Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 2
How This Book Is Organized 3
Part I: Reviewing the Basics 3
Part II: Writing in the Present 3
Part III: Writing for Specific Clarity 3
Part IV: Writing in the Past and in the Future 4
Part V: The Part of Tens 4
Part VI: Appendixes 4
Icons Used in This Book 4
Where to Go from Here 5
Part I: Reviewing the Basics 7
Chapter 1: Looking at Some Everyday Basics 9
Focusing on Spanish Numbers 9
Cardinal numbers 9
Ordinal numbers 13
Making Dates 16
Days 16
Months 17
Writing dates 18
Telling Time 20
Answer Key 25
Chapter 2: Selecting the Proper Part of Speech 27
Identifying and Using Parts of Speech 27
Nouns 28
Pronouns 29
Verbs 30
Adjectives 30
Adverbs 31
Utilizing a Bilingual Dictionary 33
Answer Key 36
Part II: Writing in the Present 37
Chapter 3: Sorting Out Word Gender 39
Marking Gender with Definite Articles 39
Identifying the definite articles 40
Using the definite articles 40
Omission of the definite articles 41
Contractions with the definite articles 42
The neuter lo 42
Marking Gender with Indefinite Articles 42
Identifying the indefinite articles 42
Omission of the indefinite articles 43
Person, Place, or Thing for $200: Using Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns 45
Dealing with demonstrative adjectives 45
Forming sentences with demonstrative pronouns 46
Pitting Masculine versus Feminine in the World of Spanish Singular Nouns 48
Reverse-gender nouns 49
Nouns that are the same for both genders 49
Nouns whose meanings change 50
Special cases 50
Adding to Your Knowledge with Noun Plurals 52
These Are My Things! Expressing Possession 54
Using de 54
Utilizing possessive adjectives 54
Replacing nouns with possessive pronouns 55
Answer Key 57
Chapter 4: Writing in the Present with Action 61
Using Subject Pronouns 61
Applying subject pronouns 62
Omitting subject pronouns 64
Writing (And Talking) in the Present 64
Regular verbs 65
Verbs with spelling changes 68
Verbs with stem changes 68
Verbs with spelling and stem changes 71
Irregular verbs 73
Expressions with irregular verbs 76
Answer Key 79
Chapter 5: Getting Answers with the Right Questions 81
Inquiring in Spanish 81
Asking yes/no questions 81
Asking for information 83
Becoming a Yes (Or No) Man: Answering Questions in Spanish 88
Answering yes 88
Answering no 88
Answering information questions 91
Answer Key 93
Chapter 6: Doing It Right Now: Gerunds and the Present Progressive 95
Gerunds: Putting the -ing in Everything 95
Forming the Gerunds of Regular Verbs 96
Forming the Gerunds of Stem-Changing and Irregular Verbs 96
The Present Progressive: Expressing an Action in Progress 98
Using estar 99
Using other verbs 99
Answer Key 103
Chapter 7: Expressing Yourself with Subjunctive Feeling 105
Forming the Present Subjunctive 105
Regular verbs 106
Verbs irregular in the yo form 107
Verbs with spelling changes 108
Verbs with stem changes 109
Verbs with spelling and stem changes 110
Irregular verbs 111
Spanning the Uses of the Present Subjunctive 113
After impersonal expressions 114
To express wishing, emotion, need, and doubt 117
After adjectives that express feelings or emotions 119
In relative clauses 120
Answer Key 122
Part III: Writing for Specific Clarity 125
Chapter 8: Coloring Your Sentences with Adjectives and Adverbs 127
Describing People and Things with Adjectives 127
Agreement of adjectives 128
Positioning of adjectives 133
Shortened forms of adjectives 134
Describing Verbs with Adverbs 135
Forming adverbs 135
Positioning of adverbs 138
Making Comparisons 139
Comparisons of equality 139
Comparisons of inequality 140
The superlative 140
Irregular comparatives 140
The absolute superlative 142
Answer Key 143
Chapter 9: Getting Attention with Commands 145
The Imperative Mood 145
Forming Formal Commands 146
Commanding with regular verbs 146
Commanding with other verbs 147
Issuing Informal Commands 151
Giving singular commands with tú 151
Giving plural commands with vosotros 156
Answer Key 162
Chapter 10: Being Clear and Concise with Object Pronouns 165
Dealing Directly with Direct Object Pronouns 166
Understanding direct object pronouns 166
Getting personal with the personal a 167
Using Indirect Object Pronouns 168
Selecting a Direct or an Indirect Object Pronoun 170
Common Spanish verbs requiring a direct object 171
Common Spanish verbs requiring an indirect object 171
Placing Object Pronouns Correctly 172
Doing Double Duty with Double Object Pronouns 174
Getting by with Gustar and Other Similar Verbs 176
Answer Key 179
Chapter 11: Reflecting on Reflexive Pronouns and Verbs 181
Recognizing and Using Reflexive Verbs 181
Using Reflexive Verbs in Special Cases 184
Considering Verbs with Special Reflexive Meanings 186
Using Reflexive Pronouns 188
Properly Placing Reflexive Pronouns 190
Answer Key 193
Chapter 12: Preparing to Connect with Prepositions 195
Reviewing Common Spanish Prepositions 195
Distinguishing One Preposition from Another 197
A 197
De 198
En and hasta 198
Por and para 199
Focusing on Prepositions Used with Infinitives 200
Spanish verbs requiring a 200
Spanish verbs requiring de 202
Spanish verbs requiring en 202
Spanish verbs requiring con 203
Spanish verbs requiring no preposition 203
Using Prepositional Pronouns 205
Answer Key 207
Part IV: Writing in the Past and in the Future 209
Chapter 13: Leaving It Completely in the Past 211
Forming the Preterit 211
Regular verbs 211
Verbs with spelling changes 213
Verbs with stem changes 215
Irregular verbs 216
Using the Preterit 221
Answer Key 223
Chapter 14: Looking Back with the Imperfect 225
Perfecting the Imperfect 225
Forming the imperfect of regular verbs 226
Forming the imperfect of irregular verbs 227
Uses of the Imperfect 228
Comparing the Preterit and the Imperfect 229
Clues to the preterit 231
Clues to the imperfect 231
Answer Key 235
Chapter 15: Seeing into the Future 239
Forming and Expressing the Future 239
Discussing the future by using the present 239
Using ir + a to express the near future 240
Sending regular verbs to the future 241
Sending irregular verbs to the future 243
Using the Future Tense to Foretell, Predict, and Wonder 244
Answer Key 247
Part V: The Part of Tens 249
Chapter 16: Ten Most Common Writing Mistakes in Spanish 251
Confusing Gender Differences 251
Insisting on Word for Word Translations 252
Forgetting the Personal a 252
Using the Indefinite Article with an Unqualified Profession 252
Mixing Up Por and Para 253
Confusing Direct and Indirect Objects 253
Misusing Gustar and Similar Verbs 255
Forgetting about Idioms with Tener 255
Using the Incorrect Past Tense (Preterit or the Imperfect) 256
Ignoring the Subjunctive 256
Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Writing Well in Spanish 257
Write in Complete Sentences 257
Use Correct Punctuation 258
Avoid Slang 258
Steer Clear of False Assumptions 259
Watch Out for Subject/Verb Agreement 259
Select the Appropriate Verb Tense/Mood 260
Correct Dangling Prepositions 260
Select the Proper Pronoun 261
Rely on the Net and Your Computer 261
Proofread Your Work 262
Chapter 18: Ten Important Verb Distinctions 263
Ser versus Estar 263
Saber versus Conocer 264
Tomar versus Llevar 264
Deber versus Tener Que 265
Preguntar versus Pedir 265
Jugar versus Tocar 265
Gastar versus Pasar 266
Dejar versus Salir 266
Volver versus Devolver 266
Poder versus Saber 266
Part VI: Appendixes 267
Appendix A: Verb Charts 269
Regular Verbs 269
-ar verbs 269
-er verbs 269
-ir verbs 270
Stem-Changing Verbs 270
-ar verbs 271
-er verbs 271
-ir verbs 272
-uir verbs (except -guir) 272
-eer verbs 273
-iar verbs 273
-uar verbs 273
Spelling-Change Verbs 273
-car verbs 273
-gar verbs 274
-zar verbs 274
Consonant + -cer or -cir verbs 274
Vowel + -cer or -cir verbs 274
-ger or -gir verbs 275
-uir verbs 275
Irregular Verbs 275
Appendix B: English-to-Spanish Dictionary 279
Appendix C: Spanish-to-English Dictionary 287
Index 303
Gail Stein taught foreign language for more than 30 years. She is the author of CliffsStudySolver Spanish I and Spanish II, and Webster's New World Spanish Grammar Handbook.
"The Dummies series is deservedly popular...It is packed with practical and informative lessons and reviews to develop Spanish skills." (Spain Magazine, February 2008)
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