Spanish Grammar Reference

Core Terms Explained

A quick-reference companion to the Latin American Spanish mission trip curriculum.

Verb — a word for an action or state of being: hablar (to speak), ser (to be), comer (to eat).

Infinitive — the unconjugated, "dictionary" form of a verb. In Spanish it always ends in -ar, -er, or -ir: hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), vivir (to live). It hasn't been changed to match a subject or time yet.

Conjugated verb — a verb that has been changed from the infinitive to match who is doing the action (the subject) and when. Hablar → hablo (I speak), hablas (you speak), habla (he/she speaks). The ending tells you the subject and tense.

Subject pronoun — the word naming who does the action: yo (I), tú (you), él/ella (he/she), nosotros (we), ustedes (you all), ellos/ellas (they).

Tense — when the action happens (past, present, future). The two main past tenses in Spanish:

Preterite — a completed, one-time past action. Hablé con el pastor (I spoke with the pastor — a finished event). Think of it as a snapshot.
Imperfect — an ongoing, habitual, or background past action. Hablaba español todos los días (I used to speak / was speaking Spanish every day). Think of it as a movie playing.

Mood — the attitude of the verb. The main ones:

Indicative — states facts: Dios existe (God exists).
Subjunctive — expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, or things not yet certain: Espero que vengas (I hope you come).
Imperative (commands) — gives orders or requests: Ora conmigo (Pray with me).

Article — a small word before a noun. Two types:

Definite article — refers to a specific thing ("the"): el (masc.), la (fem.), los/las (plural). La iglesia (the church).
Indefinite article — refers to a non-specific thing ("a/an/some"): un (masc.), una (fem.), unos/unas (plural). Una iglesia (a church).

Gender — every Spanish noun is masculine or feminine, which controls the article and adjective endings. El libro (the book, masc.), la mesa (the table, fem.).

Noun-adjective agreement — adjectives must match the noun's gender and number: el hermano bueno (the good brother), las hermanas buenas (the good sisters).

Reflexive verb — the subject acts on itself, marked by -se on the infinitive: levantarse (to get oneself up) → me levanto (I get up).

Object pronoun — replaces the noun receiving the action.

Direct (the thing acted on): lo veo (I see it/him).
Indirect (to/for whom): le hablo (I speak to him/her).