Learning the Tenses
I am learning all of the Spanish tenses in my Spanish class right now, and I keep getting them confused. What is the best way to learn the tenses?
5 Answers
Lilly
For me this is the most difficult part of the Spanish language.
Just remember that in some other ways Spanish is easier than English.
No real spelling or pronunciation problems for example.
Keep at it.
By the way you don't absolutely have to speak Spanish to teach Spanish speakers English. In some schools it is frowned upon if not exactly forbidden. I don't agree with that idea though.
PS I looked at your profile.
Lilly, it does seem overwhelming at first, but stick with it. I've been listening to CDs that have me practice different tenses over and over:
¿Vienen tu familia y tú a la iglesia el domingo proximo?
Sí, siempre venimos a la iglesia.
Veniste tu la semana pasada?
No veniste la semana pasada, pero el año pasada venía todos los domingos.
My point is to find creative and fun ways to practice, practice, practice. I'm finding that after awhile it becomes second nature.
Buenas suerte amiga. 
In the past month we have learned the Past, Past Perfect, Future, Future Perfect, Present Subjunctive and the Past Subjunctive tenses and I am having trouble conjugating the verbs correctly and how each tense translates into an English meaning. We will be learning the rest of the tenses as the class progresses.
Pay close attention when reading and listening to Spanish between context and verb tense. Don't rely too heavily on which tense that you would use in English because the Spanish tenses sometimes carry different nuances of meaning or another tense is used from what the English tense would be (especially with the subjunctive mood that basically only uses four tenses).
Lilly, you say the you are learning all of the Spanish tenses in class. Could you be more specific about which ones you are learning? All of the tenses at once seems like a very difficult situation.
