Authors: Julie Gutin
THE
EVERYTHING
®
Spanish Grammar Book
Dear Reader,
I started learning my first foreign language, English, in grade school and it soon became one of my favorite classes. I liked the concept of communicating in a different language, and memorization came easily to me.
However, once I found myself in the United States, acquiring fluency in English proved to be more challenging. Some of the grammar didn’t make sense, and I had trouble understanding American pronunciation.
I can’t tell you exactly when I realized that I’d finally made English my own, but I do know that I couldn’t have done it without studying English grammar. I needed to learn the basics that come naturally to native speakers of English.
This is why I consider Spanish grammar a very important part of learning Spanish. Whether you’re a non-native speaker and need to figure out concepts like the subjunctive mood and the multiple past tenses or a native speaker who never had the opportunity to study Spanish in a classroom setting, learning Spanish grammar can truly help you gain full proficiency in this beautiful language.
The
EVERYTHING
®
Series
Editorial
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Production
Production Director | Susan Beale |
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Series Cover Artist | Barry Littmann |
Visit the entire Everything
®
Series at
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THE
EVERYTHING
®
SPANISH
GRAMMAR
BOOK
All the rules you need to master español
Julie Gutin
Copyright ©2005, F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
An Everything
®
Series Book.
Everything
®
and
everything.com
®
are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.
Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-59337-309-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-309-2
eISBN: 978-1-44052-311-3
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gutin, Julie.
The everything Spanish grammar book / Julie Gutin.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-59337-309-0
1. Spanish language–Grammar. 2. Spanish language–
Textbooks for foreign speakers--English. I. Title. II. Series: Everything series.
PC4112.G87 2005
468.2'421–dc22
2004026355
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a
Declaration of Principles
jointly adopted by a Committee of the American
Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963
To my parents, who made it all possible
Contents
T
OP
T
EN
R
EASONS TO
S
TUDY
S
PANISH
G
RAMMAR
C
HAPTER
1:
Welcome to the World of Spanish
C
HAPTER
3:
Start with the Basics
C
HAPTER
5:
Making Sense of Pronouns
C
HAPTER
6:
Adjectives and Adverbs
C
HAPTER
8:
Irregular Present Indicative Forms
C
HAPTER
9:
A Quick Verb Usage Guide
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
A Different Kind of Construction
What You Were Doing—the Imperfect
C
HAPTER
12:
Future and Conditional
Future and Conditional Clauses
C
HAPTER
13:
In the Mood—Subjunctive and Imperative
Irregular Present-Subjunctive Forms
With Reflexive or Object Pronouns
C
HAPTER
14:
Perfect Compound Tenses