Spanish Grammar Academy
¡Bienvenido!
Ready to master Spanish grammar? Choose a lesson to get started!
Present Tense Verbs
Learn how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the present tense.
Gender & Articles
Master noun gender rules and the correct use of definite and indefinite articles.
Adjective Agreement
Learn how adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
Lesson Title
Regular Verb Conjugation
In Spanish, verbs are grouped into three categories based on their endings:
-AR Verbs
Example: hablar (to speak)
- yo hablo
- tú hablas
- él/ella habla
- nosotros hablamos
- vosotros habláis
- ellos/ellas hablan
-ER Verbs
Example: comer (to eat)
- yo como
- tú comes
- él/ella come
- nosotros comemos
- vosotros coméis
- ellos/ellas comen
-IR Verbs
Example: vivir (to live)
- yo vivo
- tú vives
- él/ella vive
- nosotros vivimos
- vosotros vivís
- ellos/ellas viven
Grammar Rule: To conjugate a regular verb, remove the -ar, -er, or -ir ending and add the appropriate ending for the subject.
Practice Exercise:
Conjugate the verb trabajar (to work) for "yo":
Common Irregular Verbs
Some of the most frequently used Spanish verbs are irregular. Let's look at three important ones:
Ser (to be - permanent)
- yo soy
- tú eres
- él/ella es
- nosotros somos
- vosotros sois
- ellos/ellas son
Estar (to be - temporary)
- yo estoy
- tú estás
- él/ella está
- nosotros estamos
- vosotros estáis
- ellos/ellas están
Ir (to go)
- yo voy
- tú vas
- él/ella va
- nosotros vamos
- vosotros vais
- ellos/ellas van
Grammar Tip: Irregular verbs don't follow the standard conjugation patterns and need to be memorized individually.
Practice Exercise:
Complete the sentence: "Yo _____ al supermercado." (I go to the supermarket)
Stem-Changing Verbs
Some verbs undergo vowel changes in their stems when conjugated. Here are examples:
E → IE
querer (to want)
- yo quiero
- tú quieres
- él/ella quiere
- nosotros queremos
- vosotros queréis
- ellos/ellas quieren
O → UE
poder (to be able)
- yo puedo
- tú puedes
- él/ella puede
- nosotros podemos
- vosotros podéis
- ellos/ellas pueden
E → I
pedir (to ask for)
- yo pido
- tú pides
- él/ella pide
- nosotros pedimos
- vosotros pedís
- ellos/ellas piden
Note: The stem change occurs in all forms EXCEPT nosotros and vosotros.
Practice your skills:
Write a short paragraph using at least 3 different verbs in Spanish. Our AI will provide feedback on your grammar.
Noun Gender in Spanish
In Spanish, every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. This affects articles and adjectives used with the noun.
Masculine Nouns
Usually end in -o:
- el libro (the book)
- el plato (the plate)
- el zapato (the shoe)
Other common masculine endings:
- -ma: el problema (the problem)
- -or: el color (the color)
- -aje: el viaje (the trip)
Feminine Nouns
Usually end in -a:
- la casa (the house)
- la mesa (the table)
- la silla (the chair)
Other common feminine endings:
- -ción: la canción (the song)
- -dad: la ciudad (the city)
- -tad: la libertad (the freedom)
Important: There are many exceptions to these rules. For example, "la mano" (the hand) ends in -o but is feminine.
Practice Exercise:
Identify the gender of these nouns by selecting the correct article:
problema (problem)
mapa (map)
foto (photo)
Definite & Indefinite Articles
Articles must match the gender and number of the noun they accompany.
Definite Articles (the)
Singular:
- el (masculine)
- la (feminine)
Plural:
- los (masculine)
- las (feminine)
Examples:
- el libro (the book) → los libros (the books)
- la casa (the house) → las casas (the houses)
Indefinite Articles (a, an, some)
Singular:
- un (masculine)
- una (feminine)
Plural:
- unos (masculine)
- unas (feminine)
Examples:
- un libro (a book) → unos libros (some books)
- una casa (a house) → unas casas (some houses)
Special Case: Feminine singular nouns that begin with a stressed 'a' or 'ha' sound use the masculine article "el" to avoid awkward pronunciation, but they remain feminine nouns.
Examples: el agua (the water), el alma (the soul)
Practice Exercise:
Select the correct article for each noun:
_____ estudiantes (students)
_____ águila (eagle)
Adjective Agreement Rules
In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in both gender and number.
Gender Agreement
- Masculine adjectives usually end in -o
- Feminine adjectives usually end in -a
Examples:
- El libro rojo (The red book)
- La casa roja (The red house)
Number Agreement
- Add -s to adjectives ending in vowels
- Add -es to adjectives ending in consonants
Examples:
- Los libros rojos (The red books)
- Las casas rojas (The red houses)
- Los hombres felices (The happy men)
Some adjectives don't change: Adjectives ending in -e or consonants often have the same form for masculine and feminine (but still change for number).
Examples: inteligente (intelligent), joven (young), difícil (difficult)
Practice Exercise:
Select the correct form of the adjective:
La camisa es _____ (blanco)
Los perros son _____ (pequeño)
Placement of Adjectives
Unlike English, most Spanish adjectives go after the noun they describe.
Standard Placement:
English:
- The red book
- The tall building
- A happy dog
Spanish:
- El libro rojo
- El edificio alto
- Un perro feliz
Exceptions:
Some adjectives can go before the noun and may change meaning when they do:
Common examples:
- grande (big, great)
- una casa grande (a big house)
- un gran hombre (a great man)
- viejo (old)
- un amigo viejo (an elderly friend)
- un viejo amigo (a long-time friend)
When adjectives go before the noun:
- To express subjective/personal opinion
- For emphasis
- With certain common descriptors (bueno, malo, nuevo, viejo, etc.)
Practice your skills:
Write 3-4 sentences in Spanish using adjectives correctly. Our AI will provide feedback on your grammar.
¡Felicitaciones!
You've completed the lesson!
Your Spanish grammar skills are improving! Keep practicing to master these concepts.