Editing Spanish grammar (section)

== Verbs ==
{{Main|Spanish verbs|Spanish conjugation|Spanish irregular verbs}}

Every Spanish verb belongs to one of three form classes, characterized by the [[infinitive]] ending:  ''-ar'', ''-er'', or ''-ir''—sometimes called the first, second, and third conjugations, respectively.

A Spanish verb has nine [[Indicative mood|indicative]] tenses with more-or-less direct English equivalents:  the [[present tense]] ('I walk'), the [[preterite]] ('I walked'), the [[imperfect]] ('I was walking' or 'I used to walk'), the [[present perfect]] ('I have walked'), the [[Perfect (grammar)|past perfect]] —also called the [[pluperfect]]— ('I had walked'), the [[Future tense|future]] ('I will walk'), the future perfect ('I will have walked'), the [[Conditional mood|conditional simple]] ('I would walk') and the [[conditional perfect]] ('I would have walked').

In most dialects, each tense has six potential forms, varying for first, second, or third [[Grammatical person|person]] and for singular or plural [[Grammatical number|number]]. In the second person, Spanish maintains the so-called "[[T–V distinction]]" between familiar and formal modes of address. The formal second-person pronouns ({{lang|es|italic=yes|usted}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|ustedes}}) take third-person verb forms.

The second-person familiar plural is expressed in most of Spain with the pronoun {{lang|es|italic=yes|vosotros}} and its characteristic verb forms (e.g., {{lang|es|italic=yes|coméis}} 'you eat'), while in Latin American Spanish it merges with the formal second-person plural (e.g., {{lang|es|italic=yes|ustedes comen}}). Thus, {{lang|es|italic=yes|ustedes}} is used as both the formal and familiar second-person pronoun in Latin America.

In many areas of Latin America (especially Central America and southern South America), the second-person familiar singular pronoun {{lang|es|italic=yes|tú}} is replaced by {{lang|es|italic=yes|vos}}, which frequently requires its own characteristic verb forms, especially in the present indicative, where the endings are {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ás}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|-és}}, and {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ís}} for {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs, respectively. (See "{{lang|es|[[voseo]]}}".)

In the tables of paradigms below, the (optional) subject pronouns appear in parentheses.

=== Present indicative ===
The present indicative is used to express actions or states of being in a present time frame. For example:
* {{lang|es|'''Soy''' alto}} (I '''am''' tall). (Subject pronoun {{lang|es|"yo"}} not required and not routinely used).
* {{lang|es|Ella '''canta''' en el club}} (She '''sings''' in the club).
* {{lang|es|Todos nosotros '''vivimos''' en un submarino amarillo}} (We all '''live''' in a yellow submarine).
* {{lang|es|'''Son''' las diez y media}} ([It] '''is''' ten thirty).

{|class="wikitable"
|+Present indicative forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|hablar}} ('to speak')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) habl'''o'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) habl'''amos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú) habl'''as'''}}<br />{{lang|es|(vos) habl'''ás'''/habl'''áis'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) habl'''áis'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) habl'''a'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) habl'''an'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) habl'''a'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) habl'''an'''}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Present indicative forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|comer}} ('to eat')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) com'''o'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) com'''emos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú) com'''es'''}}<br/>{{lang|es|(vos) com'''és'''/com'''éis'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) com'''éis'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) com'''e'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) com'''en'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) com'''e'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) com'''en'''}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Present indicative forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|vivir}} ('to live')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) viv'''o'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) viv'''imos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú) viv'''es'''}}<br/>{{lang|es|(vos) viv'''ís'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) viv'''ís'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) viv'''e'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) viv'''en'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) viv'''e'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) viv'''en'''}}
|}

=== Past tenses ===
Spanish has a number of verb tenses used to express actions or states of being in a past time frame. The two that are "simple" in form (formed with a single word, rather than being [[compound verb]]s) are the [[preterite]] and the [[imperfect]].

==== Preterite ====
The preterite is used to express actions or events that took place in the past, and which were instantaneous or are viewed as completed. For example:
* {{lang|es|Ella se murió ayer}} (She died yesterday)
* {{lang|es|Pablo apagó las luces}} (Pablo turned the lights off)
* {{lang|es|Yo me comí el arroz}} (I ate the rice)
* {{lang|es|Te cortaste el pelo}} (You had your hair cut, Lit. "You cut yourself the hair")

{|class="wikitable"
|+Preterite forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|hablar}} ('to speak')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) habl'''é'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) habl'''amos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú, vos) habl'''aste'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) habl'''asteis'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) habl'''ó'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) habl'''aron'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) habl'''ó'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) habl'''aron'''}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Preterite forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|comer}} ('to eat')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) com'''í'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) com'''imos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú, vos) com'''iste'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) com'''isteis'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) com'''ió'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) com'''ieron'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) com'''ió'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) com'''ieron'''}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Preterite forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|vivir}} ('to live')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) viv'''í'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) viv'''imos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú, vos) viv'''iste'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) viv'''isteis'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) viv'''ió'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) viv'''ieron'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) viv'''ió'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) viv'''ieron'''}}
|}

Note that (1) for {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} and {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs (but not {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}}), the first-person plural form is the same as that of the present indicative; and (2) {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} and {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs share the same set of endings.

==== Imperfect or "copretérito" ====
The imperfect expresses actions or states that are viewed as ongoing in the past. For example:
* {{lang|es|Yo era cómico en el pasado}} (I was/used to be funny in the past).
* {{lang|es|Usted comía mucho}} (You ate a lot – literally, this sentence is saying "You used to eat a lot", saying that in the past, the person being referred to had a characteristic of "eating a lot").
* {{lang|es|Ellos escuchaban la radio}} (They were listening to the radio).
All three of the sentences above describe "non-instantaneous" actions that are viewed as continuing in the past. The characteristic in the first sentence and the action in the second were continuous, not instantaneous occurrences. In the third sentence, the speaker focuses on the action in progress, not on its beginning or end.

{|class="wikitable"
|+Imperfect forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|hablar}} ('to speak')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) habl'''aba'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) habl'''ábamos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú, vos) habl'''abas'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) habl'''abais'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) habl'''aba'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) habl'''aban'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) habl'''aba'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) habl'''aban'''}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Imperfect forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|comer}} ('to eat')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) com'''ía'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) com'''íamos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú, vos) com'''ías'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) com'''íais'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) com'''ía'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) com'''ían'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) com'''ía'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) com'''ían'''}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Imperfect forms of the regular {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|vivir}} ('to live')
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!First person
|{{lang|es|(yo) viv'''ía'''}}||{{lang|es|(nosotros/-as) viv'''íamos'''}}
|-
!Second person familiar
|{{lang|es|(tú, vos) viv'''ías'''}}||{{lang|es|(vosotros/-as) viv'''íais'''}}
|-
!Second person formal
|{{lang|es|(usted) viv'''ía'''}}||{{lang|es|(ustedes) viv'''ían'''}}
|-
!Third person
|{{lang|es|(él, ella) viv'''ía'''}}||{{lang|es|(ellos, ellas) viv'''ían'''}}
|}

Note that (1) for all verbs in the imperfect, the first- and third-person singular share the same form; and (2) {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} and {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs share the same set of endings.

==== Using preterite and imperfect together ====
The preterite and the imperfect can be combined in the same sentence to express the occurrence of an event in one clause during an action or state expressed in another clause. For example:
* {{lang|es|Ellos escuchaban la radio cuando oyeron un ruido afuera.}} (They were listening to the radio when they heard a noise outside.)
* {{lang|es|Yo estaba en mi cuarto cuando usted entró.}} (I was in my room when you came in.)
* {{lang|es|Era un día muy tranquilo cuando eso pasó.}} (It was a very peaceful day when that happened.)
In all three cases, an event or completed action interrupts an ongoing state or action. For example, in the second sentence, the speaker states that he was in his room (expressed through the imperfect to reflect the ongoing or unfinished state of being there) when the other person "interrupted" that state by entering (expressed through the preterite to suggest a completed action).

=== Present progressive and imperfect progressive ===
The present and imperfect progressive both are used to express ongoing, progressive action in the present and past, respectively. For example:
* {{lang|es|Estoy haciendo mi tarea.}} (I am doing my homework)
* {{lang|es|Estamos estudiando.}} (We are studying)
* {{lang|es|Estaba escuchando la radio.}} (I was listening to the radio)
* {{lang|es|Él estaba limpiando su cuarto.}} (He was cleaning his room)
The present progressive is formed by first conjugating the verb {{lang|es|italic=yes|estar}} or {{lang|es|italic=yes|seguir}}, depending on context, to agree with the subject, and then attaching a gerund of the verb that follows. The past (imperfect) progressive simply requires the {{lang|es|italic=yes|estar}} or {{lang|es|italic=yes|seguir}} to be conjugated, depending on context, in imperfect, with respect to the subject.

==== Forming gerunds ====
To form the gerund of an {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} verb, replace the {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} of the infinitive with {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ando}};
e.g. {{lang|es|italic=yes|jugar}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|hablar}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|caminar}} → {{lang|es|italic=yes|jugando}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|hablando}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|caminando}}.
For {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} or {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs, replace the {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} or {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} ending with {{lang|es|italic=yes|-iendo}};
e.g. {{lang|es|italic=yes|comer}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|escribir}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|dormir}} → {{lang|es|italic=yes|comiendo}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|escribiendo}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|durmiendo}} (note that {{lang|es|italic=yes|dormir}} undergoes the stem vowel change that is typical of {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs).<!--It is arguably not irregular for an ''-ir'' verb to raise its stem vowel.-->
In {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} verbs (and some -ir verbs, like disminuir) whose stem ends with a vowel, the {{lang|es|italic=yes|i}} of the {{lang|es|italic=yes|-iendo}} ending is replaced by {{lang|es|italic=yes|y}}: e.g. {{lang|es|italic=yes|leer}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|traer}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|creer}} → {{lang|es|italic=yes|leyendo}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|trayendo}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|creyendo}}.
In {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs whose stem ends with {{lang|es|italic=yes|e}}—such as {{lang|es|italic=yes|reír}} and {{lang|es|italic=yes|sonreír}}—the stem vowel {{lang|es|italic=yes|e}} is raised to {{lang|es|italic=yes|i}} (as is typical of {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verbs), and this {{lang|es|italic=yes|i}} merges with the {{lang|es|italic=yes|i}} of the {{lang|es|italic=yes|-iendo}} ending; e.g. {{lang|es|italic=yes|reír}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|freír}} → {{lang|es|italic=yes|riendo}}, {{lang|es|italic=yes|friendo}}.

=== Subjunctive ===
The [[Subjunctive mood#Spanish|subjunctive]] of a verb is used to express certain connotations in sentences such as a wish or desire, a demand, an emotion, uncertainty, or doubt.

==== Present subjunctive ====
Normally, a verb would be conjugated in the present indicative to indicate an event in the present frame of time.
* {{lang|es|Yo '''soy''' muy ambicioso.}} (I '''am''' very ambitious)
* {{lang|es|Marta '''trae''' la comida.}} (Marta '''brings''' the food)
If the sentence expresses a desire, demand, or emotion, or something similar, in the present tense, the subjunctive is used.
* {{lang|es|Quiero que '''seas''' muy ambicioso.}} (I want you to '''be''' very ambitious—literally, I want ''that you be'' very ambitious)
* {{lang|es|Me alegro de que Marta '''traiga''' la comida.}} (I am happy that Marta '''brings''' the food)
* {{lang|es|Es una lástima que '''llegues''' tarde.}} (It is a shame that you '''arrive''' late)

The subjunctive is also used to convey doubt, denial, or uncertainty.
* {{lang|es|Busco un amigo que '''sea''' simpático.}} (I search for a friend who will '''be''' likable or I search for a likable friend)
* {{lang|es|No hay ningún autor que lo '''escriba'''.}} (There are no authors who '''write''' that.)
* {{lang|es|Es posible que ella '''sepa''' mucho.}} (It is possible that she '''knows''' a lot.)
* {{lang|es|No parece que '''tengan''' mucho dinero.}} (It does not seem that they '''have''' much money.)
In the first two examples, the ideally likable friend has not yet been found and remains an uncertainty, and authors "who write that" are not known to exist. In the third, possibility is not certainty, but rather a conjecture, and the last expresses clear doubt. Thus, subjunctive is used.
Some of the phrases and verbs that require sentences to have subjunctive formation include:
* {{lang|es|Dudar, negar, esperar, alegrarse de, temer, sentir, pedir, aconsejar, exigir, desear, querer, mandar}}
* {{lang|es|Es necesario que, conviene que, no parece que, es dudoso que, es probable que, no creo que, importa que, parece mentira que}}
Some phrases that require the indicative instead, because they express certainty, include:
* {{lang|es|Es verdad que, es obvio que, es seguro que, parece que, es evidente que, creo que}}

To form the first-person singular subjunctive, first take the present indicative first-person singular ({{lang|es|italic=yes|yo}}) form of a verb. For example, the verbs {{lang|es|hablar, comer,}} and {{lang|es|vivir}} (To talk, to eat, to live) → {{lang|es|Yo hablo, yo como, yo vivo.}} Then, replace the ending {{lang|es|italic=yes|o}} with the "opposite ending". This is done in the following way: if the verb is an {{lang|es|italic=yes|-er}} or {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ir}} verb such as {{lang|es|comer, poder, vivir,}} or {{lang|es|compartir,}} replace the ending {{lang|es|italic=yes|o}} with an {{lang|es|italic=yes|a}} i.e. : {{lang|es|Yo como; yo puedo; yo vivo → Yo coma; yo pueda; yo viva.}} If the verb is an {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ar}} verb such as {{lang|es|hablar}} or {{lang|es|caminar}} replace the ending {{lang|es|italic=yes|o}} with an {{lang|es|italic=yes|e}}: i.e., {{lang|es|Yo hablo; yo camino → Yo hable, yo camine.}} This forms the first-person conjugation. The other conjugations work similarly, as follows:
* {{lang|es|'''Yo''' → Yo hable; yo coma; yo viva}}
* {{lang|es|'''Tú''' → Tú hables; tú comas; tú vivas}}
* {{lang|es|'''Él/Ella/Usted''' → Él hable; él coma; él viva}}
* {{lang|es|'''Nosotros''' → Nosotros hablemos; nosotros comamos; nosotros vivamos}}
* {{lang|es|'''Vosotros''' → Vosotros habléis; vosotros comáis; vosotros viváis}}
* {{lang|es|'''Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes''' → ellos hablen; ellos coman; ellos vivan}}

Since the {{lang|es|italic=yes|vos}} forms are derived from {{lang|es|italic=yes|vosotros}}, the following would be expected (and [[Central American Spanish|used in Central America]]):
* {{lang|es|'''Vos''' → Vos hablés; vos comás; vos escribás}}
However, the [[Royal Spanish Academy]], following [[Rioplatense Spanish|Argentinian usage]], recommends using the {{lang|es|italic=yes|tú}} forms:
* {{lang|es|'''Vos''' → Vos hables}};<ref>{{lang|es|[[Diccionario de la lengua española de la Real Academia Española]]}}, [http://lema.rae.es/drae/srv/search?id=i2L07VthUVcRjHg4jsgm hablar]</ref> {{lang|es|vos comas}};<ref>{{lang|es|[[Diccionario de la lengua española de la Real Academia Española]]}}, [http://lema.rae.es/drae/srv/search?id=VXZt8v5sFVcRjCuqbdPw comer]</ref> {{lang|es|vos escribas}}<ref>{{lang|es|[[Diccionario de la lengua española de la Real Academia Española]]}}, [http://lema.rae.es/drae/srv/search?id=9A7UfXpimVcRjjCsty4m escribir]</ref>

==== Imperfect subjunctive ====
Today, the two forms of the imperfect subjunctive – for example, "{{lang|es|hubiese}}" and "{{lang|es|hubiera}}", from "{{lang|es|haber}}" – are largely interchangeable.*  The {{lang|es|italic=yes|-se}} form derives (as in most Romance languages) from the Latin pluperfect subjunctive, while the {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ra}} form derives from the Latin pluperfect indicative. The use of one or the other is largely a matter of personal taste and dialect. Many only use the {{lang|es|italic=yes|-ra}} forms in speech, but vary between the two in writing.  Many may spontaneously use either, or even prefer the rarer {{lang|es|italic=yes|-se}} forms. The imperfect subjunctive is formed for basically the same reasons as the present subjunctive, but is used for other tenses and time frames.