Grammar guides

• Ser vs. estarBoth mean "to be". Ser says what something is; estar says how or where it is right now.
• Por vs. paraPara points toward a goal or destination. Por looks back at a cause, or covers a route, exchange or length of time.
• Preterite vs. imperfectThe preterite reports completed events. The imperfect sets the scene and describes what used to happen or was going on.
• When to use the subjunctiveThe indicative states facts. The subjunctive covers what is wanted, felt, doubted or not yet real, usually after que with a change of subject.
• Noun gender and pluralsEvery noun is masculine or feminine. The ending usually tells you which, and plurals follow a few simple rules.
• Reflexive verbsA reflexive verb uses a pronoun that points back at the subject. It often shows someone acting on themselves, but it can also change a verb's meaning.
• Object pronounsObject pronouns replace the thing or person a verb acts on. Direct objects answer what or whom; indirect objects answer to whom or for whom.
• CommandsCommands change with who you're talking to and whether you're telling them to do something or not to.
• The perfect tensesPerfect tenses combine a form of haber with a past participle to talk about something completed before another point in time.
• ComparisonsUse más, menos and tan to compare people and things, and a few irregular words for good, bad, old and young.
• Talking about the futureEveryday speech mostly uses ir a + infinitive. The simple future is for promises, formal plans and guesses.
• Relative pronounsRelative pronouns link a description to a noun, like who, that and which in English. In Spanish, que does most of the work.
• Numbers, dates and timeHow to say numbers, dates, times and ages, including the small rules that catch people out.