with an accent and question mark can mean “which,” and qué with an accent and an exclamation mark may mean “how.” 

Those are the next two meanings of que that we’ll focus on. 

2. Which

Although most of the time questions starting with ¿Qué…? translate as “what,” sometimes the proper translation is “which.” 

Take a look at the following examples: 

¿Qué color prefieres, el rojo o el azul?

Which color do you prefer, red or blue?

¿Qué auto es?

Which car is it?

The key to identifying if ¿Qué…? means “what” or “which” is in the Spanish word cuál. 

If you can change qué for cuál in the question, then it definitely means “which.”

¿Cuál color prefieres, el rojo o el azul?

Which color do you prefer, red or blue?

¿Cuál coche es?

Which car is it?

3. How

When you use qué with an accent, it usually means that your sentence is an exclamation or an interjection. 

In the cases mentioned above, ¡Qué…! usually translates as “What…!”. But there are some cases when “How…!” is the best translation. 

Look at these examples: 

¡Qué hermoso!

How beautiful! 

¡Qué maravilloso!

How wonderful!

The actual meaning of que here depends on the adjective used in the sentence. 

So, if you translate a sentence and use “what,” but it sounds off, try “how” to see how that works. 

4. That

One of the most common ways to translate que (without an accent) is as “that.” In this case, the role of que is that of a pronoun used to define a subject or object. 

Esta es la casa que quiero para nosotros. 

This is the house that I want for us. 

La ciudad que más me gustó fue Londres. 

London was the city that I liked the most. 

In some cases, you can also use que in a subjunctive phrase to express a desire or suggestion, and it also translates as “that.”

Te sugiero que te quedes donde estás. 

I suggest that you stay where you are. 

Desearía que nunca te hubieras ido. 

I wish that you’d never left. 

5. Than

When used in a comparison, que in Spanish can also mean “than.”

Su casa es más vieja que la mía. 

His house is older than mine. 

El Real Madrid ha ganado más campeonatos que el Barcelona. 

Real Madrid has won more championships than Barcelona. 

6. To

Another translation for que in Spanish is “to,” and you use it when you compare two different things or more. 

Prefiero Buenos Aires que Montevideo. 

I prefer Buenos Aires to Montevideo. 

Prefiero tacos que hamburguesas. 

I prefer tacos to burgers. 

In some situations, you use que to express a need or requirement. In these cases, que comes after the verb tener or “to have,” which translates as “to.”

Tengo que ir a casa por mi hermana. 

I have to go home to pick up my sister. 

Erika tiene que repetir el año escolar.

Erika has to repeat the school year. 

7. Who, Whom

Other times, que may also mean “who” or “whom” when used to define the subject. 

Este es el hombre que me salvó la vida. 

This is the man who saved my life. 

Hoy vi a una chica con la que solía trabajar. 

I saw a girl today with whom I used to work. 

8. May

In some subjunctive phrases that express wish or desire, you can use que, which translates as “may.” Are there any Star Wars fans out there?

Que la Fuerza te acompañe. 

May the Force be with you. 

Que Dios te bendiga. 

May God bless you. 

9. So

You can use que to talk about cause, finality, or consequence. In this case, it would work as a conjunction that connects two phrases, and it translates as “so.”

Canta un poco, que te escuchen.

Sing a little bit, so they hear you. 

Quería pasar por mi temprano, que mejor madrugué.

He wanted to pick me up early, so I woke up early.

10. Let

Finally, you can also use que to give an order or express a command. 

Que empiecen los juegos.

Let the games begin. 

¡Que lo dejes terminar!

Let him finish!

Some Grammar Structures That Use Que in Spanish

As you can see, there are many ways to use que, and its meaning vary accordingly. 

You can also find que in some compound grammar structures and phrases. This means even more ways to use this word. 

Let’s learn some of them and their meanings in English: 

These are just some of the ways to use que.

¿Qué te parece?

This means, “What do you think?” It isn’t that hard, right? 

We know. Sometimes you may confuse one use with another, but you’ll get them all right with time and practice. 

Remember that the important thing is to practice. The best way to learn is through experience. 

So, we invite you to sign up for a free trial class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala and start using que in all its different ways from day one.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

The post 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Put on your grammar goggles, and let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of these two verbs!

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Preterite vs Imperfect: Definitions and Meaning

Native English speakers have a hard time telling the difference between these two past tense verbs because we don’t use them the same way that Spanish speakers do. The good news is that we can break it down into simple and useful comparisons.

For example, the preterite verb expresses an action that began in the past and also ended in the past, with a clear finish time, while the imperfect verb refers to an action that was happening or used to happen and has no clear ending.

Additionally, the preterite tense can describe an action that interrupts an imperfect tense action, like él me llamó cuando leía el periódico (he called me when I was reading the newspaper).

To put it more clearly, think of these two comparisons:

• what you did (preterite) vs (imperfect) what you were doing
• what happened (preterite) vs (imperfect) what used to happen

What You Did vs What You Were Doing

An action that began in the past and has a clear ending is “what you did.” Examples of this in Spanish are:

Me comí la ultima galleta.
I ate the last cookie. (I ate the cookie once, it was a definite action.)

Tuve seis llamadas entre las 2 y 4 de la tarde.
I received six calls between 2 and 4 pm. (The calls started and ended at an exact time.)

Ella hizo su mayor esfuerzo para alcanzar el estante de arriba.
She tried her hardest to reach the top shelf. (She tried and then stopped.)

Tu hija cantó muy bien en su obra de teatro.
Your daughter sang really well in her play. (She sang only during the play.)

Take the examples above and try to replace the verb with the imperfect tense. You’ll notice they all sound pretty strange, even in English. After a while, the intuitive sense you get about English grammar will come naturally as you speak Spanish. It just requires practice!

Now, let’s talk about the imperfect again. It describes a past action that is still going on and doesn’t have a clear end. This is “what you were doing.”

For example:

Cuando la conocí, ella enseñaba español.
When I met her, she was teaching Spanish. (She was teaching Spanish and could still be teaching it.)

Limpiabas la casa tantas veces sin usar desinfectante.
You cleaned the house so many times without using disinfectant. (You were doing it that way and maybe still are.)

Todas las semanas yo pedía comida china.
Every week I ordered Chinese food. (I was doing this before without any clear indication that I no longer do it.)

What Happened vs What Used to Happen

A common way to translate the imperfect verb tense into English is to insert “used to,” implying that the action once happened on a recurring basis. For example: 

I used to fish with my grandfather.

Pescaba con mi abuelo.

Whereas, if you were to say “I only fished once with my grandfather,” then you’d use the preterite tense to define the end of the activity: Pesqué solo una vez con mi abuelo.

As we mentioned before, when combining these two tenses in a sentence, the preterite describes an interrupting action, while the imperfect describes the interrupted action. Let’s take a look at some examples:

Me bronceaba cuando empezó a llover.
I was sunbathing when it started to rain.

Mientras ella trabajaba, su jefe la llamó.
While she was working, her boss called her.

Me di cuenta que hacía frío.
I realized it was cold.

Spanish Verbs that Change Meaning Depending on the Tense

At least 7 common verbs change meaning depending on which tense is being used. They are important to memorize so that you’re aware of what you’re saying when you use them. 

Conocer

Preterite: yo la conocí (I met her).

Imperfect: yo la conocía (I knew her).

Saber

Preterite: tú lo supiste (You figured it out).

Imperfect: tú lo sabías (You knew it).

Tener

Preterite: él tuvo un regalo de su esposa (he received a gift from his wife).

Imperfect: él tenía un regalo de su esposa (he had a gift from his wife).

Querer

Preterite: ella quiso ver la película (she tried to see the movie).

Imperfect: ella quería ver la película (she wanted to see the movie).

No Querer

Preterite: no quisimos hacer la tarea (we refused to do the homework).

Imperfect: no queríamos jugar pelota (we didn’t want to play ball).

Poder

Preterite: ustedes pudieron comprar la casa (you all succeeded in buying the house)

Imperfect: ustedes podían negociar el precio (you all were able to negotiate the price)

No Poder

Preterite: ellos no pudieron arreglar la computadora (they failed at fixing the computer).

Imperfect: ellos no podían encontrar sus herramientas (they weren’t able to find their tools).

Quiz Yourself!

Here’s your chance to shine! You’ve mastered the conjugations and studied hard to know when to use them. Now, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice! Jot down your answers in a notebook or download our PDF to quiz yourself on paper. Check your answers down below.

Preterite vs Imperfect Quiz

Pick the correct answer.

1. _______ el piano con mi abuelo con frecuencia.
   
   1. Tocaba
   2. Toqué
      
2. El otro día, _______ semillas en mi jardín.
   
   1. sembraba
   2. sembré
      
3. Nunca me _______ el color verde.
   
   1. gustaba
   2. gustó
      
4. Él siempre _______ su tarea en su cuarto.
   
   1. hacía
   2. hizo
      
5. El mes pasado, me _______ y _______.
   
   1. resbalé, caí
   2. resbalé, caía
   3. resbalaba, caí
   4. resbalaba, caía
      
6. Cuando yo _______ niña, _______ pizza todos los días.
   
   1. estaba, comía
   2. era, comí
   3. fui, comía
   4. era, comía
      
7. Cuando me _______, yo _______ inglés en el colegio.
   
   1. conociste, enseñaba
   2. conocías, enseñaba
   3. conociste, enseñé
   4. conocías, enseñé
      
8. Yo _______ libros de fantasía cuando _______ aburrido.
   
   1. leí, estaba
   2. leía, estaba
   3. leí, estuve
   4. leía, estuve
      
9. Mientras tú _______, tu mama te _______.
   
   1. trabajaste, llamó
   2. trabajabas, llamó
   3. trabajaste, llamaba
   4. trabajabas, llamaba
      
10. Yo _______ la manzana cuando _______ el gusano adentro.
    
    1. comí, vi
    2. comía, vi
    3. comí, veía
    4. comía, veía

Fill in the blank.

1. Yo _______ revistas. (I used to read magazines)
2. Ella _______ mi madre. (She met my mom)
3. _______ comprar un carro, pero no _______ el perfecto. (I wanted to buy a car, but I didn’t find the perfect one)
4. Nosotros _______ todos los días. (We used to walk every day)
5. Ustedes me _______ ayer. (You all called me yesterday)
6. Ella _______ el helado. (She ate the ice cream)
7. Cuando _______ niña, le _______ jugar futbol. (When she was little, she liked playing soccer)
8. Nosotros _______ una carta de nuestra abuela. (We received a letter from our grandma) (hint: tener)
9. El _______ la verdad. (He figured out the truth)
10. Usted _______ subir la montaña. (You tried to climb the mountain) (hint: querer)

Translate English to Spanish

1. Yesterday I fell. 
2. She worked from 8 to 5.
3. He used to call me every day.
4. When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher.
5. My brother called me while I was cooking.
6. We used to dance together.
7. I wanted to go to college.
   

Correct or Incorrect?

1. Caminaba en la calle cuando la vi.
2. Ayer me levantaba a las seis.
3. Siempre comí tortillas con mis abuelos.
4. Nosotros pudimos cocinar el pastel.
5. La película empezaba a las 8.
6. Nunca leía el periódico cuando fui niño.
7. Ella hizo mi tarea por años.
8. Miraba tele cuando me mandaste un texto.

Click here to see the answer key!

Practice Your Conversation

I’m sure you did a great job on this preterite vs imperfect quiz! No matter where you’re at on your journey to Spanish fluency, having a conversation in your target language is a necessary skill to practice. If you’re looking for a friendly professional Spanish teacher, try one of our certified native Spanish-speaking teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Sign up for a free trial today and give yourself the key to fluency!

Want more excellent Spanish grammar resources? Check out our recent posts!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

ANSWER KEY

Pick the correct answer.

1. Tocaba
2. sembré
3. gustaba
4. hacía
5. resbalé, caí
6. era, comía
7. conociste, enseñaba
8. leía, estuve
9. trabajaste, llamó
10. comía, vi

Fill in the blank.

1. leía
2. conoció
3. Quise, encontré
4. caminabamos
5. llamaron
6. comió
7. era, gustaba
8. tuvimos
9. supo
10. quiso

Translate English to Spanish

1. Ayer me caí.
2. Ella trabajó de 8 a 5.
3. Él me llamaba todos los días.
4. Cuando era niño, quería ser maestro.
5. Mi hermano me llamó mientras cocinaba.
6. Bailábamos juntos.
7. Quería ir a la universidad.

Correct or Incorrect?

1. Correct
2. Incorrect – Ayer me levanté a las seis.
3. Incorrect – Siempre comía tortillas con mis abuelos.
4. Correct
5. Incorrect – La película empezó a las 8.
6. Incorrect – Nunca leía el periódico cuando era niño.
7. Incorrect – Ella hacía mi tarea por años.
8. Correct

The post Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

In every language, transition words are beautiful tools that help us to connect our ideas and give a natural flow to the rhythm of our speech—and they’re vital to learn to improve your Spanish fluency. 

Keep reading to learn all there is to know about transition words in Spanish, what types of transition words exist, and how to use them.  

What Are Transition Words?

Transition words are all those words and phrases that you use to connect ideas between sentences. These words allow you to “transition” from one sentence to other in a smooth way. They provide a sense of normalcy to the language, since without them, our ideas would instead be separated by harsh breaks and a robotic-kind of speech. 

Every language has its own share of transition words, and Spanish is not the exception. Learning these words and phrases will help you to sound more natural in your speaking or in your writing. 

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Watch our video on 50 Transition Words in Spanish!

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Types of Transition Words in Spanish

In Spanish, you can use transition words for different purposes. Depending on your purpose you get a different type of transition word: 

• For time
• For place
• To emphasize
• To explain an idea
• To add an idea
• To show a result
• To contrast and compare
• To summarize

Let’s see each one of them in detail, to learn how you can easily introduce them in your Spanish speaking and improve your writing too.

Transition Words in Spanish

If your goal is to be fluent in Spanish, transition words are a crucial area of study. For that reason, it might be a good idea to keep the following list at hand, as you will always need a good transition word to make your speech sound more natural. 

For Time 

These words let you connect ideas regarding the moment in time when they occurred. 

primero, segundo – first, secondly

Used often in recipes, processes or algorithms, these words are a good way to keep the chronological order in mind.

Primero, unta la mayonesa en el pan. Segundo, agrega el jamón. 
First, spread the mayonnaise onto the bread. Secondly, add ham. 

en primer lugar, en segundo lugar – In the first place, secondly

Similar to the previous one, but more common in formal speeches or everyday conversations. 

En primer lugar, eso no es cierto. En segundo lugar, yo ni siquiera estaba aquí. 
In the first place, that’s not true. Secondly, I wasn’t even here. 

después (de) – after, afterward

Carlos hizo la tarea después del partido de fútbol. 
Carlos did his homework after the football game. 

ya – already

Ya is useful to express that something has already happened. 

Terminé el trabajo y ya lo mandé por correo electrónico.
I finished my work and I already sent it by email. 

todavía – still

To express that something is still happening at the moment, you use todavía. 

Cuando se despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba ahí.
When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there. 

todavía no – not yet

However, to say that something has not happened yet, you have to use todavía no. 

¿Ya empezó el partido? Todavía no. 
Has the game started already? Not yet. 

Other useful transition words for time:  

Mientras
While

Por fin
at last

Al final 
At the end

Finalmente  
Lastly

Al mismo tiempo 
At the same time

Para continuar
Next, further

Por último
Lastly

En conclusión
In conclusion

For Place

These transition words allow you to connect ideas regarding their position in space.

aquí, acá – here

Ven a casa, aquí te espero. 
Come home, I’ll wait for you here. 

ahí, allí – there

Ya casi llegamos, ahí está mi casa.
We’re almost there, that’s my house.

al lado de – next to

Mi casa está al lado del parque. 
My house is next to the park.

afuera – outside

Estoy afuera de la escuela. 
My house is next to the park.

Other Useful Transition Words for Place:  

Allá 
Over there

Más allá
Beyond, further

De
Of, from

Desde
From, since

To Add an Idea

Use the following transition words when you want to add a new idea to what you were just saying.

además – moreover, additionally

Estudiar español es muy interesante y, además, te abre muchas puertas. 
Learning Spanish is very interesting and, additionally, it opens a lot of doors. 

aparte – besides, apart from

Eso no es cierto, aparte de que ni siquiera es lo que yo dije.
That’s not true, besides that’s not even what I said.

asimismo – also, likewise

Asimismo is a perfect way to start a new paragraph building up on what you just said on the previous one. You can also use de igual manera or de la misma manera, to express the same idea.

Asimismo, las ideas de la Ilustración condujeron a la Revolución Industrial. 
Likewise, the ideas of the Enlightenment sparked the Industrial Revolution. 

también – also, too

Me gusta el fútbol y también el básquetbol. 
I like football and basketball too. 

más aún – moreover

No debiste mentirme, más aún cuando quieres que te ayude. 
You shouldn’t have lied to me, moreover when you want my help.

Other Useful Transition Words to Add an Idea:

De todas formas (maneras, modos) 
In any case, anyhow

De cualquier manera
In any case, anyhow

Sobre todo
Above all, especially

Y
And

To Explain an Idea

Sometimes you don’t want to add a new idea, but explain better the one you were just talking about. These transition words will help you with that:

es decir – that is, I mean

La comida mexicana es muy interesante. Es decir, me encanta como mezcla diferentes sabores.
Mexican food is very interesting. I mean, I love how it mixes different flavors.  

por ejemplo – for example, for instance

Me gusta mucho tu estilo, por ejemplo esos zapatos están increíbles. 
I like your style a lot, for example those shoes are amazing!

en otras palabras – in other words

En otras palabras, hiciste un gran trabajo. 
In other words, you did a great job. 

así – thus, thereby

Trabajé de mesero y así pude pagar mi universidad. 
I worked as a waiter and thus I could pay my tuition fees. 

To Contrast and Compare

When you want to contrast or compare to different ideas, you can use one of these transition words in Spanish: 

aunque – although, even though

Me gusta mucho el básquetbol, aunque el fútbol es mi deporte favorito. 
I like basketball a lot, although football is my favorite sport. 

pero – but

Sí quiero ir al cine, pero tengo mucha tarea. 
I do want to go to the movies, but I have a lot of homework. 

sin embargo – however, nevertheless

Me gustaría aprender francés, sin embargo prefiero el español.
I’d like to learn French, however I prefer Spanish. 

a pesar de – despite, in spite of

Ganamos el partido, a pesar de que éramos menos jugadores.
We won the game, in spite of having less players. 

Other Useful Transition Words to Contrast and Compare:  

Al contrario
On the contrary

Aun así
Even so

Sino 
But

En cambio
On the other hand, instead

To Summarize

These transition words are useful to conclude your idea. 

En resumen – to sum up

En resumen, se trata de uno de tus mejores trabajos. 
To sum up, this is one of your best works. 

Para terminar – lastly, finally

Para terminar, debo aceptar que fue una gran experiencia. 
Finally, I have to accept that it was a great experience. 

En conclusión – in conclusion, in a nutshell

En conclusión, es la mejor decisión que he tomado. 
In a nutshell, it’s the best decision that I’ve ever taken. 

Other Useful Transition Words to Summarize:

En síntesis
In short

En otras palabras
In other words

Al fin y al cabo
All in all

Después de todo
After all  

En Conclusión

Now that you know how useful transition words in Spanish can be, start using them in real life conversations and see how much your speaking in Spanish improves. Sign up today for a free trial class with one of our certified teachers from Guatemala, and impress them with the natural flow of your speech thanks to the smart use of transition words!

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“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
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• How to Build a Spanish Practice Routine That Sticks (And Doesn’t Spark Eye Rolls)
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The post 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

I’m not exaggerating—if you master today’s post, you’ll master all Spanish conjugations and with that, most of your current mistakes when writing and speaking in the language will be gone.  

Keep reading to discover what the Spanish tenses are, how to conjugate the 18 of them, and what you can express with each one of them. 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What are the Spanish tenses?
• Which are the Spanish moods?
• Master the 18 Spanish tenses

What Are the Spanish Tenses? 

Just as their counterparts in English, the Spanish tenses refer to time. The reason for their existence is “to inform about the moment in time when an action takes place.” The most common tenses are present, past, and future, but in Spanish you have up to 15 more tenses to express yourself.

These 18 Spanish tenses in total are divided into simple and compound tense. Simple tenses only have a main verb, while compound tenses include the auxiliary verb haber before the main verb in past participle: he estado (I have been). 

Which Are the Spanish Moods? 

The other reason for having so many different Spanish tenses is the existence of three moods: indicative, subjunctive, and imperative. Moods indicate the intention of the speaker and help you distinguish between different tenses. 

The good news is that the imperative doesn’t use any tenses, so we can forget about it for now. The indicative is thought of as the “normal” mood, you usually write or speak in the indicative mood. In the indicative mood, you express the meaning of the verb as a reality. 

The subjunctive mood, on the other hand, has nothing normal about it and requires a deep understanding of how it works before Spanish learners are able to master it. I strongly recommend you to read about the Spanish subjunctive.

Master the 18 Spanish Tenses

Find in the following lines an introduction to each one of the 18 Spanish tenses, divided by mood and between simple and compound tenses. 

In its “natural” form (infinitive), every verb in Spanish ends either on -ar, -er, -ir. For that reason, I’m including a conjugation of one regular verb for each tense and ending. These verbs are: comprar (to buy), correr (to run), and vivir (to live).

Indicative Mood Simple Tenses

This is the most common combination of mood and tenses, which means these are the conjugations that you’re going to use more. 

Present 

Also known as the “present simple.” Use this tense to talk about things that happen in general, or about habits. 

Corro todas las noches. 
I run every night.  

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Preterite

The preterite is one of the Spanish tenses used to speak about the past. The imperfect is the other one. If you want to learn more about these two Spanish tenses check out our post about All You Ever Needed to Know About Spanish (Simple) Past Tense Verbs.

Use the preterite to talk about events that occured at a certain time in the past.  

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Imperfect

The imperfect is that “other” simple past tense in Spanish. Use it to talk about “past actions without a definite end,” when you put an emphasis on the process of the action, or habitual events in the past.

Future

There are two Spanish tenses to talk about the events that will happen at any moment after the present moment: the future and the conditional. The future translates to English using the word “will” and it straightforward expresses events that are about to happen or will happen at some point after right now. 

It has the characteristic of changing the whole verb, and because of that it’s easier to learn as all verbs have the same conjugation regardless of their infinitive ending.

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Conditional

The conditional is basically the Spanish equivalent of the “would + verb” construction in English, but for a deeper understanding of how it works please read What is the Conditional Tense in Spanish?

The conditional is one of the easiest tenses to conjugate as it keeps the verb in its infinitive form and only adds an inflection at the end of it, for the three types of regular verbs (-ar, -er, -ir).

Indicative Mood Compound Tenses

As I said before, the indicative mood is the most commonly used since we use it to express things that happen in reality. Compound tenses include two verbs, an auxiliary one which always is haber (to have) and the main verb in its past participle form. Learn more details about How to Use the Past Participle as an Adjective in Spanish.  

Present Perfect

The present perfect is the first one on this list of Spanish tenses that’s made up of two verbs: haber + main verb in past participle. Use the perfect present for:

• Events that started in the past, have continued until the present, and may continue into the future.
• Events that occurred in a non-specific time in the past. 
• Events that just took place in the recent past. 

Translate to English as “have/has + past participle verb.” 

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Preterite Perfect

Also known as past anterior, preterite perfect helps you to talk about an action in the past that took place before another action in the past. Its use is minimal and limited to formal language and literature mostly. In other words, don’t spend too much time trying to memorize and use this verb tense.

Translate to English as “had + past participle verb.” 

Past Perfect 

The dreaded pluscuamperfecto also helps you to explain something that “had happened before something else happened.” Read this post to Master the Past Perfect Spanish Tense (El Pluscuamperfecto). 

The pluscuamperfecto is the reason the preterite perfect isn’t as commonly used anymore. 

Translate to English as “had + past participle verb.”

Conditional Perfect

Use the conditional perfect to talk about suppositions in the past, complete or finished requests, invitations, or suggestions, and future actions from a past perspective. 

Translate to English as “would have + past participle verb.”

Future Perfect

The future perfect is one of the most complex Spanish tenses there are. It allows you to “look back to the past from a point in the future.”

Translate to English as “will have + past participle verb.”

Take Note

Did you notice how all the compound tenses have the exact same conjugation of haber, the helping verb? Meanwhile, the main verbs (comprar, correr, vivir) morphed into their past participle forms. 

My point is—while, yes, these are a lot of conjugations to learn, they’re not as many (and difficult) as you think at closer inspection! 

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Subjunctive Mood Simple Tenses

If the indicative was the “normal” mood, then the subjunctive is the “weird” one. You use the subjunctive to talk about things that are not part of reality, such as wishes and desires, among many other things.

Present

Use the present subjunctive to express uncertainty, doubt, and hope. 

Imperfect 1

There are two imperfect tenses in subjunctive. Both are correct and you can use whichever you prefer and it makes no difference. Use the imperfect subjunctive to express a point of view in the past. 

Imperfect 2

Same situations apply, it’s just a different way of expressing the same idea. If anything, this imperfect tense is more used in Spain than in Latin America. 

Future

This Spanish tense is almost obsolete these days, but it’s still used in formal language when a verb in present or future requires the subjunctive in the main clause and refers to a future action. 

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Subjunctive Mood Compound Tenses

These are arguably the most complex Spanish tenses that exist. So much that some of them don’t even have a direct translation to English. 

Present Perfect

Use the present perfect subjunctive when a verb requiring the subjunctive in the main clause is in the present, future, or present perfect. The only difference with the present subjunctive is that you have to use the present perfect subjunctive when the dependent clause is in the past, while you use the present subjunctive when the dependent clause is in the present or future. 

Past Perfect 1

Use the past perfect subjunctive to talk about hypothetical situations, regrets, or hindsight. This is the equivalent subjunctive compound tense to the imperfect, so there are also two versions of it. 

Past Perfect 2

Same case as the imperfect, this version is more widely used in Spain. Besides that, there’s no other difference between the two subjunctive past perfect tenses. 

Future Perfect

Another rarely used tense in modern Spanish. You can use it to talk about actions that have happened, should have happened, or could have happened at some point in the future.

Practice Your Spanish Tenses

I know that was a lot of information to digest in one single post. But, when you analyze the Spanish tenses closely, you can see that many of them change only slightly from one to the other, and that perfect tenses are quite easy to master as their conjugations are the same for every verb. 

Do you want to know the good news? There are no more tenses or conjugations! Now, you know them all and you can focus on introducing them one by one to your daily conversations in Spanish. Sign up for a free class to work through all 18 tenses with native Spanish teachers from Guatemala!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies? Check these out!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish

The post Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You) appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

First, I’ll remind you what an adverb and clause is, and will explain what adverbial clauses are. Second, you’ll learn different types of adverbial clauses in Spanish. Last, but definitely not least, you’ll learn when to use the indicative or the subjunctive mood in the adverbial clauses.

¡Empecemos!

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Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today.

What Are Adverbs, Clauses, and Adverbial Clauses?

Before getting into detail about adverbial clauses in Spanish, let’s have a quick refresher about adverbs. What are they?

You might remember that an adverb is one of the eight parts of speech, and it modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs help us determine where, when, how, how long, and how often things happen. If you want to learn more, you can have a look at 50 common Spanish adverbs to use them in your daily conversations. 

Next, what is a clause? 

A clause is a group of words that include at least a subject and a verb, and it depends on or is included in a bigger sentence. 

And now, our main question. 

What is an adverbial clause? 

As you can see, it’s a clause, so it’s always a group of two or more words that functions as an adverb. This group of words works as a single unit and indicates when, why, or in what way an action happens.

For example:

Voy a visitar a mi amiga cuando ya viva aquí.
I’m going to visit my friend once she lives here.

Cuando ya viva aquí is an adverbial clause that modifies the verb visitar and tells us when I’m going to visit my friend. 

Easy, isn’t it? Let’s have a look at the most frequent types of adverbial clauses.

Adverbial Clauses of Time

These clauses tell us when the action happened or will happen. The most used ones are introduced by the following words. 

cuando – when

antes de (que) – before

después de (que) – after

hasta que – until

en cuanto – as soon as

mientras – while

siempre que – whenever, every time that

For example:

Te llamaré cuando termine.
I will call you when I finish.

Como dulces siempre que puedo.
I eat sweets whenever I can.

Have you noticed that there is the subjunctive mood used in the first sentence but not in the other one. I’ll explain to you later why it’s so.

Adverbial Clauses of Manner

These clauses express how the action of the main sentence is done. If you can substitute the clause with an expression así (like this) or de esta manera (in this way), then you’re dealing with an adverbial clause of manner.

For example: 

Yo manejo como me enseñó mi papá. – Yo manejo de esta manera.
I drive the way my dad taught me. – I drive this way.

The connectors that introduce the adverbial clauses of manner in Spanish are:

como – how

tal y como – just like

así como – as well as

de acuerdo con lo que – according to what

del mismo modo que – in the same way that

tal cual – just as it is

según – according to

Adverbial Clauses of Condition

These clauses indicate that something will happen depending on some condition and they are introduced by the following words:

a condición de que – on condition that

a menos que / a no ser que – unless

con tal de que – provided that

The greatest part is that all of them require the subjunctive, so you don’t need to wonder what to add afterward.

No lo podrás comprar a menos que tengas mucho dinero.
You won’t be able to buy it unless you have a lot of money.

You can substitute a menos que with any of the expressions we mentioned earlier.

Adverbial Clauses of Concession

They show a contrast with the other part of the sentence. It means that something happened or will happen in spite of something else.

The conjunction that will introduce this type of adverbial clauses in Spanish are:

aunque – although, even if

a pesar de que – in spite of, despite

pese a que – in spite of, despite

Nunca lo lograrás aunque te esfuerces mucho.
You will never achieve it even if you try a lot.

Lo hizo, aunque no le dejaban.
He did it, although they didn’t let him.

The same as with the adverbial clauses of time, the concessive adverbial clauses can use either indicative or subjunctive. Keep reading to know when to use one or the other.

Adverbial Clauses of Purpose

These clauses indicate for what objective an action happened or will happen and they are introduced by the following words:

para – for

para que – so that

de manera que – so, so that

Para will be followed by an infinitive and the other two will always use the subjunctive.

Trabajo para comprarme un coche.
I work to buy a car.

Lo dibujé para que sonrieras.
I drew it to make you smile.

Indicative or Subjunctive? How to use the adverbial clauses in Spanish.

As we mentioned earlier, the adverbial clauses can be followed by the indicative or subjunctive mood depending on various factors. Let’s divide them into three groups to simplify things:

1. Adverbial clauses that require the subjunctive mood.
2. Adverbial clauses that require the indicative mood.
3. Adverbial clauses that can use either the subjunctive or the indicative mood.

1. Adverbial Clauses in Spanish Using Always the Subjunctive 

The following conjunctions will always introduce an adverbial clause in the subjunctive mood:

en caso de que – in order that, so that

sin que – without

con tal de que – as long as

a menos que – unless

para que – so that

antes de que – before

mientras – as long as

a fin de que – in order that, so that

siempre y cuando – as long as, provided that

For example:

En caso de que tengas dudas, llámame.
In case you have questions, call me.

Hazlo antes de que salgas.
Do it before you go out.

Lo puedes comprar, siempre y cuando lo compartas con tu hermana.
You can buy it, as long as you share it with your sister.

2. Adverbial Clauses in Spanish Using Always the Indicative

There are some adverbial conjunctions that always use the indicative because they talk about something that is seen as habitual, completed, or sure.

The adverbial clauses with the indicative mood no matter what will be introduced by:

porque – because

ya que – considering that, since

puesto que – since

For example:

Voy a estudiar las cláusulas adverbiales ya que no las entiendo.
I’m going to study adverbial clauses since I don’t understand them.

Mi mejor amiga va a vivir en México puesto que tiene un novio de ahí.
My best friend is going to live in Mexico since she has a boyfriend from there.

Los estudiantes trabajan mucho porque quieren saber más.
Students work hard because they want to know more.

3. Adverbial Clauses in Spanish Using Subjunctive or Indicative

This is probably the most difficult part for Spanish students and it takes some time to learn the difference. There are some adverbial clauses that can be followed either by indicative or subjunctive, depending on what you want to express. The general rule is that the subjunctive mood is used when there is no certainty or the action has not happened yet.

For example:

Te veo cuando puedo. 
I see you every time I can.

Te veré cuando pueda. 
I will see you when I can.

In the second case, the action has not happened yet and there is no absolute certainty it will, that’s why you have to use the subjunctive. 

Adverbial conjunctions that will result in adverbial clauses either in indicative or subjunctive mood are:

como – as, how, however

(a) donde  – where, wherever

tan pronto como – as soon as

hasta que – until

en cuanto – as soon as

aunque – although, even though

después de que – after

cuando – when

You see, it wasn’t that difficult! You are now an expert on adverbial clauses in Spanish. You just need to remember to use the indicative when an action is complete, habitual, or factual and the subjunctive mood when it’s hypothetical or has not yet occurred.

Practice Time!

Now, that you know all the rules and different types of adverbial clauses, the best way to learn them is to practice. Are you ready to talk to a native Spanish speaker and show off your skills? I invite you to sign up for a free class and perfect the adverbial clauses in Spanish with one of our friendly native, certified Spanish teachers from Guatemala.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• How to Build a Spanish Practice Routine That Sticks (And Doesn’t Spark Eye Rolls)
• Why Learning Spanish Feels Harder as an Adult, And What You Can Do About It

The post All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Many students of Spanish struggle with the distinction, and even native Spanish speakers make mistakes with the use of these conjunctions. 

However, it’s easy to learn when you should use pero in Spanish and when to use sino in Spanish.

Don’t believe me? Keep reading, and I promise that at the end, you’ll be able to take a multiple choice quiz on the difference between pero and sino and get all the answers right.

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Sentence Conjunctions and Connection Words

Before we go into the details of pero and sino, let’s review some grammar rules to make sure we’re on the same page.

Like in English, Spanish uses linking or connective words. There are two types of them:

1. Conjunctions – connect ideas within clauses and sentences

2. Transition words – connect sentences and paragraphs

Pero and sino are both conjunctions, meaning you should use them to link ideas within the same sentence. To be more precise, they belong to a specific group of coordinating conjunctions that you use to express contrast.

To learn more about other conjunctions and transition words, check out The Essential Guide to Spanish Linking Words. 

Differences Between ‘Pero’ and ‘Sino’

Before we focus on the difference between pero and sino, let’s take a look at their similarities. (These are the reason for all the confusion!)

First, they both translate to “but” in English. Then, you use both of them as a coordinating conjunction to express contrasting ideas. 

However, they’re not synonyms.  

You’ll use pero in Spanish to add information to the statement before it. Possible translations: but, however, and nevertheless.

Sino in Spanish contradicts or corrects the statement before it. It translates into: but, but rather, and but instead. 

Let’s see each one of them with example sentences and detailed instructions on how to use them.

How To Use ‘Pero’ in Spanish

As I mentioned, pero adds information that contrasts with the idea in the first sentence. Let’s take a look at some example sentences with pero in Spanish.

Me gustan las manzanas pero también me gustan las peras.
I like apples, but I also like pears. 

Me gustan las bananas, pero no las piñas. 
I like bananas, but I don’t like pineapples.

No me gustan las fresas pero sí me gustan los arándanos. 
I don’t like strawberries, but I do like blueberries.

No me regalaste nada para mi cumpleaños pero me llamaste. 
You didn’t give me anything for my birthday, but you called me. 

In the above sentences you could substitute “but” with “however” or “nevertheless.” 

The formula for using pero in Spanish is simple: statement 1 + pero + statement 2.

The statements can be positive or negative. The second statement introduces a contrasting idea that adds information to the information in statement 1. And of course, you can use this conjunction in any tense or mood combination.

No quiero ir al cine pero quiero ir al concierto.
I don’t want to go to the movies, but I want to go to the concert.

Quiero comer rico pero no quiero comer aquí.
I want to eat well, but I don’t want to eat here.

No quise salir pero tampoco quise quedarme en casa.
I didn’t want to go out, but I didn’t want to stay home either.

Quiero leer un libro pero que sea bueno. 
I want to read a book, but I want it to be a good one.

How To Use ‘Sino’ in Spanish

Like pero, sino introduces a contrasting idea. In this case, however, the second information negates or contradicts the idea in statement 1. Sino only appears after a negative statement. 

Be careful. Sino is a single word. “Si no” exists in Spanish but means “if not.”

No voy a salir si no vamos en coche.
I’m not going out if we’re not going by car. 

The formula for sino in Spanish is slightly different from the formula for pero. There are even three possible formulas: Negative statement + sino + noun.

You’ll use this formula if the verb in the first statement also applies to the second sentence.

Let’s see sino in Spanish in sentences: 

No me gustan las manzanas sino las bananas. 
I don’t like apples, but I like bananas.

Do you remember a similar sentence from above?

No me gustan las fresas pero sí me gustan los arándanos. 
I don’t like strawberries but I do like blueberries.

In the sentence with pero, you’re adding an idea that contrasts with the first negative statement.

In the sentence with sino, you give a substitute for the first negative idea instead of adding new information. 

In the sentence “No me gustan las manzanas sino (me gustan) las bananas,” we don’t need to repeat the verb, as it is the same as in the first sentence. 

What happens if we want to use a different verb in the second statement? The formula changes to: negative statement 1 + sino que + statement 2.

No hice mi tarea sino que pasé la tarde leyendo un libro nuevo.
I didn’t do my homework, but rather spent the afternoon reading a new book.

No sólo… sino (que) también

Sino is also often used with an expression no sólo that appears in the first statement. In this case you need to use sino también or sino que también in the second statement. Sino que también appears when the verb in the second sentence is different from the verb in the fist statement.

In this case sino (que) también adds information and does not negate the idea from the first statement. The use of pero in such a construction is incorrect, although you will hear even  native Spanish speakers use it.

Mi madre no sólo sabe cocinar sino también sabe hacer pasteles. 
My mother not only knows how to cook, but also how to bake.

Andrés no sólo no es amable sino que también pelea con todos.
Andres is not only unkind, but also fights with everyone.

‘Pero’ and ‘Sino’ in Spanish – Multiple-Choice Quiz

Now that you know the difference between pero and sino, let’s see how well you do on this quiz. Remember, there’s only one possible correct answer .

Practice Spanish in Conversation

It’s easy to see the difference between pero and sino in Spanish if you spend some time understanding how they function in a sentence.

Now that you know all the theories, it’s time to focus on production. Remember, you want to use Spanish in conversation, understand and talk to other people. (Did you know that there are 41 million native Spanish speakers in the U.S. alone?)

Sign up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy and start using pero and sino in Spanish in real conversations! Practice Spanish in a 1-to-1 class with one of our friendly and professional teachers from Guatemala. Check out our affordable pricing and flexible programs!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

The post The Ultimate Guide to the Differences Between ‘Pero’ and ‘Sino’ in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Pink Floyd

Did you know that one of the most famous lyrics in the history of rock is grammatically incorrect? 

What a bummer, right? 

However, if Pink Floyd were a Spanish band suddenly this problem would simply go away. 

Why? 

Because in English double negatives aren’t considered correct, but we love double negatives in Spanish!

In today’s post, we’ll explore the weird but fascinating universe of double negatives in Spanish. If you’re not sure what’s a double negative, don’t worry we’ll start there. Then, we’ll discuss why double negatives are accepted in Spanish but not in English, and finally we’ll learn how to form your own double negatives in Spanish. 

Forget about what Pink Floyd says, we do need education. 

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What’s a Double Negative? 

According to the Oxford Learner’s dictionary a double negative is “a negative statement containing two negative words.” For example, that famous phrase from Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick on the Wall”: 

We don’t need no education.  

The statement is negative because what they’re expressing is that education is not needed. To say this, the legendary British band uses two negative words: “don’t” and “no.”

However, Oxford also tells us that “this use is not considered correct in standard English.”

Meaning that Roger Waters may be a great musician, but not so great in grammar. Apparently, this is a common trait among legendary musicians: 

“I can’t get no satisfaction.” Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones.

“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.” Bill Withers (that song from the “Notting Hill” film).

“I wasn’t looking for nobody when you looked my way.” Rihanna (Don’t Stop the Music).

Double Negatives in English

Using double negatives in English can even trigger international political crises, so it’s better to understand why their use isn’t accepted as grammatically correct in English. 

According to Lexico “two negative elements cancel each other out to give a positive statement instead.” In theory, this would mean that when a whole generation of young people was singing with Waters “we don’t need no education,” they were actually meaning that they needed education. 

That would also mean that Mick Jagger can get satisfaction, which would render the whole meaning of his life—pointless.  

But I’m digressing. 

Double Negatives in Spanish

After learning all that about double negatives in English, you may be surprised to discover that double negatives in Spanish are not only accepted, but sometimes they’re even required. Moreover, you can have perfectly correct triple negatives in Spanish with no problem at all. 

While in English “two negatives cancel each other out,” in Spanish the negatives reinforce each other, rather than canceling themselves out. This is not so rare, it happens also in other languages, and even in English up to the 16th century.  

How to Use Double Negatives in Spanish

In order to properly use double negatives in Spanish, there are a couple of rules to consider: 

1. Don’t mix positive and negative words in statements. 

2. Don’t use more than one negative term before the verb. (As an exception to this rule the words nunca jamás or “never ever” can be used together before verbs).

Following these two simple rules, all you need now to create your own double negatives in Spanish are: 

1. Adverbs of Denial

2. Indefinite Pronouns

Adverbs of Denial

Linguists like to say that “adverbs are to verbs, what adjectives are to nouns.” Weird people, I know. But in this case they have a point. Adverbs help you to express when, where, how and for how long an action takes place. 

Adverbs of denial allow you to form double negatives in Spanish by reinforcing the negative meaning of your sentence. 

The most common adverbs of denial in Spanish are: 

• No – no, not
• Ni – neither, nor
• Nunca – never
• Jamás – never
• Tampoco – neither, either

Using these adverbs of denial all you need to do to form double negatives in Spanish is to follow this formula: 

No  + verb + adverb of denial + complement

Let’s see some examples: 

No te quiero ver nunca más. – I don’t want to see you ever again. 

No iré ni al cine ni a la fiesta. – I’m not going to the movies or to the party.

No he estado jamás en Argentina. – I’ve never been to Argentina. 

Yo no estoy de acuerdo tampoco. – I don’t agree either.  

If you have an adverb of denial before the verb, you can’t form a double negative. As in the following examples: 

Nunca quiero volverte a ver. – I never want to see you again. 

Jamás he estado en Argentina. – I’ve never been to Argentina. 

Yo tampoco estoy de acuerdo. – I don’t agree either. 

Indefinite Pronouns

Sometimes, to substitute a noun you can use an indefinite pronoun. These useful words make only a reference to the quantity and in some cases gender of the noun.

The most common indefinite pronouns in Spanish are: 

• Nadie – nobody, no one
• Nada – nothing
• Ningún, ninguno, ninguna – none, any, anyone

To form double negatives in Spanish using indefinite pronouns you should use this formula: 

No + verb + indefinite pronoun + complement

Examples: 

No tienes nada que temer. – You shouldn’t be afraid of anything.

No vino nadie a la fiesta. – Nobody came to the party. 

No tengo ninguna camisa blanca. – I have no white shirts. 

Yo no sé nada de eso. – I know nothing about it. 

No quiero ningún problema. – I don’t want any trouble. 

Again, if you see an indefinite pronoun before the verb, you can’t form a double negative: 

Nadie me quiere. – Nobody loves me. 

Nada es más importante que esto. – Nothing is more important than this. 

Ninguna persona debería hacer algo así. – Nobody should do anything like that. 

Nunca and Tampoco

One final way of creating double negatives in Spanish is by substituting the initial no in the sentence with nunca or tampoco and then using an indefinite pronoun as follows: 

Nunca/Tampoco + verb + indefinite pronoun + complement

Examples: 

Nunca viene nadie a mis fiestas. – No one ever comes to my parties. 

Nunca he viajado a ningún país de Sudamérica. – I’ve never traveled to any country in South America. 

When you use tampoco in Spanish you normally have previous information and you are responding to that. 

Yo tampoco quiero saber nada de ella. – I don’t want to know anything about her either.

Tampoco he viajado a ningún país de Europa. – I haven’t traveled to any country in Europe either.  

No Tienes Nada Que Perder

That’s a good example of a double negative in Spanish which means “you have nothing to lose.” Now that you’re learning all this useful information about Spanish grammar and that you know how to create double negatives in Spanish, sign up for a free trial class with one of our native Spanish speaking teachers and apply all that knowledge into a real-life conversation. 

Because it’s free, you have nothing to lose or as you would say now: no tienes nada que perder. And you have a lot to win.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Want more free Spanish lessons, grammar guides, and easy learning strategies? Check these out:

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish

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