Continue Learning Spanish

By Gerald Erichsen, About.com Guide to Spanish Language

If you're past the beginning state of learning Spanish, you'll find plenty here to expand on your knowledge: lessons, articles and guides to using your newly acquired language.

1. Nouns
2. Adjectives and Articles
3. Adverbs
4. Tips for Learning
5. Conjunctions
6. Prepositions
7. Pronouns
8. Pronunciation
9. Sentence Structure
10. Teaching Resources

11. Verb Tense, Mood and Voice
12. Verb Usage
13. Using Particular Verbs
14. Verb Conjugation
15. Vocabulary Lessons
16. Vocabulary Lists
17. Word Choice
18. Written Spanish
19. Miscellaneous Grammar Lessons

Nouns

These lessons look at the variety of ways nouns are used in sentences.

• Rules of Pluralization
• Words With Two Genders
• Words That Break the Gender 'Rule'
• Using Infinitives as Nouns
• Words of Ambiguous Gender

Adjectives and Articles

Learn more about the words that are used to describe or point to nouns.

• Placement of Adjectives
• Adjectives Whose Meanings Depend on Location
• Use and Omission of the Definite Article
• Words of Possession
• Saying "Any"

• Invariable Adjectives
• Mascline Adjectives Ending in "-A"
• "El" and "La" in Country Names
• Adjectival Present Participles

Adverbs

These words are used to modify the meanings of verbs, adjectives, entire sentences and other adverbs.

• Adverbial Phrases
• Adverbs of Place
• "Atrás" and "Detrás"
• Using "Aquí," "Ahí" and "Allí"
• Saying "Maybe" in Spanish: Expressions of Possibility

• Using the Spanish "No"
• Alternatives to "Muy"
• Terms of Concession
• Saying "Again"

Tips for Learning

Learning Spanish doesn't have to be a struggle. Here is some general advice for improving your Spanish as well as tips on mastering the particulars.

• 10 Mistakes To Avoid While Learning Spanish
• 10 Grammatical Mistakes You Can Avoid
• Tips for Learning Irregular Verbs
• How Can I Increase My Vocabulary?

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases and sentences together.

• Singular/Plural Status of Words Joined by 'O'
• Pronunciation-Based Changes in 'Y' and 'O'

Prepositions

Prepositions are the most difficult part of speech for many students.

• Taking the Confusion out of 'Por' and 'Para'
• The Personal 'A'
• Using 'Pero' and 'Sino'
• 'De' and 'Desde'

• Prepositional Phrases
• 'Cuando' as a Preposition
• Using 'Según'

Pronouns

Pronouns can vary in form with number and gender as well as what function they serve.

• Subject Pronouns
• Prepositional Pronouns
• Direct Object Pronouns
• Reflexive Pronouns
• Neuter Pronouns and Articles
• 'Le' and 'Leísmo'

• 'Vos' in Argentina
• Indirect Object Pronouns
• Using 'Ser' with an Indirect Object
• Using 'Nadie'
• Interrogative Pronouns: "Qué" vs. "Cuál"

Pronunciation

One of the first things people will know about your verbal Spanish is how well you pronounce words. Here are some tips for improvement.

• Silent Letters Other Than 'H'
• Trabalenguas (Spanish Tongue Twisters)
• Double Negatives

• Diphthongs and Triphthongs
• Pronouncing the Spanish "R"
• Homophones

Sentence Structure

Spanish is more flexible than English is in terms of word order and other elements of sentence structure.

• Word Order in Spanish Sentences
• Using 'Se' as the Equivalent of the English Passive Voice
• The Versatile Past Participle
• Expressing Causation

• Saying 'Supposed To' (Expressing Obligation)
• Introducing Afterthoughts and Offhand Remarks
• Reciprocal and Reflexive Sentences
• Expressing Disagreement

Teaching Resources

If you teach Spanish, these articles can help you help your students learn.

• Crucigramas: Make Spanish Crossword Puzzles for Your Classroom
• How Learning Styles Affect Learning
• Why Learn Spanish?

Verb Tense, Mood and Voice

The tense of a verb typically indicates the time element of a sentence, while the mood typically indicates the speakers perspective on what is being said.

• Two Past Tenses of Spanish
• Introduction to the Subjunctive Mood
• Tenses in the Subjunctive Mood
• Translating the English 'Would'
• Using Infinitives After Other Verbs With a Change of Subject
• Uses for the Future Tense
• The Conditional Tense
• Direct Commands

• Commands and Requests Without the Imperative Mood
• Polite Requests
• Future Subjunctive Mood
• Two Forms of the Imperfect Subjunctive
• Using the Subjunctive When Discussing Real Events
• Choice of Preterite or Imperfect Can Modify Verb's Meaning
• Using the Right Person of Verb
• Progressive Verb Forms

Verb Usage

These lessons explain how to use verbs in sentences.

• Spanish Reflexive Verbs Conveying Change in Emotion
• Reflexive Verbs With an Indirect Object
• Expressing Liklihood and Obligation With "Deber"

Using Particular Verbs

Many of the verbs discussed in these lessons are used differently than are their English equivalents.

• "Ser," "Estar" and Marital Status
• "Saber" and "Conocer"
• Confusing Verb Pairs
• Using "Gustar"
• Verbs Similar to "Gustar"
• "Tener" Used To Express Emotions, States of Being
• More Idioms Using "Tener"
• Existential "Haber"
• "Haber" as an Auxiliary Verb

• Idioms Using "Haber"
• Using "Haber De"
• The Power of "Poder"
• Expressions Using "Ir"
• Using "Hacer"
• Using "Llevar"
• Other Meanings of "Estar"
• "Doler," the Painful Verb

Verb Conjugation

In Spanish, verbs change form depending on tense, mood, person and number.

• Spanish Verb Conjugations
• Conjugation in the Subjunctive Mood
• Irregular Past Participles
• Why Are There Two Conjugations for the Imperfect Subjunctive?

Vocabulary Lessons

Improve your ability to say what you want to say as you expand your vocabulary with these lessons.

• Word of the Day
• False Friends
• Fickle Friends
• Verbs Derived from 'Poner'
• Prefixes
• Suffixes

• Diminutive Suffixes
• Augmentative Suffixes
• Compound Words
• Love Words
• Verbs Derived from 'Tener'

Vocabulary Lists

These lists can be used for study or for the making of flashcards and quizzes.

• Weather Terms
• Names of Fruits
• Articles of Clothing

• Spanish at the Zoo: Names of Animals
• Animal Sounds
• Spanish Around the House

Word Choice

Often when translating to Spanish, you may not know which word in he dictionary to use. These lessons can get you on the right track.

• "Querer" vs. "Amar" for "I Love You"
• Verbs Meaning "To Ask"
• Verbs Meaning "To Take"
• Translating "To Feel" to Spanish

Written Spanish

Here's what you need to know if you're preparing written materials such as correspondence and compositions.

• Abbreviations
• Punctuation
• Capitalization

• Accents and Other Diacritical Marks
• Angular Quotation Marks
• Orthographic Accents in Indirect Statements

Miscellaneous Grammar Lessons

For those that don't fit well in another category.

• Translating "The More" and "The Less"
• Native Spanish Speakers Make Mistakes Too
• Approximations
• Using "Lo"
• Saying "That" in Spanish