Spanish grammar, topic by topic
Spanish grammar sorted by topic, including ser vs estar, por vs para and the preterite vs the imperfect. Open one for a short summary and the lessons that teach it, with examples to listen to and exercises with answers. Prefer to go level by level? See all Spanish lessons by level.
Ser vs estar, explained6 lessons · A0–B2. Spanish has two verbs for “to be”.Por vs para, explained2 lessons · A2–B1. Por and para both often translate English “for”, which is why they get mixed up.Preterite vs imperfect, explained8 lessons · A2–B1. Spanish has two simple past tenses.The Spanish subjunctive, explained17 lessons · B1–C1. The subjunctive is a verb form for what is wanted, felt, doubted or not yet real.Gustar and verbs like it, explained4 lessons · A1–A2. Spanish doesn't say “I like coffee”.Spanish reflexive verbs, explained4 lessons · A1–B1. Reflexive verbs come with a pronoun that matches the subject: me levanto, te duchas, se acuesta.Spanish object pronouns, explained9 lessons · A1–C1. Object pronouns replace a noun you've already mentioned: ¿El pan? Lo compro yo.Spanish commands (the imperative), explained4 lessons · A2–B1. Spanish commands change with who you're talking to: a friend (tú), a group of friends (vosotros in Spain, ustedes in Latin America), or someone you address politely (usted, ustedes).Spanish future and conditional, explained6 lessons · A1–B2. For plans, everyday Spanish uses ir a + infinitive: voy a llamar.The Spanish present tense and stem-changing verbs8 lessons · A0–A1. The present tense is where every Spanish verb starts: hablo, como, vivo.Spanish perfect tenses: he hablado, había hablado and more6 lessons · A2–B2. The perfect tenses are haber + past participle: he hablado, había hablado, habré hablado, habría hablado.Tú vs usted (and vosotros vs ustedes), explained4 lessons · A0–C2. Spanish has a friendly “you” (tú) and a polite one (usted).Spanish articles, gender and agreement, explained7 lessons · A0–A1. Every Spanish noun is masculine or feminine, and the words around it agree: el coche nuevo, la casa nueva, los coches nuevos.Spanish pronunciation and accent marks, explained3 lessons · A0. Spanish is spelled almost exactly as it's said.