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IB SL Spanish Summer Packet

Reciprocal verbs and pronouns
Overview
You can use reciprocal verbs to indicate that two or more people are equally performing an action on
each other. The most common translation is that two or more people do something to or with "each
other."
Antonio y yo nos besamos. (Antonio and I kiss each other.)
Os conocis? (Do you all know each other?)
Juan y Mara se casaron. (Juan and Maria got married (to each other).)
Los estudiantes se ayudan. (The students help each other.)
Reciprocal Pronouns
Reciprocal verbs are a combination of a verb and a reciprocal pronoun. Since reciprocal actions are
always two or more people performing an action on or to each other, there are only 3 reciprocal pronouns
and they are all plural.
Plural
1st person nos (to, for, from, or off ourselves)
2nd person os (to, for, from, or off yourselves)
3rd person se(to, for, from, or off themselves, yourselves)
Note that reciprocal pronouns have the exact same forms as reflexive pronouns. To differentiate a
reflexive action from a reciprocal action, the use of expressions such as uno al otro, uno a otro,
mutuamente, recprocamente, entre s, etc. can be added to a phrase to show the subjects are
performing the action on each other rather than to themselves. A s mismos is used for reflexive
expressions.
Se aman a s mismos. (They love themselves.)
Se aman uno al otro. (They love each other.)
No nos vemos a nosotros mismos. (We cant see ourselves.)
No nos vemos uno a otro. (We cant see each other.)
Reciprocal Verbs
While there is no definite list of reciprocal verbs, below you will find a chart of some common verbs that
can act on more than one subjects.
abrazarse (to hug each
other)
conocerse (to know each other) mirarse (to see each other)
ayudarse (to help each
other)
despedirse (to say good-bye to each
other)
pelearse (to fight with each
other)
besarse (to kiss each other) divorciarse (to divorce each other) reunirse (to get together)
casarse (to marry each estrellarse (to crash into each other) turnarse (to take turns)
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other)
Passive se
Overview
The pronoun se is used in passive sentences where the object to which the noun refers is also the subject
of the verb. Passive sentences are used to make general statements or requests and are common in
"want ads" and instructions in recipes and DIY projects.
Se busca casa con tres cuartos. (A house with three bedrooms is looked for/wanted.)
Se venden vestidos bonitos all. (Pretty dresses are sold there.)
Se servirn bebidas en el jardn. (Drinks will be served in the garden.)
Passive Se
The passive se is formed by combining se with the third person singular or plural of a verb, since the
subject/object is always an inanimate object.
se + 3rd person (singular/plural)
Examples
Se vende casa con 3 dormitorios y 2 baos. (A house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms is for
sale.)
Se cortan las papas y las cebollas en pedazos. (The potatoes and onions are cut into pieces.)
Se mezclan los ingredientes por 5 minutos. (The ingredients are mixed for 5 minutes.)
Singular or Plural?
If the object is singular, the verb is singular; if the object is plural, the verb is plural.
Placement
While it is most common to placed the passive se at the beginning of a phrase, it is also acceptable to
place it in the middle of a phrase.
A qu hora se abren las tiendas? (What time are the shops opened?)
Las casas se pintan de azul. (The houses are painted blue.)

Impersonal se
Overview
Impersonal expressions are used when the subject of a verb is unspecified or unknown (but is human).
They are mostly used to make general statements and to express rules, but also are very useful for
asking how to spell a word or what a word means.
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Se debe trabajar mucho para tener xito. (One should work hard to gain success.)
Se habla espaol en Costa Rica. (They speak Spanish in Costa Rica.)
Cmo se escribe chocolate? (How do you spell chocolate?)
Cmo se dice beach en espaol? (How do you say beach in Spanish?)
Notice that while the English translation contains one, they, or you, there is no subject specified in
Spanish.
Impersonal Se Formation
To form the impersonal se, verbs are always 3rd person singular and are commonly followed by a direct
object.
se + 3rd person singular
Examples
Se necesita que la gente proteja la Tierra. (It's necessary that people protect the Earth.)
Se habla espaol aqu. (Spanish is spoken here.)
Se dice que va a llover maana. (It's said it is going to rain tomorrow.)
Se prohibe fumar. (Smoking is prohibited.)
Impersonal se vs. passive se
Overview
Impersonal and passive constructions seem very similar and can be quite confusing until you see them
used together. They have quite different uses which can be seen below.
Impersonal Se
Impersonal expressions dont really have any specific person in mind when they make general statements
or questions about what they, one, or you, do, but rather people in general. That is what makes it
impersonal. There is no subject nor is there an outside agent acting on an object. You will use impersonal
expressions to find out how things are done according to custom, rule, or general consensus. They are
helpful for asking for directions, how to say things properly, what the rules are in a specific place, making
general statements, and so on.
Se habla espaol en Uruguay. (They speak Spanish in Uruguay.)
Cmo se va al teatro? (How does one get to the theater?)
Se escribe pastel p-a-s-t-e-l. (You spell pastel p-a-s-t-e-l.)
Cmo se dice table en espaol? (How do you say table in Spanish?)
Se dice que va a llover. (They say it is going to rain.)
* The construction is always se + 3rd person singular verb.
Passive Se
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Generally, we use the passive voice to indicate what happened to the object without saying who or what
carried out the action. The object is acted upon by an outside agent, which is not to be specified. You will
only use transitive verbs (verbs that require a direct object) in passive se constructions and you will also
mostly use non-living nouns and pronouns as the object. It is not common to refer to people using
the passive se.
Se comi la torta. (The cake was eaten.)
Se escribe el libro en espaol. (The book is written in Spanish.)
Se habla espaol aqu. (Spanish is spoken here.)
Se alquilan kayaks aqu. (Kayaks are rented here.)
Se venden carros usados hoy. (Used cars are being sold today.)
* The construction is se + 3rd person singular OR plural transitive verb. Use a singular verb for singular
objects and plural verb for plural objects.
Nosotros commands
Overview
The nosotros command is used when the speaker suggests an action to be performed by a group of
people he or she belongs to. There are two ways to form nosotros commands in Spanish: the subjunctive
form and the ir + a + infinitive form.
Trabajemos juntos. (Lets work together.)
Comamos aqu. (Lets eat here.)
Vamos a ir a la playa. (Lets go to the beach.)
Vamos a divertirnos! (Lets have some fun!)
The Subjunctive Nosotros Command Form
The subjunctive form for the nosotros command is most commonly used form in informal speech among
friends. To form the subjunctive nosotros command, simply state the verb in the nosotros form of
the present subjunctive.
Tomemos un taxi. (Let's take a taxi.)
Comamos aqu. (Let's eat here.)
Leamos los peridicos. (Lets read the newspapers.)
Exceptions
You will use the present indicative instead of the present subjunctive for the verb ir in the affirmative.
Vamos al restaurante. (Lets go to the restaurant.)
Vamos a nadar. (Lets go swim.)
Vmonos de aqu. (Lets get out of here.)
Vmonos de la casa en cinco minutos. (Lets leave the house in five minutes.)
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When attaching a pronoun to the end of a nosotros command, drop the final -s of the verb before
attaching the pronoun and add an orthographic accent to the second to last syllable of the verb. - See
Pronoun Placement below.
Negative Nosotros Commands
For negative nosotros commands, there is only one form: the present subjunctive. Simply add a no, or
other negative word, in front of the verb to make the command negative.
No nademos. (Lets not swim.)
No salgamos. (Lets not leave.)
Nunca vayamos all. (Lets never go there.)
Pronoun Placement
When attaching direct and indrect object pronouns or reflexive pronouns to the end of affirmative nosotros
commands, drop the final -s of the verb before attaching the pronoun and add an orthographic accent to
the second to last syllable of the original verb.
Sentemos + nos = Sentmonos aqu. (Let's sit here.)
Hagamos + se + la = Hagmosela. (Let's make it for her.)
Vamos + nos = Vmonos! (Lets go!)
Pronoun Placement
The pronoun(s) is/are attached to the end of affirmative commands. And since the main verb of the
command is also an infinitive, it will always be attached.
Vamos a sentarnos aqu. (Lets sit here.)
Vamos a dormirnos. (Lets go to sleep.)
Reflexive, object, and indirect object pronouns follow negative words but precede the verb.

No lo comamos. (Lets not eat it.)
No se lo demos. (Lets not give it to them.)
Present Perfect Subjunctive
The present perfect subjunctive (el pretrito perfecto de subjuntivo) functions the same as the present
perfect indicative, except that it follows all the rules for the subjunctive. It is used to describe an action
that happened in the past and continues or repeats into the present or an action that "has" happened in
the recent past. It can also describe an action that "will have" happened by a certain point as the present
perfect subjunctive has replaced thefuture perfect subjunctive.
Present Perfect Subjunctive Forms
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The present perfect subjunctive is a combination of the past participle and the present subjunctive of the
verb haber.
Present Perfect Subjunctive Formula
present subjunctive haber + past participle
Present Perfect Subjunctive Uses
Actions that happened in the past and continue or repeat into the present
Mi profesor duda que yo haya ledo el libro. (My professor doubts that I have read the book.)
Me asusto de que usted me haya llamado. (I am shocked that you called me.)
Es bueno que hayamos hablado. (It is good that we talked.)
Actions that have happened in the recent past
Me asusto de que ellas no hayan bailado bien. (I am shocked that they have not danced well.)
Lamentamos que ella no haya podido venir a la fiesta. (We regret that she was unable to
come to the party.)
Actions that will have been completed
Quiero que hayis escrito 5 pginas para el lunes. (I want you to have written 5 pages by
Monday.)
Es posible que ustedes hayan vuelto para marzo. (It is possible that you will have returned by
March.)
Wishes & wants in the subjunctive
Overview
The acronym WEIRDO helps many students remember when to use the Subjunctive instead of the
Indicative. This article discusses the first letter: W for Wishes and Wants.
Wishes
Wishing, wanting, demanding, desiring, expecting, ordering, and preferring all fall into this category. Also
mentioning the nonexistence or indefiniteness of something that is desired falls into this category.
Because the noun clause or dependent clause represents what we want from someone else, the actions
are possible but may never occur, thus they are in the subjunctive mood and not the indicative.
Espero que l me compre unas flores. (I hope that he buys me flowers.)
Esperamos que cocines bien. (We hope that you cook well.)
No hay nadie que quiera sacar la basura. (There is no one that wants to take out the trash.)
No tengo un hombre que me compre flores. (I dont have a man to buy me flowers.)
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The following verbs are commonly used to express a wish or a want and, when used as the verb in the
main clause of a sentence, will indicate that the following verb in the dependent clause will be in the
subjunctive. (When no subject change occurs, the verb that follows is generally placed in the infinitive.)
agradecer to be grateful Insister to insist no tener not to have
buscar to look for mandar to order pedir to request
desear to wish necesitar to need preferir to prefer
esperar to hope/to expect no encontrar not to find querer to want
exigir to demand no haber there is/are not

Emotions with the subjunctive
Overview
The acronym WEIRDO helps many students remember when to use the Subjunctive instead of the
Indicative. This article discusses the second letter: E - Emotions.
Emotions
Being annoyed, angry, happy, regretful, sad, scared, or surprised all fall into this category. Any personal
reaction to a situation is emotional. The focus is not on a factual observation of a situation but how it
makes the subject feel. Since how a person feels is always subjective, you use the subjunctive.
Me alegro de que sonras. (It makes me happy that you smile.)
Les molesta que l escuche la msica fuerte? (Does it bother you that he listens to loud
music?)
Siento mucho que no puedan venir a la fiesta. (Im sorry that they cant come to the party.)
Useful Verbs of Emotion
alegrarse de * to be glad gustar to like quejarse
to
complain
encantar to be delighted lamentar to regret sentir to feel
enojar to be angry maravillar to astonish sorprender to surprise
estar contento, enojado,
triste, etc.
to be glad, angry, sad,
etc.
molestar to annoy temer to fear
tener miedo de/a que to be afraid that
extraarse
que
to be amazed
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*This verb occasionally carries the subjunctive in its subordinate clause (more frequently in America than
in Spain). When this occurs the focus changes slightly from that of affectation to that of assertion (i.e. the
use of the indicative reveals the speakers intention to highlight the informational content of the
subordinate).
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Recommendations & requests with the subjunctive
Overview
The acronym WEIRDO helps many students remember when to use the Subjunctive instead of the
Indicative. This article discusses the fourth letter: R - Recommendations.
Recommendations
When a person recommends, suggests, wants, or asks another person to do (or not do) something, the
subjunctive is used since whether the person will do what is recommended is uncertain and
possibly may not happen. In this case, the que separates the recommender from the recommendation.
Mi doctor recomienda que beba ms agua. (My doctor recommends for me to drink more
water.)
Suplico que mi hija tenga ms cuidado. (I beg my daughter to be more careful.)
Sugieren que leas este libro. (They suggest for you to read this book.)
Dicen que veamos esa pelcula. (They say for us to watch that movie.)
Useful Verbs of Recommendation
aconsejar to advise proponer to suggest sugerir to suggest
decir to say recomendar to recommend suplicar to beg
ordenar to order rogar to beg dejar to let, allow
exigir to demand hacer to make/to force insistir to insist
mandar to order prohibir to forbid

Uncompleted or prospective actions with the
subjunctive
Overview
The subjunctive mood is used to express desires, doubts, the unknown, the abstract, and emotions, the
opposite of the indicative mood which is used to express actions, events, and states that are believed to
be true and concrete. Uncompleted actions, while not part of our WEIRDO acronym, is an important
group of circumstances that require the use of the subjunctive.
Limpiar el cuarto despus de que salgan. (I will clean the room after they leave.)
Me hablar tan pronto como llegue. (He will speak with me as soon as I arrive.)
No iremos a la playa a menos que vayan tambin. (We wont go to the beach unless they go
as well.)
These sentences describe what a person will do IF another action is completed. These prospective
actions are speculative in nature and there is no real assertion made as to whether or not they will occur.
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When one action is conditional upon another action being completed, you will use the subjunctive to
convey that uncertainty. Many phrases with conditional circumstances have a connecting phrase or
conjunctive expressions which introduce time limitations, conditions, concessions, or results.
Time Limitations
These conjunctions or conjunctive expressions give the condition that something be done at a certain
time.
antes (de) que before hasta que until
cuando when luego que as soon as
despus (de) que after siempre que whenever
en cuanto as soon as tan pronto como as soon as
mientras while
Llmame antes de que vengan. (Call me before they come.)
Estemos aqu hasta que llegue nuestro amigo. (Lets stay here until our friend arrives.)
Cuando vea a sus padres dar los saludos. (When I see your parents, I will tell them hello.)
Conditions
These expressions introduce the idea of unless something else happens, the other will not either.
dado que given that, since a no ser que unless, lest
en caso (de) que in case (that), if que whether
a menos que unless, lest sea que whether, if
con/a condicin de que on condition that siempre y cuando que provided that, as long as
con tal (de) que provided that sin que without
con tanto que provided that
Debemos esperarnos aqu dado que regrese. (We should wait here since she might return.)
No voy, a no ser que no vayas conmigo. (I am not going unless you go with me.)
Me ir, sea que se decidan a salir o no. (I will leave whether they decide to go or not.)
Concessions
These expressions introduce the idea of an action despite something else.
aunque * although, even if, though aun cuando even if, even when
a pesar de que * in spite of porque however
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Aunque sea un hombre difcil, sabe los negocios. (Although he might be a difficult man, he
knows business.)
Aun cuando no tenga nada, no debe perder la esperanza. (Even if you have nothing, you
shouldnt lose hope.)
Por delicioso que sea, no quiero comerlo. (However delicious it may be, I dont want to eat it.)
* These phrases do not always take the subjunctive. If the conditional statement is considered
hypothetical, you will use the subjunctive and if it is factual, you will use the indicative.
Aunque es un hombre difcil, sabe los negocios. (Although he is a difficult man, he knows
business.)
Results
These expressions introduce the idea of a purpose for another action.
a fin de que
de manera que
de modo que
para que
que

in order (that), so that, so as
Vine para que tenga suficiente gente para el juego. (I came so that you would have enough
people for the game.)
Voy a cerrar las ventanas a fin de que no entren moscas. (I am going to close the windows so
that flies wont come in.)
Estudiar mucho de manera que entienda mejor el espaol. (I will study a lot so I can
understand Spanish better.)
Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used more often than you might think. Introduced with a preterite, imperfect,
conditional, or past perfect WEIRDO verb in the independent clause, the imperfect subjunctive often
refers to a previous experience but can also refer to unlikely events or possibilities.
Si tuviera ms dinero, viajara por todo el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel around
the whole world.)
Si yo fuera t, no lo hara. (If I were you, I wouldnt do it.)
Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
Finding the Imperfect Subjunctive Stem
To conjugate a verb in the imperfect subjunctive, you must first remember the 3rd person plural of the
preterit. Instead of using the infinitive for a stem, the imperfect subjunctive uses the 3rd person plural of
the preterite (without the -ron).
imperfect subjunctive stem = 3rd person plural preterit
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(without the -ron)
Imperfect Subjunctive Stem Examples
infinitive
3rd person
preterite
imperfect subjunctive
stem
infinitive
3rd person
preterite
imperfect subjunctive
stem
Caber cupieron cupie- pedir pidieron pidie-
Dar dieron die- poder pudieron pudie-
decir dijeron dije- poner pusieron pusie-
dormir durmieron durmie- preferir prefirieron prefirie-
estar estuvieron estuvie- querer quisieron quisie-
haber hubieron hubie- saber supieron supie-
hacer hicieron hicie- sentir sintieron sintie-
Ir fueron fue- ser fueron fue-
Leer leyeron leye- traducir tradujeron traduje-
tener tuvieron tuvie- traer trajeron traje-
Imperfect Subjunctive Endings
While all conjugations (AR, ER, -IR) have the same endings in the imperfect subjunctive, there are two
options for endings for the imperfect subjunctive. The first option is used widely in speech in Spain, Latin
America, and South America. The second option is used more in written language and in Spain.
Imperfect Subjunctive Endings: 2 Options!
1st option (more common) 2nd option (much less common)
Yo -ra yo -se
T -ras t -ses
usted, l, ella -ra usted, l, ella -se
nosotros -ramos nosotros -semos
vosotros -rais vosotros -seis
ustedes, ellos, ellas -ran ustedes, ellos, ellas -sen
Tricky Nosotros
All nosotros verb forms will carry a tilde on the vowel before the ending.
hablramos - hablsemos
escribiramos - escribisemos
Conjugation Examples
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hablar (habla-) hacer (hicie-) traducir (traduje-)
1st option 2nd option 1st option 2nd option 1st option 2nd option
Yo hablara hablase hiciera hiciese tradujera tradujese
T hablaras hablases hicieras hicieses tradujeras tradujeses
usted, l, ella hablara hablase hiciera hiciese tradujera tradujese
nosotros hablramos hablsemos hiciramos hicisemos tradujramos tradujsemos
vosotros hablarais hablaseis hicierais hicieseis tradujerais tradujeseis
ustedes, ellos, ellas hablaran hablasen hicieran hiciesen tradujeran tradujesen
Irregular Imperfect Subjunctive
All verbs that are irregular in the 3rd person preterit maintain the same irregularity in the imperfect
subjunctive (i.e. tener ->tuviera, tuviese).
Imperfect Subjunctive Uses
1. The Independent Clause is in the Past
If the WEIRDO verb (independent clause) is in the preterite or the imperfect, then the subjunctive verb
that follows will also be imperfect.
Quise que vinieras/vinieses a mi fiesta. (I wanted you to come to my party.)
Tena miedo de que no lloviera/lloviese. (I was scared it wouldn't rain.)
2. The Independent Clause Refers to a Previous Occurrence
This is used to express current emotions, doubts, etc. about something that happened in the past.
Es bueno que (l) se casara/casase. (It's good that he got married.)
No me parece que el viaje fuera/fuese largo. (It doesn't seem to me that the journey was
long.)
3. To Indicate Unlikely Events
Use Ojal or ojal que to express the idea of hoping for something that is unlikely to happen
or is impossible.
Ojal que nevara/nevase en Panam. (I wish to God it were snowing in Panama.)
Ojal mi hermano se casara/casase. (I wish my brother were getting married.)
4. If Clauses
When introduced with si (if) the imperfect subjunctive can support an independent clause which
introduces a dependent conditionalclause. These are usually situations that are not very likely.
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Si yo fuera/fuese reina, viajara por todo el mundo. (If I were queen, I would travel all over the
world.)
Pintara ms seguido si tuviera/tuviese ms tiempo. (I would paint more often if I had more
time.)
5. Formal Request
Using only the verbs deber, querer, or poder, you can use the imperfect subjunctive to make a very polite
suggestion or formal request.
Quisiera dos semanas de vacacin. (I would like two weeks of vacation.)
Pudiera ayudarnos? (Could you help us?)
Conditional regular and irregular forms and uses
Overview
The conditional (el condicional) tense in Spanish is used to express what "would" happen in the future. It
is more of a possibility, or hypothetical situation, than the future tense. The formation is very similar to that
of the simple future tense in that one set of endings is added to the infinitive to create a new tense and
the irregular stems are the same as those in the future tense.
Comprara esa camisa. (I would buy that shirt.)
Sacara la basura por ti. (He would take out the trash for you.)
Si fuera rico, me gustara viajar por todo el mundo. (If I were rich, I would travel all over the
world.)
Regular Conditional Forms
To form the conditional tense, simply add the correct ending to the infinitive of the verb. All verb
conjugations (-AR, -ER, and -ER) have the same endings for the conditional tense:
Conditional Endings:
a, as, a, amos, ais, an
Conjugation Examples
viajar conocer escribir
yo viajara conocera escribira
t viajaras conoceras escribiras
usted, l, ella viajara conocera escribira
nosotros viajaramos conoceramos escribiramos
vosotros viajarais conocerais escribirais
ustedes, ellos, ellas viajaran conoceran escribiran
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Note that the endings for the conditional tense are the same as those for the -er and -ir forms of the
imperfect tense. Remember the conditional adds the endings to the infinitive and the imperfect adds them
to the stem.
Conditional - Escribira unas cartas. (I would write some letters.)
Imperfect - Escriba unas cartas. (I wrote some letters.)
Irregular Conditional Forms
The conditional has relatively few irregular verbs which fall into 3 distinct categories: 1. those that replace
the infinitive ending vowel with a d, 2. those that simple remove the infinitive ending vowel, and 3. those
that are plain irregular.
1. Replace infinitive ending vowel with d
Only -ER and -IR verbs fall into this category. To form the stem, simply replace the e or i from the infinitive
ending with the a d, then add the conditional endings.
Conjugation Example:
tener (to have)
tendra tendramos
tendras tendrais
tendra tendran
Other Verbs like Tener
Infinitive Conditional Stem
poner pondr-
valer valdr-
salir saldr-
venir vendr-
Ud. tendra una casa nueva. (You would have a new house.)
Valdra mil dolares. (It would be worth $1,000.)
2. Remove the infinitive vowel
Only -ER verbs fall into this category. To form the stem, remove the vowel from the infinitive ending, then
add the conditional endings.
Conjugation Example:
poder (to be able to)
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podra podramos
podras podrais
podra podran
Other Verbs like Poder
Infinitive Conditional Stem
caber cabr-
haber habr-
querer querr-
Saber sabr-
Podras pasar el agua? (Would you pass the water?)
Querra aprender japons. (I would like to learn Japanese.)
3. Irregular stems
Some verbs just have irregular stems that must be memorized. Fortunately, there are only two.
Irregular Conjugations
decir (dir-) to tell hacer (har-) to make/to do
Dira diramos hara haramos
diras dirais haras harais
Dira diran hara haran
Dirais el cuento de tu aventura en el caribe. (You would tell your story of your adventure in
the Carribbean.)
Haras el pastel. (You would make the cake.)
Conditional perfect forms and uses
Overview
The conditional perfect (el condicional anterior) is a combination of the past participle and
the conditional of the verb haber. The conditional perfect describes an action in the past that "would
have" happened but did not due to some other event. It can also be used to express probability of an
action that has already been completed. There are three other perfect tenses in the indicative: present
perfect, past perfect, pretrit perfect, and future perfect.
Conditional Perfect Forms
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It is formed by combining haber (conjugated to the conditional) with the past participle. Notice
that tener is not used even though it means "to have."
Conditional Perfect Formula:
conditional haber + past participle
Irregular Conditional Haber:
Haber is irregular in the conditional. It loses the e in the infinitive ending before adding the future endings.
(habra, habras, etc.)
Conditional Perfect Uses
Actions that would have happened but did not due to another event or circumstance
Yo habra comprado los regalos pero no tena tiempo. (I would have bought the gifts, but I
didnt have time.)
l habra ledo el libro pero el telfono so. (He would have finished the book, but the
telephone rang.)
Nosotros habramos cenado en ese restaurante si hubiera sabido. (We would have eaten at
that restaurant if I had known.)
Probability of an action that has already been completed
Habra comido antes de salir. (He had probably already eaten before leaving.)
Habran sido las ocho cuando llegamos. (It must have been eight oclock when we arrived.)
Subjunctive vs. Indicative
The subjunctive is one of the three moods in Spanish, the other two being the indicative (actions, events,
facts) and the imperative(commands). Moods reflect how the speaker feels about an action while a tense
refers to when an action takes place. The subjunctive mood is used to express desires, doubts, the
unknown, the abstract, and emotions, which is the opposite of the indicative mood which is used to
express actions, events, and states that are believed to be true and concrete. Most of the tenses you
have learned so far have been in the indicative mood; however, the subjunctive mood includes many of
the same verb tenses, but not all, in three different time periods:
Tense Mood
Subjunctive Indicative
Past imperfect imperfect
past perfect past perfect
preterit
Present present present
present perfect present perfect
Future simple future simple future
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future perfect future perfect
informal future
Conditional *there are no conditional subjunctive tenses conditional
conditional perfect
General Rules for Indicative vs. Subjunctive
- In general, the Indicative mood is objective and certain.
It is used to talk about actions, events, or states that are believed to be facts or true.
It is very typical in speech for making factual statements or describing obvious qualities of a
person or situation.
- In general, the subjunctive mood is subjective and possible (but not certain).
It is used to talk about doubts, wishes, the abstract, emotions, and other unknown and non-
factual situations.
It is commonly used in making recommendations, giving commands, and talking about how
things make you feel.
It is also used to express opinions about another action.
Indicative
Reason Subjunctive Reason
Victoria estudiaespaol.
(Victoria studies Spanish.)
This states an
objective fact that
Victoria studies
Spanish.
Dudo que
Victoriaestudie espaol.
(I doubt that Victoria
studies Spanish.)
The introduction of doubt
makes it impossible to present
the statement that Victoria
studies Spanish as an objective
fact.
Es cierto que
Victoriaestudia espaol.
(It is certain that Victoria
studies Spanish.)
From the viewpoint
of the speaker, the
statement that
Victoria studies
Spanish is an
objective fact.
Es posible que
Victoriaestudie espaol.
(It is possible that Victoria
studies Spanish.)
From the viewpoint of the
speaker, the idea that
"Victoria studies Spanish" is
not an objective fact, but a
hypothetical situation which
may or may not be true.
No dudo que
Victoriaestudia espaol.
(I dont doubt that Victoria
studies Spanish.)
The lack of doubt on
the part of the
speaker allows him
to present this
statement as an
objective fact.
Es bueno que
Victoriaestudie espaol.
(It is good that Victoria
studies Spanish.)
Es bueno que expresses the
speakers subjective opinion
about Victoria studying
Spanish.
Words or Phrases that Indicate the Subjunctive or Indicative
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Because there must be some uncertainty or subjectivity to warrant the use of the subjunctive, you will find
either uncertainty or certainty in the verb in the main clause of a sentence. It is very helpful if you can
recognize the verbs and phrases in the main clause that indicate the subjunctive and tell them apart from
similar clauses that warrant the indicative.
Luckily, many of the verbs and phrases that require the subjunctive fit into the
acronym WEIRDO: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial,
and Ojal. Each of these concepts has its own article for more details.
Concept Related Verbs & Phrases
Wishes desear, esperar, exigir, insistir, preferir, querer, pedir, necesitar, etc.
Emotions alegrarse, enojar, sentir, encantar, lamentar, sorprender, etc.
Impersonal
expressions
es extrao que, es importante que, es fantstico que, etc.
Recommendations recomendar, sugerir, aconsejar, ordenar, mandar, insistir, etc.
Doubt and Denial
dudar, no creer, no estar seguro, no parecer, no comprender, no pensar, no es
cierto que, etc.
Ojal n/a
And just to be fair to the indicative, we have an acronym for that too: SPOCK: Speech and
communication, Perceptions,Occurrences and events, Certainty, and Knowledge and understanding.
Concept Related Verbs
Speech and
communication
Decir, describir, gritar, indicar, mencionar, repetir, revelar, sealar, asegurar,
comentar, afirmar, aludir a, etc.
Perceptions Notar, observar, or, percibir, encontrarse, ver, etc.
Occurrences and events Ocurrir, suceder, pasar, acontecer, etc.
Certainty
es claro que, es seguro que, es cierto que, es obvio que, no es posible que, es
evidente que, etc.
Knowledge and
understanding
Creer, saber, averiguar, leer, enterarse de, aprender, etc.
Parts of a Subjunctive Phrase
There are three main parts to a subjunctive sentence:
1. Two Different Subjects
There will be one subject in the main/independent clause, and one in the noun/dependent clause.
Quiero que limpies el bao. (I want you to clean the bathroom.)
2. Two Verbs: One WEIRDO and One Subjunctive
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There will be one indicative verb in the main/independent clause which will indicate the need for the
Subjunctive (a WEIRDO verb - see above) and a second verb in the noun/dependent clause which will be
in the Subjunctive.
Quiero que t limpies el bao. (I want you to clean the bathroom.)
However, if you find a sentence with a main clause followed by a second clause and the verb in the main
clause introduces the idea of certainty or objectivity, you will use the indicative. Only verbs in the main
clause that indicate a concept that is uncertain and subjective will require the subjunctive.
Es cierto que limpias el bao. (It is true that you are cleaning the bathroom.)
3. A Relative Pronoun (Que, Quien, Como)
This pronoun links the two clauses and can translate to mean that, but is often not translated at all into
English.
Quiero que limpies el bao. (I want (that) you clean the bathroom./I want you to clean the
bathroom.)
Present Progressive Forms
The present progressive tense combines the present indicative of the verb estar (to be) with the present
participle of another verb to indicate an action in progress. The present progressive tells what a person "is
doing" right now.
Estoy hablando con mi madre. (I am speaking with my mother (right now).)
Los nios estn jugando en el patio. (The children are playing in the yard (right now).)
Ests yendo a la tienda ahora? (Are you going to the store now?)
The present participle never changes according to the tense. The progressive tense can be used in any
time reference simply by changing the tense of estar, creating the present progressive, preterite
progressive, the imperfect progressive, the future progressive, etc. This article explains how to form and
when to use the present progressive tense.
Present Progressive Forms
The present progressive is a verb phrase consisting of both estar (the "is" part which indicates the tense)
and the present participle (the "-ing" part which indicates what the action is). To form the present
progressive, conjugate estar to the present indicative tense and add the present participle form of the
verb that the person is actually doing.
Present Progressive Formula: estar + present participle (verb stem + -ando for -ar verbs/-iendo for -er and
-ir verbs)
Estoy hablando I am speaking Estamos hablando We are speaking
Ests hablando You are speaking Estis hablando You (all) are speaking
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Est hablando
You (formal) are speaking
He/she is speaking
Estn hablando
You (all, formal) are speaking
They are speaking
Present Progressive Uses
Single Current Actions
Simply, what a person is doing right now, and action they are currently participating in.
Est escribiendo un ensayo para su clase de espaol. (He is writing an essay for his Spanish
class.)
Estamos cocinando la cena. (We are cooking dinner (right now).)
Estn durmiendo en el dormitorio pequeo. (They are sleeping in the small bedroom (right
now).)
In English and Spanish, this is usually expressed using the present progressive, but it is possible to use
the present tense in Spanish as well.
Qu haces? (What are you doing?)
Limpio la cocina. (I'm cleaning the kitchen.)
Cmo ests? (How are you doing?)
Estoy bien, gracias. (Im doing well, thank you.)
Imperfect progressive
Overview
The imperfect progressive tense is a combination of the imperfect indicative of the verb estar (to be) and
the present participle to indicate an action that was in progress in the past that was interrupted by another
event. The present progressive is similar to the imperfect and can tell what a person was doing, but with
an emphasis on the fact that the action was interrupted.
Estaba hablando con mi madre cuando llamaste. (I was talking to my mother when you
called.)
Estaba trabajando a las ocho. (He was working at eight oclock.)
Nos vio cuando estbamos caminando en el parque. (He saw us when we were walking in
the park.)
The present participle never changes according to the tense. The progressive tense can be used in any
time reference simply by changing the tense of estar, creating the present progressive, preterit
progressive, the imperfect progressive, the future progressive, etc. This article explains how to form and
when to use the imperfect progressive tense.
Imperfect Progressive Forms
The imperfect progressive is a verb phrase consisting of both estar (the was part which indicates the
tense) and the present participle (the "-ing" part which indicates what the action is). To form the imperfect
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progressive, conjugate estar to the imperfect indicative tense and add the present participle form of the
verb that the person is actually doing.
Imperfect Progressive Formula:
estar + present participle
Estaba hablando I was speaking
Estbamos
hablando
We were speaking
Estabas
hablando
You were speaking Estabis hablando You (all) were speaking
Estaba hablando
You (formal) were
speaking
He/she was speaking
Estaban hablando
You (all, formal) were
speaking
They were speaking
Affirmative informal (t) commands
T commands are the singular form of informal commands. To tell a friend, family member,
classmate, child, or pet to do something, use the affirmative t command. To tell one of those same
people not to do something, use the negative t command. This article covers the affirmative
informal command (informal imperative) in all its forms.
Compra (t) los libros. (Buy the books.) - affirmative
No camines (t) en el csped. (Dont walk on the grass.) - negative
Affirmative Informal T Command Forms
For the familiar affirmative commands, you will simply use the 3rd person singular form of the present
indicative.
-AR verbs: Add the 3rd person singular ending -a to the stem
(Comprar) Compra la camisa. (Buy the shirt.)
-ER verbs: Add the 3rd person singular ending -e to the stem
(Aprender) Aprende espaol! (Learn Spanish!)
-IR verbs: Add the 3rd person singular ending -e to the stem
(Escribir) Escribe el ensayo! (Write the essay!)
For verbs with stem changes or spelling changes in the present tense, the stem or spelling change still
applies.
(Cerrar) Cierra la puerta. (Close the door.)
(Mover) Mueve esas sillas. (Move those chairs.)
(Incluir) Incluye tu informacin aqu. (Include your information here.)
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Irregular Affirmative Informal T Commands
All irregular 3rd person singular present indicative verbs keep that same irregularity in the affirmative
informal command except the following 8 verbs which have a special irregular form in the affirmative
command.
decir di salir sal
hacer haz ser s
ir ve tener ten
poner pon venir ven
Pronoun Placement with Commands
Pronoun placement: the pronoun is attached to the end of affirmative commands and the verb carries a
tilde to maintain its original stress.
Tremelo. (Bring it to me.)
Dgasela. (Tell it to her.)
Cmpraselo. (Buy it for him.)
Ponte los zapatos. (Put on your shoes.)
Punctuation to the Rescue!
Because the informal t command (imperative) is the same conjugation form as the 3rd person singular, it
is helpful to include exclamation points to indicate urgency or the name of the person you are
commanding followed by a comma. Without the comma, your sentence is just the 3rd person singular
present indicative. Compare the following sentences written with different punctuation:
Compra la camisa. (She buys the shirt.) - present indicative
Compra la camisa! (Buy the shirt!) - informal imperative
Alicia compra la camisa. (Alicia buys the shirt.) - present indicative
Alicia, compra la camisa. (Alicia, buy the shirt.) - informal imperative
Negative T Commands
Negative informal commands (negative informal imperative forms) are very different from affirmative
informal commands. They are actually more similar to the formal commands in that they use the t form
of the present subjunctive of each verb.
No compres la camisa. (Do not buy the shirt.)
No aprendas espaol. (Do not learn Spanish!)
No escribas el ensayo! (Do not write the essay!)
Always make sure you have a no or another negative word in front of the verb. This is what makes it
negative.
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Another way to form the negative informal command if you already know your formal commands, is to add
an -s to the end of the negative formal command.
infinitive negative formal command negative informal command
comprar no compre no compres
aprender no aprenda no aprendas
escribir no escriba no escribas
Irregular Negative Informal Commands
There are no irregular negative informal commands. If a verb is irregular in the present subjunctive, it
maintains the same irregular form in the negative informal command as well.
Pronoun Placement
Pronoun placement: the pronoun precedes (goes before) the verb in negative commands and after the
negative word.
No te levantes antes de comer tu calabaza. (Dont get up before you eat your squash.)
Nunca les compres dulces a los nios. (Never buy candy for the children.)
Nunca se los compres. (Never buy it for them.)
Formal Affirmative and Negative Commands
Formal commands are used when addressing people in a formal manner. Use formal commands when
addressing people you do not know well, people older than you, or people that you generally show
respect (boss, teacher, priest, etc.) For all countries other than Spain, also use these commands to
address any group of people.
Singular (usted)
Pague la cuenta, por favor. (Pay the bill, please.)
Sea amable. (Be nice.)
Abra la ventana. (Open the window.)
Plural (ustedes)
Damas y caballeros, pasen por aqu. (Ladies and gentlemen, go this way.)
Vengan ms temprano maana. (Come earlier tomorrow.)
Estudiantes, abran sus libros. (Students, open your books.)
Affirmative Formal Command Forms
All Ud. (usted) and Uds. (ustedes) commands are the same as the Ud. and Uds. present
subjunctive forms.
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infinitive
usted present
subjunctive
usted formal
command
ustedes present
subjunctive
ustedes formal
command
hablar hable hable hablen hablen
comer coma coma coman coman
vivir viva viva vivan vivan
Irregular present subjunctive forms can be found in the article on the present subjunctive.
Pronoun Placement in Affirmative Formal Commands
Pronoun placement: the pronoun(s) is/are attached to the end of affirmative commands. To preserve the
original stress of the verb in case it has more than one syllable, a written accent is added.
Trigamelo. (Bring it to me.)
Cmalo. (Eat it.)
Negative Formal Commands
Negative formal commands couldnt be easier. All you have to do is add a negative word such as no in
front of the affirmative formal command/usted present subjunctive form.
No saquen sus libros. (Do not take out your books.)
No ponga su bolsa aqu. (Do not put your purse here.)
No vengan maana. (Do not come tomorrow.)
Pronoun Placement in Negative Formal Commands
Pronoun placement: the pronoun precedes the verb in negative commands and follows the negative
word.
No se levante antes de leer el artculo. (Dont get up before you read the article.)
Nunca les compre dulces a los nios. (Never buy candy for the children.)
Nunca se los compre. (Never buy it for them.)
Past Perfect Subjunctive Forms
Also known as the pluperfect subjunctive (el pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo), indicates a completed
action that "had" happened before another action in the past in all cases the subjunctive would be used. It
is also used with the conditional perfect independent clauses to indicate hypothetical situations (what "will
have happened") to replace the little used future perfect subjunctive. It is very similar to the past perfect of
the indicative in that it is a combination of the past participle and the verb haber, but this time, haber is in
the imperfect subjunctive instead of the imperfect indicative.
Past Perfect Subjunctive Forms
To form the past perfect subjunctive, combine the imperfect subjunctive of the verb haber with the past
participle. Remember that the imperfect subjunctive can have two different forms (hubiera/hubiese).
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Past Perfect Subjunctive Formula:
imperfect subjunctive of haber + past participle
Past Perfect Subjunctive Uses
The past pefect subjunctive is commonly used in three different ways:
1. Completed actions that had happened before another past action
Pablo dud que yo hubiera/hubiese ido a Per. (Pablo doubted that I had been to Peru.)
Mi madre no crey que hubieras/hubieses limpiado el cuarto. (My mother did not believe that
you had cleaned the room.)
El juez no pens que el testigo hubiera/hubiese mentido. (The judge didnt think the witness
had lied.)
2. Conditional constructions
Si hubiera/hubiese sabido, habra venido. (If I had known, I would have come.)
Lo hubiera/hubiese comprado si tuviera el dinero? (Would you have bought it if you had
had the money?)
3. Hypothetical situations that could have happened, but didnt.
Ojal que hubiera/hubiese sabido. (I wish I had known.)
Ojal que hubiramos/hubisemos podido venir. (If only we had been able to come.)
Note that while both conjugation options are included the first is more common, using the -ra, -ras, -
ra, etc. endings.
Conditional perfect forms and uses
Overview
The conditional perfect (el condicional anterior) is a combination of the past participle and
the conditional of the verb haber. The conditional perfect describes an action in the past that "would
have" happened but did not due to some other event. It can also be used to express probability of an
action that has already been completed. There are three other perfect tenses in the indicative: present
perfect, past perfect, pretrit perfect, and future perfect.
Conditional Perfect Forms
It is formed by combining haber (conjugated to the conditional) with the past participle. Notice
that tener is not used even though it means "to have."
Conditional Perfect Formula:
conditional haber + past participle
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Irregular Conditional Haber:
Haber is irregular in the conditional. It loses the e in the infinitive ending before adding the future endings.
(habra, habras, etc.)
Conditional Perfect Uses
Actions that would have happened but did not due to another event or circumstance
Yo habra comprado los regalos pero no tena tiempo. (I would have bought the gifts, but I
didnt have time.)
l habra ledo el libro pero el telfono so. (He would have finished the book, but the
telephone rang.)
Nosotros habramos cenado en ese restaurante si hubiera sabido. (We would have eaten at
that restaurant if I had known.)
Probability of an action that has already been completed
Habra comido antes de salir. (He had probably already eaten before leaving.)
Habran sido las ocho cuando llegamos. (It must have been eight oclock when we arrived.)
Future perfect
Overview
The future perfect tense (el futuro compuesto) is a combination of the past participle and the simple future
of the verb haber. The future perfect is used to express an action that "will have been" completed at a
certain point in the future. There are three other perfect tenses in the indicative: present perfect, past
perfect, preterit perfect, and conditional perfect.
Future Perfect Forms
The future perfect describes what a person "will have" been doing at some point in the future, something
that hasnt happened yet but is expected to before another action. It can also indicate probability (what
"might have" or "probably have" happened). It is formed by combining haber (conjugated in the simple
future) with the past participle. Note that tener is not used even though it means "to have."
Future Perfect Formula:
simple future haber + past participle
*Note that haber is irregular in the simple future. It loses the e in the infinitive ending before adding the
future endings. (habr, habrs, etc.)
Future Perfect Uses
Actions that will have been completed in the future before another action
Habr terminado mi trabajo para diciembre. (I will have finished my work by December.)
Ya habrs pedido cuando yo llegue.* (You will have already ordered when I arrive.)
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Usted habr estudiado espaol por tres aos para este mayo. (You will have studied three
years of Spanish by this May.)
* Subjunctive Alert: See the reference on the subjunctive to see why this verb is subjunctive.
Actions that indicate likelihood or supposition
l habr ido a otro caf. (He might have gone to another cafe.)
Ellos habrn tenido hambre para la noche. (They may have been hungry by the evening.)
Habr salido de Atlanta. (She must have left Atlanta.)
Future perfect subjunctive forms and uses
Overview
Like the future subjunctive, the future perfect subjunctive (el futuro compuesto del subjuntivo) is rarely
used in modern day Spanish. But as you may see in literature and legal documents, it is definitely a useful
tense to be able to recognize. It is used to indicate actions that "will have" happened in the future at a
certain point. Nowadays, the future perfect subjunctive is replaced by the past perfect subjunctive in most
cases and the present perfect subjunctive in others.
Future Perfect Subjunctive
The future perfect subjunctive is formed by combining the future subjunctive form of the verb haber with
the past participle.
Future Perfect Subjunctive Formula:
future subjunctive of haber + past participle
Because the future perfect subjunctive is so rarely used, each example is followed by an example of
sentence using the past perfect subjunctive as it is used in modern Spanish.
Cuando tenga 50 aos, hubiere viajado por todo el mundo. (When I am 50, I will have traveled the entire
world.)
Cuando tenga 50 aos, hubiera viajado por todo el mundo.
Habras venido si hubieres tenido un coche. (You would have come if you had a car?)
Habras venido si hubieras tenido un coche.
l no sabe si hubiere ganado la eleccin hasta el lunes. (He doesnt know if he will have won the
election until Monday.)
l no sabe si hubiera ganado la eleccin hasta el lunes.
No creemos que nosotros hubiremos comprado una casa. (We dont believe that we will have bought
a new house.)
No creemos que nosotros hubiramos comprado una casa.
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Quiero que vosotros hubiereis limpiado toda la casa para las seis. (I want you to have cleaned the
whole house by 6 oclock.)
Quiero que vosotros hubierais limpiado toda la casa para las seis.
Es posible que ellos hubieren cantado por 4 horas. (It is possbile that they will have sung for 4 hours.)
Es posible que ellos hubieran cantado por 4 horas.
Relative pronouns (que, quien, el que, el cual)
Overview
Relative expressions are something you are probably very familiar with and just never thought about the
grammar behind them. Relative pronouns in English (that, which, who, and whom) are commonly used to
refer back to an expression or clause that preceded it. The noun, pronoun, or phrase to which the relative
pronoun refers is called an antecedent. In English, the relative pronoun is sometimes omitted (The book
(that) you borrowed is mine), but it is always required in Spanish (El libro que prestaste es mo.) Relative
pronouns are used to connect two short sentences.
Juan prest un libro. El libro es mo. -> Juan prest un libro que es mo.
La casa tiene un techo rojo. La casa est all. -> La casa que tiene un techo rojo est all.
Que and Quien
The first two relative pronouns that are the simplest and most common to use are que and quien. You will
notice these pronouns are spelled the same as the interrogative words qu and quin, but without the
tildes. While que can refer to a person, place, or thing and mean that, which, who, OR whom, quien can
only refer to a person and means who, or whom when following a preposition.) Quien must also match its
antecedent in number; if the antecedent to which it refers is singular, you use quien, and if it is plural, you
will use quienes.
que: that, which, who, whom
quien/quienes: who (whom after a preposition)
In general, relative pronouns are used according to their length and the distance between them and their
antecedent. The farther the relative pronoun is from the antecedent, the longer the relative pronoun is
(the more letters it has).
Que
Que, being the shortest relative pronoun, is used when the relative pronoun comes immediately after the
antecedent. Nothing separates the relative pronoun from the antecedent, not even a comma. Que is used
for people, places, and things and can mean that, which, who, or whom.
La mujer que vive all es mi ta. (The woman that/who lives there is my aunt.)
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El hombre que ves es muy guapo. (The man (whom) you see is very handsome.)
El caf que te gusta est all. (The caf (that/which) you like is over there.)
El libro que prestaste es mo. (The book (that) you borrowed is mine.)
Que can also be used with a very short separation from the antecedent, such as a comma or a short (one
syllable) preposition. However, if the relative pronoun follows a preposition and refers to a person, you
must use quien. After a preposition, que is only used to refer to places or things.
sta es la casa en que crec. (This is the house in which I grew up.)
Has ido al caf del que hablaba? (Have you been to the caf (that) I was talking about?)
No es la mujer con quien habl. (She isnt the woman (whom) I talked to.)
Que is not used after the prepositions sin, por, or para because the combinations could be confused with
the adverbial conjunctions sin que, porque, and para que.
Quien
Quien (and its plural form quienes) is used when the antecedent refers to a person and there is also a
short distance between the antecedent and relative pronoun, usually a comma or a one or two syllable
preposition.
Dnde estn los nios a quienes les cont el cuento? (Where are the children to whom I told
the story?)
Mi ta, quien es doctora, me va a visitar hoy. (My aunt, who is a doctor, is going to visit me
today.)
Alguien ha visto a Mara, de quien est enamorado Samuel? (Has anyone seen Maria,
whom Samuel is in love with?)
Quien is not used when the relative pronoun immediate follows the antecedent, even if it refers to a
person. Que is used instead.
El que and El cual
El que and el cual (and their other forms) are not very common in speech, but are very useful to know
since they each have four forms. This separation of gender and number is helpful when you need to
distinguish between multiple possible antecedents.
El que
El que and its other forms (la que, los que, las que) must agree in gender and number with the noun it
modifies. El que is generally used when there is more distance between the antecedent and the relative
pronoun such as a comma or a one word preposition. It can be used with the prepositions sin,
por, and para instead of just que to help avoid confusion with sin que, porque, and para que.
Necesito los libros sin los que no puedo escribir el ensayo. (I need the books without which I
cant write the essay.)
Los pltanos, los que son maduros, son deliciosos. (The plantains, which are ripe, are
delicious.)
Recuerdas las playas de las que hablamos ayer?(Do you remember the beaches about
which we were talking about yesterday?)
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You can also use el que (and its other forms) as you would the neuter relative pronoun, but when you are
referring to something more specific.
Las que dan a luz dan esperanza al mundo. (Those that have children give hope to the world.)
No me gusta esta comida. La que comimos ayer fue mejor. (I dont like this food. That which
we ate yesterday was better.)
El cual
El cual and its accompanying forms (la cual, los cuales, las cuales) also must match in gender and
number to its antecedent. It is used when there is the most distance between the antecedent and the
relative pronoun such as when a compound preposition is used.
Mi hermano est poniendo la mesa, por encima de la cual hay un florero. (My brother is
setting the table, on top of which is a vase of flowers.)
Cerr la puerta, detrs de la cual la fiesta continuaba. (I shut the door, behind which the party
continued.)
Caminamos por el parque cerca del cual est un caf muy bueno. (We walked through the
park near which there is a good caf.)
Neuter relative pronouns (lo que, lo cual)
Overview
The neuter relative pronouns lo cual and lo que refer to an abstract situation or concept that is not
specifically masculine or feminine. While they are very similar, lo cual can only be used under specific
circumstances.
El nio grit en voz alta, lo cual me molest mucho. (The child screamed in a loud voice,
which upset me very much.)
Lo que dijo no tiene sentido. (What he said doesnt make sense.)
Lo Cual (which, what)
Lo cual can only be used to refer to something that has already been mentioned in the same sentence,
but doesn't have a gender or number, so the neuter pronoun is preferred.
l siempre se jacta, lo cual me molesta mucho. (He always brags, which really annoys me.)
Hay un libro nuevo por Isabel Allende, lo cual me encanta. (There is a new book by Isabel
Allende, which I like.)
Lo Que (which, what)
Lo que can be used any time lo cual is used except that it can also be used to refer to something that has
not been brought up before in the same sentence. It can also be used at the beginning of a sentence.
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No puedo contarte lo que escuch en la escuela hoy. (I cant tell you what I heard at school
today.)
Lo que dijo el presidente es importante. (What the president said is important.)
It is also preferrable to use lo que instead of lo cual when used in conjunction with other non-specific
pronouns such as eso, esto, todo, etc.