This lesson is a quiz that reviews the use of the subjunctive in adjective clauses covered in the last two lessons.

A subordinate adjective clause describes a noun or pronoun in the main clause of a sentence. When it describes something KNOWN AND SPECIFIC, we use the INDICATIVE. When the subordinate adjective clause describes something NOT YET IDENTIFIED, which may or may not exist, we use the SUBJUNCTIVE.

Continue Reading

The post Quiz # 3 – The Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses appeared first on Doc Molly.

Do you know when to use the subjunctive in noun clauses?

If not, you've come to the right place. Learn to identify the noun clause in a sentence, and then when to use the subjunctive vs the indicative within the noun clause. We cover this in depth in the Subjunctive series offered through the Spanish Grammar Subscription at docmolly.com.

Subscribe to the premium Spanish Grammar subscription at docmolly.com.

What is a Noun Clause?

A subordinate noun clause is introduced by the conjunction QUE. It contains a subject and a conjugated verb and takes the role of a noun within the sentence. Just like a noun, it can act as the subject or the direct object of the verb in the main clause. It answers the question, "What?"

1:45

Identify the subordinate noun clause:

1. Deseo que me acompañes al baile.¿Qué deseas? … que me acompañes al baile.

2. Es cierto que te voy a acompañar.¿Cuál es cierto? …. que te voy a acompañar.

3. Me sorprende que Francisco vaya a clase todos los días.¿Qué te sorprende? … que Francisco vaya a clases todos los días.

When do we use the subjunctive in the subordinate noun clause?

3:07

1. When the main clause expresses INFLUENCE over the action expressed in the subordinate noun clause. For example, when you want, hope, or need something to occur, you express that action or event in the subjunctive.Ej: Necesito que asistas a clase.

2. When the main clause expresses an EMOTIONAL RESPONSE OR VALUE JUDGEMENT regarding the action or event expressed in the subordinate noun clause.Ej: Me enfada que ellos fumen en case.

3. When the main clause expresses DENIAL, DOUBT OR UNCERTAINTY regarding the action or event expressed in the subordinate noun clause.Ej: No estoy segura que puedan ir.

We otherwise use the indicative to simply state our perceived reality.

QUIZ

6:27

Es probableIt will likely rain this afternoon.Es probable que llueva esta tarde.

NecesitoI need you to come with me.Necesito que me acompañes.

DeseoI want to live in Italy.Deseo vivir en Italia.I want you to visit me in Italy.Deseo que me visites en Italia.

Es ciertoIt’s true that I work here.Es cierto que trabajo aqui.

Es importanteIt’s importante to keep still.Es importante quedarse quieto.

It’s important that you keep still.Es importante que te quedes quieto/a.

No era posibleIt wasn’t possible for her to continue working.No era posible que siguiera / siguiese trabajando.

Me molestóIt bothered me that they hadn’t study for the test.Me molestó que no hubieran / hubiesen estudiado para el examen.

Te ruegoI beg you to stop.Te ruego que pares.

Tengo miedoI’m afraid that they can hear us.Tengo miedo que nos puedan oír.

Me temoI’m afraid there are no rooms available.Me temo que no hay habitaciones disponibles.

Más valeIt’s better to tell the truth.Más vale decir la verdad.

You better tell the truth.Más vale que digas la verdad.

DudabaI doubted that we could do it.Dudaba que pudiéramos hacerlo.

EXTRA CREDIT: (Not included in the podcast, as not to cause confusion.)

I doubted that I could do it.Dudaba que pudiera hacerlo.*-OR-Dudaba poder hacerlo.

*Unlike in the examples above involving verbs and expressions of influence, the subjunctive sometimes follow verbs of emotion and doubt even when the subject remains the same.

Want to master the subjunctive in Spanish?

Listen to more free audio lessons covering the subjunctive.

In the premium Spanish Grammar Review podcast, we have started a comprehensive review of the subjunctive. We have reviewed the conjugation of the subjunctive in it’s four tenses, and when to use each tense.- Present Subjunctive- Present Perfect Subjunctive- Imperfect Subjunctive- Pluperfect Subjunctive

To subscribe to the premium podcast go to docmolly.com/subscribe/

Choose the correct tense of the subjunctive in the examples that follow:

SACARIt was important that we got good grades.Era importante que ___ buenas notas.(sacáramos / sacásemos)

DECIRWe insist that you tell him the truth.Insistimos en que le ___ la verdad.(digas)

RESOLVERThey don’t think we have solved the problem.No creen que ___ ___ el problema.(hayamos resuelto)

IRI was hoping he had gone to bed.Esperaba que ___ ___ a la cama.(hubiera / hubiese ido)

SERI doubt it was us.Dudo que ___ nosotros.(fuéramos / fuésemos)

TERMINARI doubt he’ll have finished it by tomorrow.Dudo que lo ___ ___ para mañana.(haya terminado)

CALLARSEI told you to be quiet.Te dije que ___.(te callaras / te callases)

PAGARThey are asking us to pay.Nos piden que ___.(paguemos)

LLEGARWe found it before they had arrived.Lo encontramos antes de que ___ ___.(hubieran / hubiesen llegado)

ELEGIRWe are glad that you have chosen us.Nos alegramos de que ustedes nos ___ ___ .(hayan elegido)

DARSE PRISATell them to hurry up.Diles que ___ prisa.(se den prisa)

© 2014 Molly Martin, MD. All rights reserved.docmolly.com

Master the Subjunctive

Subscribe!

For only $20, you can now finally master the dreaded Spanish subjunctive. We make it easy with 25 interactive audio lessons that you can listen to while on a walk or during your commute. Once you've completed this series, you'll find yourself incorporating the subjunctive into your Spanish conversations with ease!  

Learn the different uses of the Spanish verb ACABAR. In this audio lesson we practice using the verb ACABAR in different grammatical constructs to mean different things.

 

ACABAR + DE + INFINITIVE = to have just done something

Acabo de hablar con mamá.
(I just spoke to mom.)

Acabamos de comer.
(We have just eaten.)

Acaba de sacar a pasear al perro.
(He just took the dog for a walk.)

Acaban de regresar.
(They just got back.)

ACABAR + NOUN = to finish something

Acabé mi tarea.
(I finished my homework.)

Acabamos el proyecto.
(We finished the project.)

¿Acabaste el libro?
(Did you finish the book?)

ACABARSE = Something has run out or has been used up

Se acabaron los fondos.
(The funds have been used up.)

Se acabó la batería de mi móvil.
(The battery has run out on my cellphone.)

ACABARSE + pronombre de objeto indirect (TE, ME, LE , NOS) = Someone has run out of something

Se nos acabó la comida.
(We’ve run out of food.)

Se me acabaron las ideas.
(I have run out of ideas.)

Algún día se le va acabar la suerte.
(Someday he is going to run out of luck.)

ACABAR CON = to do away with or put an end to

Quiere acabar con las regulaciones innecesarias.
(She wants to do away with unnecessary regulations.)

La lesión acabó con su carrera deportiva.
(The injury put an end to his careers in sports.)

Acabamos con el odio.
(We put an end to the hatred.)

ACABAR POR + INFINITIVO = to end up doing something

¿Acabaste por volver a pie?
(Did you end up walking back?)

Acabé por no ir a la reunión.
(I ended up not going to the meeting.)

Acabaron por hablar de sus familias.
(They ended up talking about their families.)

ACABAR + GERUNDIO = to end up dong something

Siempre acabamos hablando de trabajo.
(We always end up talking about work.)

Acabaste cantando en el coro.
(You ended up singing in the chorus.)

Acabó enseñando inglés en Ecuador.
(He ended up teaching English in Ecuador. )

¿Acabaste llorando?
(Did you end up crying?)

No, acabé riéndome.
(No, I ended up laughing.)

Want to learn more?

Check out the following free lessons covering Spanish verbs:

• Traer vs Llevar
• Quedar vs Quedarse Quiz
• Spanish Verbs with Prepositions

Become a premium member and access all our interactive courses. Each lesson includes:

🎧 Interactive audio exercises

📄 Downloadable PDF lesson notes

✅ A test to reinforce what you’ve learned.

Already a member? Access the Spanish Verb module in our Spanish Grammar course!

Gracias por escuchar. Thanks for listening.

The post The Spanish Verb – ACABAR appeared first on Doc Molly.

In this audio lesson we practice phrases describing body language in Spanish. While reading in Spanish recently, I took note of several phrases describing gestures or body language, so I decided to make a podcast out of them. First, we'll practice naming the gestures in Spanish and then we'll use them in sentences.

Common Gestures in Spanish

Encogerse de hombros(to shrug one's shoulders)

Poner los ojos en blanco(to roll one's eyes)

Guiñar el ojo(to wink)

Parpadear / Pestañear(to blink, to bat one's eyes)

Entrecerrar los ojos(to squint, to narrow one's eyes)

Ruborizarse(to blush)

Tomar de la mano(to hold someone's hand, to take by the hand)

Estrechar la mano(to shake someone's hand)

Tender la mano(to hold out one's hand, to assist)

Caminar de la mano(to walk hand in hand)

Cruzar los dedos(to cross one's fingers)

Cruzar las manos(to sit idly)

Hacer muecas / una mueca(to make faces, to grimace)

Fruncir el ceño(to frown)

Mirar con mala cara(to glare)

Ladear la cabeza(to tilt one's head)

Example Sentences

Siempre hago muecas cuando me sacan fotos.(I always make a face when my picture is taken.)

El nieto de Linda hizo una mueca al probar el limón.(Linda's grandson made a face as he tasted the lemon.)

Cruzamos los dedos para que todo vaya bien.(We are crossing our fingers that everything goes well.)

No cruces las manos. Manos a la obra.(Don't stand there. Get to work.)

Sonrío y le estrecho la mano.(I smile and shake his hand.)

Nos estrechamos la mano.(We shake hands.)

Christina le tiende la mano a Kelly.(Christina holds out out her hand to Kelly.)

Te tendí la mano, y me la estrechaste.(I offered my hand and you shook it.)

El niño entrecierra los ojos para ver la pizarra.(The boy squints to see the chalkboard.)

Entrecierro los ojos mirándolo con recelo.(I narrow my eyes looking at him with suspicion.)

Me ruborizo cuando me mira.(I blush when she looks at me.)

Siempre me guiña el ojo.(She always winks at me.)

Se ruboriza cuando le guiño el ojo.(He blushes when I wink at him.)

Caminamos de la mano por la playa.(We walk hand in hand down the beach.)

Camino de la mano con mi marido.(I walk hand in hand with my husband.)

Amor y confianza caminan de la mano.-- Laura Esquivel(Love and trust go hand in hand.)

ir de la mano = caminar de la mano

Las matemáticas y la física van de la mano.(Math and physics go hand and hand.)

Me pone los ojos en blanco.(He rolls his eyes at me.)

Pongo los ojos en blanco al oír los piropos.(I roll my eyes when I hear the catcalls.)

El niño frunce el ceño.(The boy frowns.)

No me frunzas el ceño.(Don't frown at me.)

Sonrío y me encojo de hombros.(I smile and shrug my shoulders.)

Me encojo de hombros a modo de respuesta.(I shrug my shoulders in response.)

Me mira con mala cara a modo de respuesta.(She glares at me in response.)

Creo que no le caigo bien porque siempre me mira con mala cara.(I don't think she likes me because she always glaring at me.)

¿Se toman de la mano en público?(Do they hold hands in public?)

La tomé de la mano para cruzar la calle.(I took her hand to cross the street.)

¡Los vi tomados de la mano!(I saw them holding hands.)

Parpadeo muchas veces sin creer lo que veo.(I blink several times not believing what I see.)

Pestañea tratando de aparecer inocente.(She bats her eyes trying to appear innocent.)

Want to learn more?

[DAP]

__CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"6ba77":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"19a93":{"name":"Main Accent Light","parent":"6ba77"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"6ba77":{"val":"var(--tcb-color-4)","hsl":{"h":206,"s":0.5124,"l":0.3941,"a":1}},"19a93":{"val":"rgb(40, 164, 189)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":190,"l":0.45,"s":0.65}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"6ba77":{"val":"rgb(70, 105, 233)","hsl":{"h":227,"s":0.78,"l":0.59,"a":1}},"19a93":{"val":"rgb(84, 161, 248)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":211,"s":0.92,"l":0.65,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ Table of Contents InterpretarRecomiendo selladores dentalesLas muelasUna superficie irregularTienden a formar cariesUn recubrimientoSe aplica esta resinaUn procedimiento sencilloSe limpia bien el dienteUn gel ácidoOrden de las palabrasUn fuerte selloSe enjuaga el dienteUna luz de color azulQuiz

[/DAP]

Expressing the Duration of an Ongoing Event

In this audio lesson, we practice three different time expressions in Spanish to describe something that started in the past and continues into the present. For example: "I have been studying Spanish for years."

In English, we use the present perfect tense, "I have been…," followed by a gerund (e.g. studying).

In Spanish, we usually use the simple present tense. There are three common variations to express an action that started in the past and continues into the present.

Spanish Grammar member? This lesson introduces our premium series Time Expressions – Members

Construction #1 using "hace…que"

Hace + período de tiempo + que + verbo en el presente.Hace años que estudio español.

¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que + verbo en el presente?¿Hace cuánto (tiempo) que + verbo en el presente? (otra opción)¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que estudias español? (How long have you been studying Spanish?)

Construction #2 using "desde"

Verbo en el presente + desde hace + período de tiempo.Estudio español desde hace años.

And making this into a question using "desde"¿Desde cuándo + verbo en el presente?¿Desde cuándo estudias español?

Construction # 3 using "llevar"

Levar + gerundio + período de tiempo.Llevo años estudiando español.

OJO: The period of time can go BEFORE OR AFTER the gerund. Also, as we will see in the examples below, the gerund can be replaced by an adjective, an adverb, or a prepositional phrase.  

¿Cuánto tiempo + llevar + gerundio?¿Cuánto tiempo llevas estudiando español?

We can also use llevar, followed by a location or description, to describe a state that started in the past and continues into the present.

¿Cuánto tiempo llevas en este país?(How long have you been in this country?)

Ya llevo unos cuantos días.(I've now been here for a few days.)

Using "hace que"

¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que eres vegetariana?(How long have you been a vegetarian?)

Do you know when to use SER vs ESTAR?

Some of you may remember my original Spanish Grammar Review podcast that I started in 2007. I took a break to focus on the Medical Spanish Podcast and resumed podcasting about Spanish grammar in June of 2012. In this first podcast of the "new" Spanish Grammar Review we take an audio quiz covering when to use SER and when to use ESTAR. I hope you enjoy it.

El concierto ____ en Minneapolis.(The concert is in Minneapolis.)

¡El pescado ___ rico!(The fish is delicious!)

Mi casa ____ a 10 kilómetros del centro.(My house is 10 kilometers from downtown.)

___ yo.(It's me.)

El trabajo ____ hecho.(The work is done.)

Ya ___ tarde.(It's already too late.)

¿Cómo ___ el dolor?(What is the pain like?)

Lo más importante ___ los niños.(The most important thing is the children.

El cielo ___ azul.(The sky is blue.)

¡El cielo ___ anaranjado!(The sky is orange!)

Want to learn more?

Listen to more Spanish Verb lessons.Subscribe to my premium Spanish Grammar podcast at docmolly.com. In the premium Ser y Estar series we go overMembers: Access the premium series: Ser y Estar.