notes for test.
Okay. I am writing my notes for my spanish final tomorrow and need to know when to use what type of conjegations. Like irregular or subjunctive etc. Can some one please explain to me when to use which ones. Thank you.
2 Answers
Sorry to say, but if this is the night before your final and you don't know how or when to use irregular verbs or the subjunctive you're in trouble.
Take a look under the "More" (at the top of this screen) and go under the Reference section for a refresher course.
¡Buena suerte!
Facts that you need to bear in mind:
Spanish verbs are divided into 3 different conjugation types according to the ending of the verb infinitive: (1º ) AR (2º) ER (3º) IR.
Spanish verbs are used in 3 different moods (1º) indicative (2º) imperative and (3º) subjunctive.
When verbs are conjugated according to the different 3 persons in the various tenses of each mood there is a set pattern of verb endings attached to the verb stem.
After you remove the ar, er, ir ending from the stem of the infinitive and apply the appropriate ending for that tense, mood, and conjugation type if they follow that set pattern for that tense, they are termed regular verbs. If they do not follow that set pattern for that mood, tense, and conjugation type, then they are irregular verbs.
Irregular verbs can be highly irregular (deviate widely from the set paradigm) or only slightly. They can be irregular in one tense while being regular in another.
A subset of irregular verbs are the stem changing verbs. They are mildly irregular as there is some pattern to stem changing verbs within the different tenses.
The use of the subjunctive mood is too complex to give you a simple explanation of it that would be meaningful. However, I always liked lazarus' definition: when you are not declaring or informing about something then use the subjunctive mood. There are many similar simple descriptions, but most are over-simplifications.
