SPANISH 2 FINAL EXAM REVIEW
A. When talking or writing about the past in Spanish, we learned that there are two types of
past tense: preterite and imperfect.
PRETERITE endings for regular verbs:
–ar verbs
–er and –ir verbs
IMPERFECT endings for regular verbs:
–ar verbs
B. IRREGULAR VERBS - IMPERFECT
C. IRREGULAR VERBS - PRETERITE
–er and –ir verbs
Some verbs are only irregular in the preterite when used with certain subjects.
Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the PRETERITE tense for the subjects given:
D. The choice between using the preterite and imperfect is based on context and the
meaning of the sentence. List 4 reasons or situations where each is used in sentences:
PRETERITE is used when...
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________________
IMPERFECT is used when...
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________________
“Clue” words to look for to indicate imperfect:
“Clue” words to look for to indicate preterite:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
había (imperfect) = there was or there were - used when describing a scene in the past
hubo (preterite) = there was or there were - used to talk about an even that happened
D. In Spanish, INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS are used to tell to whom or for
whom an action is done. (hint: won’t match the subject of sentence)
*Look to see if the sentence has an “a __________” phrase to clarify to/for whom the action
is/was done.
Verbs that use INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS: These verbs are conjugated NOT
for the person in the sentence but for the “thing” or “things” being talked about. An
example in English is “My grades are important to me.” In Spanish, you would
conjugate the verb “importar” for the word “grades” (present tense would be
“importan”) and NOT for the person which is “me.”
aburrir = to bore
gustar = to like
encantar = to love
fascinar = to fascinate
molestar = to bother
importar = to matter / be important
quedar = to fit
parecer = to seem
doler = to ache/hurt (oue)
interesar = to interest
E. RECIPROCAL ACTIONS express the idea of “each other.” They use reflexive
pronouns “se” for “each other” in front of the verb for two or more people (not
including yo) and “nos” for “each other” in front of the verb for two or more people
that include yo.
Examples: casarse (to get married)
saludarse (to greet)
despedirse de (to say goodbye to)
abrazarse (to hug)
besarse (to kiss)
pelearse (to fight)
darse la mano (to shake hands)
F. The IMPERFECT PROGRESSIVE is used to talk about something that was going
on in the past for a period of time (sometimes interrupted by another action).
PART 1: conjugated form of ESTAR in the imperfect
+
PART 2: PRESENT PARTICIPLE form of verb
*remember to watch out for irregular present participles
estaba
estábamos
–ar verbs: drop the –ar and add –ando
–er / –ir verbs: drop the –er or –ir and add –iendo
estabas
estaba
Irregular present participles:
decir = diciendo
dormir = durmiendo
venir = viniendo
morir = muriendo
seguir = siguiendo
leer = leyendo
pedir = pidiendo
traer = trayendo
servir = sirviendo
creer = creyendo
repetir = repitiendo
vestir = vistiendo
estaban
G. The PRESENT PERFECT is a 2-part verb that is used to express that someone has
done something:
PART 1: conjugated form of HABER in the present
+
PART 2: PAST PARTICIPLE form of verb
* watch out for irregular past participles
he
–er / –ir verbs: drop the –er or –ir and add –ido
has
ha
–ar verbs: drop the –ar and add –ado
hemos
han
*IRREGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES:
decir (to say) = dicho (said)
hacer (to do/make) = hecho (done/made)
escribir (to write) = escrito (written)
volver (to return) = vuelto (returned)
devolver (to give back) = devuelto (gave back/returned)
caer (to fall) = caído (fallen)
creer (to believe) = creído (believed)
traer (to bring) = traído (brought)
leer (to read) = leído (read)
oir (to hear) = oído (heard)
morir (to die) = muerto (dead)
poner (to put/set) = puesto (put)
ver (to see) = visto (seen)
romper (to break) = roto (broken)
REFLEXIVE VERBS:
Use reflexive pronouns when conjugating a reflexive verb in ANY type of verb. The reflexive pronoun
must MATCH the subject and the verb will be conjugated to match the subject as well.
me
nos
te
se
se