Learning the following rules and charts will greatly improve your basic Spanish abilities.
Reasons for using ser = "C-note"
Characteristics
Nationality/origin
Occupation
Time
Event location
Reasons for using estar = "T.L.F."
Temporary conditions
Location (except for events)
Feelings/emotions
Subject pronouns
yo = I
tú = you (in an informal manner)
usted = you (in a formal manner)
ud. (abbreviation of usted) = you (formal)
ustedes = you (plural)
uds. (abbreviation of ustedes) = you (plural)
él = he
ella = she
nosotros = we
nosotras = we (feminine)
ellos = they
ellas = they (feminine)
Reflexive pronouns with subject pronouns
| yo me |
nosotros/nosotras nos |
| tú te |
vosotros/vosotras os |
| él se |
ellos se |
| ella se |
ellas se |
| usted se |
ustedes se |
Direct object pronouns in Spanish
| |
singular |
plural |
| 1st person |
me |
nos |
| 2nd person |
te |
vos |
| 3rd person (masculine) |
lo |
los |
| 3rd person (feminine) |
la |
las |
Indirect object pronouns
| |
singular |
plural |
| 1st person |
me |
nos |
| 2nd person |
te |
vos |
| 3rd person |
le |
les |
Object of a preposition pronouns in Spanish
| |
singular |
plural |
| 1st person |
mí |
nosotros/nosotras |
| 2nd person |
ti |
vosotros/vosotras |
| 3rd person (masculine) |
él |
ellos |
| 3rd person (feminine) |
ella |
ellas |
| 3rd person (respectful you) |
usted |
ustedes |
Present tense endings for regular -ar verbs
| yo |
-o |
nosotros or nosotras |
-amos |
| tú |
-as |
vosotros or vosotras |
-áis |
| él |
-a |
ellos |
-an |
| ella |
-a |
ellas |
-an |
| usted (Ud.) |
-a |
ustedes (Uds.) |
-an |
Present tense endings for regular -er verbs
| yo |
-o |
nosotros or nosotras |
-emos |
| tú |
-es |
vosotros or vosotras |
-éis |
| él |
-e |
ellos |
-en |
| ella |
-e |
ellas |
-en |
| usted (Ud.) |
-e |
ustedes (Uds.) |
-en |
Present tense endings for regular -ir verbs
| yo |
-o |
nosotros or nosotras |
-imos |
| tú |
-es |
vosotros or vosotras |
-ís |
| él |
-e |
ellos |
-en |
| ella |
-e |
ellas |
-en |
| usted (Ud.) |
-e |
ustedes (Uds.) |
-en |
Possessive Adjectives
my = mi or mis
your = tu or tus (If you = tú)
your = su or sus (If you = usted)
your = vuestro, vuestra, vuestros, or vuestras (If you = vosotros or vosotras)
his = su or sus
her = su or sus
our = nuestro, nuestra, nuestros, nuestras (it doesn't matter if "we" is nosotros or nosotras)
Demonstrative adjectives
| Singular |
masculine |
feminine |
Plural |
masculine |
feminine |
| this |
este |
esta |
these |
estos |
estas |
| that |
ese |
esa |
those |
esos |
esas |
that (way
over there) |
aquel |
aquella |
|
aquellos |
aquellas |
Essential Words and Phrases
| Spanish |
English |
| Hola. |
Hello. |
| Adiós. |
Good-bye. |
| Me llamo . . . |
My name is . . . |
| ¿Cómo se llama? |
What's your name? |
| ¿Cómo está? |
How are you? |
| Perdone. |
Excuse me. |
| Por favor. |
Please. |
| Gracias. |
Thank you. |
| Estoy perdido(a). |
I'm lost. |
| ¿Donde está . . .? |
Where is . . .? |
| . . . el baño? |
. . . the bathroom? |
| . . . el aeropuerto? |
. . . the airport? |
| . . . el central de autobús? |
. . . the bus station? |
| . . . la Estación de Tren? |
. . . the train station? |
| . . . una gasolinera? |
. . . a gas station? |
| Me ayuda por favor? |
Can you help me please? |
| Hable despacio por favor. |
Please speak more slowly. |
| No entiendo. |
I don't understand. |
| Como se dice . . . en español? |
How do you say . . . in Spanish? |
| ¿Qué hora es? |
What time is it? |
| Habla inglés? |
Do you speak English? |