tense in spanish

Question

Dear Professor y professora,

I'd like to know how many tense in used in Spanish.

Best regards,

Alex

Answer 1

I studied also the Potencial (conditional) and also the Pluscuamperfecto.

It is the same thing with the Continents and Races.

These keep changing according to different political currents.

Answer 2

Five (?) progressive tenses (formed by using Estar and the gerundio) - one for each of the five indicatve tenses

The categorization of a separate Spanish progressive tense probably depends on whose grammar you are consulting. Modern Spanish grammar, as presented by the Association of Spanish Language Academies, typically does not classify the combination of "estar + gerundio" as a separate tense. Instead, it is generally considered a "perífrasis tempoaspectual." That is to say that it is identified by many Spanish grammarians not as a distinct verb tense, but as a special type of verb phrase, a verb phrase that is used to impart a specific aspectual nature (in terms of grammatical aspect) to the phrase being uttered. In this case, the particular aspect being considered encompasses the idea of an action in progress, or rather, a progressive action. Besides the combination of estar + gerundio, Spanish employs several other verb phrases to indicate the progressive nature of a given action or situation; for example: ir + gerundio, seguir + gerundio, continuar + gerundio.

I think that covers the tenses but there are still moods: passive, impersonal, etc.

Passive and impersonal constructions are not terms that are used to indicate verbal modality. Traditionally, Spanish grammar recognizes three verbal moods or modalities--the indicative, the subjunctive and the imperative (although some authors have contended that the conditional also warrants inclusion as its own modal category).

Sorry I am not a grammarian and was only trying to provide a response to a question. Thank you for the more concise clarification. - gringojrf, Oct 25, 2013

So can you give a concise list of the tenses, modes, etc. as you see them? Thanks in advance. - gringojrf, Oct 25, 2013

Thanks Observer.. - rac1, Oct 26, 2013

Answer 3

Modified after reading Observers answer.

A truly evil question that I do not have the expertise to answer well. Here is how I look at the various usages of verbs.

• Five indicative tenses - present, past, imperfect, future and conditional
• Five perfect indicative tenses - one for each of the above indicative tenses
• Three subjunctive tenses - present, past and future (the future is not used very often)
• Three perfect subjunctive tenses - one for each of the above subjunctive tenses
• The imperative (positive and negative) but treated as one tense

The progressive tense probably are not tenses per se as they use the normal conjugations of other tenses in a combination. And more verb that just Estar can be used as the first part of those construction.

I think that covers the tenses but there are still the passive, impersonal, etc.

Answer 4

Sorry I am not a grammarian and was only trying to provide a response to a question. Thank you for the more concise clarification. So can you give a concise list of the tenses, modes, etc. as you see them? Thanks in advance. - gringojrf 13 mins ago

No need for apologies.

Verbal moods:

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

• Imperative

Verb Tenses:

You really should be a little more transparent in your profile. You are obviously quite erudite in the understanding and explanation of grammar. And I for one am delighted, but what could be wrong about disclosing more about yourself? - Jubilado, Oct 25, 2013

Thanks again. - gringojrf, Oct 25, 2013

Great answers, Observer! Very informative and easy to understand. Thanks. - rac1, Oct 26, 2013