Mini lessons
A little help putting the pieces together. Read at your own pace—there’s no exercise to finish or account to create.
49 lessons to explore
Everyday sentences
Start with what you do, how things are, and what you want to ask.
Things you do every day Present tenseLeo antes de dormir.Using me, te, and se with a verb Reflexive and pronominal verbsMe levanto temprano.Choosing ser or estar Ser and estarLa sopa está fría.Putting two verbs together Infinitive constructionsQuiero aprender a nadar.Asking questions & saying no Questions and negation¿Dónde vives? No conozco esta zona.Saying what you have to do Tener que + infinitiveTengo que descansar.Choosing a present-tense ending Regular present-tense endingsHablo con mi abuela.Why querer becomes quiero Present-tense stem changesQuiero descansar.Saying tengo, hago, and other yo forms Irregular present yo formsHago la cena.Matching the verb to who is doing it Subject–verb agreement in the presentMi hermana lee.
Putting words together
Connect the parts of a sentence and help them agree.
Helping describing words agree Gender and number agreementLas ventanas están abiertas.Saying “it,” “her,” or “to them” Object pronouns and placementLo voy a leer. / Voy a leerlo.Choosing por or para Por and paraEste regalo es para ti.Choosing el, la, un, or una Articles and determinersNos vemos el martes.Small words that connect a sentence PrepositionsVoy al mercado con mi hermano.Choosing lo, la, los, or las Choosing lo, la, los or lasVeo la cuna. → La veo.Choosing le or les Choosing le or lesLe mando una foto a mi abuela.Where to put lo in “lo quiero” Pronouns before a conjugated verbLa entiendo.Joining a pronoun to a verb Pronouns attached to an infinitiveQuiero comprarlo.Helping someone do something Ayudar a + infinitive¿Me ayudas a montar la cuna?Starting to do something Empezar a + infinitiveEmpiezo a trabajar a las nueve.Saying what you’re thinking about Pensar en + noun or infinitivePienso en mi abuela.Choosing el or la Article–noun genderLa cuna está lista.Choosing el or los, la or las Article–noun numberLa cita es mañana.Choosing rojo or roja Adjective genderEl cuarto está preparado.Describing more than one thing Adjective numberLa habitación es pequeña.
Talking about the past
Tell a story, remember a habit, or explain what had already happened.
What happened PreteriteCompré pan ayer.What used to happen ImperfectDe niño, leía mucho.Telling a story in the past Preterite versus imperfectCocinaba cuando sonó el teléfono.What you have done Present perfectHe terminado el libro.What had already happened Past perfectCuando llegué, ya habían cerrado.Building a regular past-tense form Regular preterite formsAyer compré una manta.Using fui, tuve, hice, and dije Irregular preterite formsTuve una cita ayer.Building a “used to” form Imperfect verb formsDe niña, hablaba con mi abuela cada día.Choosing a past event or its background Choosing preterite or imperfectCocinaba cuando sonó el teléfono.
Plans, wishes & possibilities
Talk about what comes next, what you hope for, or what you imagine.
What you’re going to do Future expressionsVoy a llamar mañana.What you would do ConditionalMe gustaría viajar más.If things were different Imperfect subjunctive: hypothetical si clausesSi tuviera tiempo, aprendería a tocar el piano.What you hope for Present subjunctive: hopes and emotionsEspero que tengas un buen viaje.When something happens next Present subjunctive: future-time clausesTe llamaré cuando llegue.Possibilities, purposes & opinions Other subjunctive triggersEs importante que descanses.
A little more to say
Make a request, add detail, or connect your ideas.
Making a gentle request Imperfect subjunctive for polite requestsQuisiera reservar una mesa.How long something has been true Duration with desde haceVivo aquí desde hace dos años.How long you’ve been doing something Llevar + time + gerundLlevo una hora esperando.Asking someone to do something Requests and commandsCierra la puerta, por favor.Adding detail with “who” or “that” Relative clausesBusco un piso que tenga balcón.Connecting your ideas Logical connectorsQuería salir, pero empezó a llover.
Writing & less common forms
Explore written accents and a form you might meet in formal writing.