Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 2 How This Book Is Organized 3 Part I: Reviewing the Basics 3 Part II: Writing in the Present 3 Part III: Writing for Specific Clarity 3 Part IV: Writing in the Past and in the Future 4 Part V: The Part of Tens 4 Part VI: Appendixes 4 Icons Used in This Book 4 Where to Go from Here 5 Part I: Reviewing the Basics 7 Chapter 1: Looking at Some Everyday Basics 9 Focusing on Spanish Numbers 9 Cardinal numbers 9 Ordinal numbers 13 Making Dates 16 Days 16 Months 17 Writing dates 18 Telling Time 20 Answer Key 25 Chapter 2: Selecting the Proper Part of Speech 27 Identifying and Using Parts of Speech 27 Nouns 28 Pronouns 29 Verbs 30 Adjectives 30 Adverbs 31 Utilizing a Bilingual Dictionary 33 Answer Key 36 Part II: Writing in the Present 37 Chapter 3: Sorting Out Word Gender 39 Marking Gender with Definite Articles 39 Identifying the definite articles 40 Using the definite articles 40 Omission of the definite articles 41 Contractions with the definite articles 42 The neuter lo 42 Marking Gender with Indefinite Articles 42 Identifying the indefinite articles 42 Omission of the indefinite articles 43 Person, Place, or Thing for $200: Using Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns 45 Dealing with demonstrative adjectives 45 Forming sentences with demonstrative pronouns 46 Pitting Masculine versus Feminine in the World of Spanish Singular Nouns 48 Reverse-gender nouns 49 Nouns that are the same for both genders 49 Nouns whose meanings change 50 Special cases 50 Adding to Your Knowledge with Noun Plurals 52 These Are My Things! Expressing Possession 54 Using de 54 Utilizing possessive adjectives 54 Replacing nouns with possessive pronouns 55 Answer Key 57 Chapter 4: Writing in the Present with Action 61 Using Subject Pronouns 61 Applying subject pronouns 62 Omitting subject pronouns 64 Writing (And Talking) in the Present 64 Regular verbs 65 Verbs with spelling changes 68 Verbs with stem changes 68 Verbs with spelling and stem changes 71 Irregular verbs 73 Expressions with irregular verbs 76 Answer Key 79 Chapter 5: Getting Answers with the Right Questions 81 Inquiring in Spanish 81 Asking yes/no questions 81 Asking for information 83 Becoming a Yes (Or No) Man: Answering Questions in Spanish 88 Answering yes 88 Answering no 88 Answering information questions 91 Answer Key 93 Chapter 6: Doing It Right Now: Gerunds and the Present Progressive 95 Gerunds: Putting the -ing in Everything 95 Forming the Gerunds of Regular Verbs 96 Forming the Gerunds of Stem-Changing and Irregular Verbs 96 The Present Progressive: Expressing an Action in Progress 98 Using estar 99 Using other verbs 99 Answer Key 103 Chapter 7: Expressing Yourself with Subjunctive Feeling 105 Forming the Present Subjunctive 105 Regular verbs 106 Verbs irregular in the yo form 107 Verbs with spelling changes 108 Verbs with stem changes 109 Verbs with spelling and stem changes 110 Irregular verbs 111 Spanning the Uses of the Present Subjunctive 113 After impersonal expressions 114 To express wishing, emotion, need, and doubt 117 After adjectives that express feelings or emotions 119 In relative clauses 120 Answer Key 122 Part III: Writing for Specific Clarity 125 Chapter 8: Coloring Your Sentences with Adjectives and Adverbs 127 Describing People and Things with Adjectives 127 Agreement of adjectives 128 Positioning of adjectives 133 Shortened forms of adjectives 134 Describing Verbs with Adverbs 135 Forming adverbs 135 Positioning of adverbs 138 Making Comparisons 139 Comparisons of equality 139 Comparisons of inequality 140 The superlative 140 Irregular comparatives 140 The absolute superlative 142 Answer Key 143 Chapter 9: Getting Attention with Commands 145 The Imperative Mood 145 Forming Formal Commands 146 Commanding with regular verbs 146 Commanding with other verbs 147 Issuing Informal Commands 151 Giving singular commands with tú 151 Giving plural commands with vosotros 156 Answer Key 162 Chapter 10: Being Clear and Concise with Object Pronouns 165 Dealing Directly with Direct Object Pronouns 166 Understanding direct object pronouns 166 Getting personal with the personal a 167 Using Indirect Object Pronouns 168 Selecting a Direct or an Indirect Object Pronoun 170 Common Spanish verbs requiring a direct object 171 Common Spanish verbs requiring an indirect object 171 Placing Object Pronouns Correctly 172 Doing Double Duty with Double Object Pronouns 174 Getting by with Gustar and Other Similar Verbs 176 Answer Key 179 Chapter 11: Reflecting on Reflexive Pronouns and Verbs 181 Recognizing and Using Reflexive Verbs 181 Using Reflexive Verbs in Special Cases 184 Considering Verbs with Special Reflexive Meanings 186 Using Reflexive Pronouns 188 Properly Placing Reflexive Pronouns 190 Answer Key 193 Chapter 12: Preparing to Connect with Prepositions 195 Reviewing Common Spanish Prepositions 195 Distinguishing One Preposition from Another 197 A 197 De 198 En and hasta 198 Por and para 199 Focusing on Prepositions Used with Infinitives 200 Spanish verbs requiring a 200 Spanish verbs requiring de 202 Spanish verbs requiring en 202 Spanish verbs requiring con 203 Spanish verbs requiring no preposition 203 Using Prepositional Pronouns 205 Answer Key 207 Part IV: Writing in the Past and in the Future 209 Chapter 13: Leaving It Completely in the Past 211 Forming the Preterit 211 Regular verbs 211 Verbs with spelling changes 213 Verbs with stem changes 215 Irregular verbs 216 Using the Preterit 221 Answer Key 223 Chapter 14: Looking Back with the Imperfect 225 Perfecting the Imperfect 225 Forming the imperfect of regular verbs 226 Forming the imperfect of irregular verbs 227 Uses of the Imperfect 228 Comparing the Preterit and the Imperfect 229 Clues to the preterit 231 Clues to the imperfect 231 Answer Key 235 Chapter 15: Seeing into the Future 239 Forming and Expressing the Future 239 Discussing the future by using the present 239 Using ir + a to express the near future 240 Sending regular verbs to the future 241 Sending irregular verbs to the future 243 Using the Future Tense to Foretell, Predict, and Wonder 244 Answer Key 247 Part V: The Part of Tens 249 Chapter 16: Ten Most Common Writing Mistakes in Spanish 251 Confusing Gender Differences 251 Insisting on Word for Word Translations 252 Forgetting the Personal a 252 Using the Indefinite Article with an Unqualified Profession 252 Mixing Up Por and Para 253 Confusing Direct and Indirect Objects 253 Misusing Gustar and Similar Verbs 255 Forgetting about Idioms with Tener 255 Using the Incorrect Past Tense (Preterit or the Imperfect) 256 Ignoring the Subjunctive 256 Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Writing Well in Spanish 257 Write in Complete Sentences 257 Use Correct Punctuation 258 Avoid Slang 258 Steer Clear of False Assumptions 259 Watch Out for Subject/Verb Agreement 259 Select the Appropriate Verb Tense/Mood 260 Correct Dangling Prepositions 260 Select the Proper Pronoun 261 Rely on the Net and Your Computer 261 Proofread Your Work 262 Chapter 18: Ten Important Verb Distinctions 263 Ser versus Estar 263 Saber versus Conocer 264 Tomar versus Llevar 264 Deber versus Tener Que 265 Preguntar versus Pedir 265 Jugar versus Tocar 265 Gastar versus Pasar 266 Dejar versus Salir 266 Volver versus Devolver 266 Poder versus Saber 266 Part VI: Appendixes 267 Appendix A: Verb Charts 269 Regular Verbs 269 -ar verbs 269 -er verbs 269 -ir verbs 270 Stem-Changing Verbs 270 -ar verbs 271 -er verbs 271 -ir verbs 272 -uir verbs (except -guir) 272 -eer verbs 273 -iar verbs 273 -uar verbs 273 Spelling-Change Verbs 273 -car verbs 273 -gar verbs 274 -zar verbs 274 Consonant + -cer or -cir verbs 274 Vowel + -cer or -cir verbs 274 -ger or -gir verbs 275 -uir verbs 275 Irregular Verbs 275 Appendix B: English-to-Spanish Dictionary 279 Appendix C: Spanish-to-English Dictionary 287 Index 303.