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A fun & easy guide to Spanish sentence structure and word order

The Spanish sentence structure is the basic building block that will help you express yourself.

Learning Spanish vocabulary and a few phrases is great if you’re just starting to learn Spanish, but understanding how sentences are strung together will help you get a sense of how the language works. Beyond just memorizing simple phrases, you’ll be able to actually use all the vocab and tools you’ve learned to put together a coherent sentence that expresses complex thoughts.

From basic sentences to negatives, interrogatives, and even compounds, there are a several essential Spanish questions that you should get a handle on as you advance in your Spanish mastery.

Although it may sound a little daunting, remember to always look at Spanish grammar as a resource that is always there to help you. If you’re ever in doubt, grammar rules are your friend, as they can help you easily figure out what you’re missing or what you need to change.

Below, we’ll cover some of the most important grammar rules about the Spanish sentence to help you start talking and writing like a pro.

Table of contents


Basic Spanish sentence structure

Just like in English, Spanish sentences typically follow a subject-verb-object (SVO) structure. Sounds like math? Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds:

PartSpanishDefinitionExamples
SubjectSujetoThe person, place, thing or idea that is doing the action. In Spanish, this can be dropped if it’s clear who or what is being referred to, especially since the verb conjugation hints at who the subject is.Yo (I), Ella (she), El gato (The cat).
VerbVerboThis action word tells us what the subject is doing. Spanish verbs are conjugated to match the subject, so they look slightly different.Come (eats), Habla (speaks), Corre (runs).
ObjectObjetoThe thing or person that receives the action of the verb.El libro (the book), Una manzana (an apple), La pelota (the ball).

Working on Basic Spanish sentence structure.


Variations in Spanish word order and sentence structure

Spanish is a very flexible language, and you’ll find that sentence structures can vary quite a bit. This flexibility can add emphasis, create different nuances, or simply match the speaker’s style. Here are some of the most common types of basic Spanish structures:

StructureSpanishDefinitionExample
Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)Sujeto-Verbo-Objeto (SVO)This is the standard Spanish sentence structure.María (subject) come (verb) una manzana (object).
Verb-Subject-Object (VSO)Verbo-Sujeto-Objeto (VSO)Sometimes the verb comes first, often for emphasis or in questions.Come (verb) Maria (subject) una manzana (object).
Object-Verb-Subject (OVS)Objeto-Verbo-Sujeto (OVS)This structure can be used for emphasis or poetic effect.Una manzana (object) come (verb) María (subject).
Subject-Object-Verb (SOV)Sujeto-Objeto-Verbo (SOV)This is less common but can be found in some poetic or literary contexts.María (subject) una manzana (object) come (verb).


Examples of simple sentences and how they can be modified

Here are a few helpful examples of just how versatile the Spanish sentence structure can be. Below, you’ll find examples of the same sentence in different orders, each grammatically correct and representing a different emphasis.

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
Maria bought a book.María compró un libro. (SVO)mah-ree-ah com-proh oohn lee-brohmaˈɾia komˈpɾo wn ˈliβɾo ‖
A book Maria bought.Un libro compró María. (OVS)oohn lee-bro kom-proh mah-ree-ahun ˈliβɾo komˈpɾo maˈɾia ‖
Bought Maria a book.Compró María un libro. (VSO)kohm-proh mah-ree-ah oohn lee-broun ˈliβɾo komˈpɾo maˈɾia ‖
Juan sings a song.Juan canta una canción. (SVO)who-an kahn-ta oo-nah kahn-see-ohnˈxwan ˈkanta ˈuna kanˈθjon ‖
A song sings Juan.Una canción canta Juan. (OVS)oo-nah kahn-see-ohn kahn-ta who-anˈuna kanˈθjon ˈkanta ˈxwan ‖
Sings Juan a song.Canta Juan una canción. (VSO)kahn-ta oo-nah kahn-see-ohn who-anˈkanta ˈxwan ˈuna kanˈθjon ‖
Pedro reads the newspaper.Pedro lee el periódico. (SVO)peh-dro leh-eh elle peh-ree-oh-dee-cohˈpeðɾo ˈlee el peˈɾjoðiko ‖
The newspaper reads Pedro.El periódico lee Pedro. (OVS)elle peh-ree-oh-dee-coh leh-eh peh-droel peˈɾjoðiko ˈlee ˈpeðɾo ‖
Reads Pedro the newspaper.Lee Pedro el periódico. (VSO)leh-eh peh-dro elle peh-ree-oh-dee-coˈlee ˈpeðɾo el peˈɾjoðiko ‖
Ana writes a letter.Ana escribe una carta. (SVO)ah-nah ess-cree-beh oo-nah car-taˈana esˈkɾiβe ˈuna ˈkaɾta ‖
A letter writes Ana.Una carta escribe Ana. (OVS)oo-nah car-tah ess-cree-beh ah-naˈuna ˈkaɾta esˈkɾiβe ˈana ‖
Writes Ana a letter.Escribe Ana una carta. (VSO)ess-cree-beh ah-na oo-nah car-taesˈkɾiβe ˈana ˈuna ˈkaɾta ‖
The dog chases the cat.El perro persigue al gato. (SVO)elle peh-roh pehr-see-geh all gah-toeel ˈpero peɾˈsiɣe al ˈɣato ‖
After the cat chases the dog.Al gato persigue el perro. (OVS)all gah-toe pehr-see-geh elle peh-rohal ˈɣato peɾˈsiɣe el ˈpero ‖
Chases the dog after the cat.Persigue el perro al gato. (VSO)pehr-see-geh elle peh-roh all gah-toepeɾˈsiɣe el ˈpero al ˈɣato ‖


Adding more flavor to Spanish sentences

What we just covered is only the most basic Spanish structures. You can add more flavors to your sentences by adding adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, and more to make them more descriptive and interesting.

EnglishSpanishDefinitionExample
AdjectivesAdjetivosThey describe the subject or object.La casa grande. (The big house)
AdverbsAdverbiosThey describe how the action is performed.María come rápidamente. (María eats quickly)
Prepositional phrasesFrases preposicionalesThey add extra information about the action.El gato duerme en el sofá. (The cat sleeps on the sofa)


Noun-Adjective agreement in Spanish

Using adjectives is an essential part of making sentences in Spanish, as they can help you describe things like personality traits, sizes, and shapes and include so many cool words that you can use to add some spice to your sentences.

To use them correctly, you’ll want to understand noun-adjective agreement in Spanish. Unlike in English, Spanish nouns are gendered, and adjectives must match the nouns they describe in both gender and number. For example, you can say “El gato es bonito” (The cat is pretty) or “Las ballenas son bonitas” (Whales are pretty). In each case, notice how the adjective is modified to match the gender and number of the noun. Let’s take a quick look at over 150 Spanish adjectives.

Noun-Adjective agreement in Spanish.

Singular to plural

Spanish adjectives must agree in number, regardless of the gender of the noun. This means they should be singular when the noun is singular and plural when the noun is plural.

  • Singular adjectives: These don’t change. For example, “grande” remains “grande” when describing a singular noun.
  • Plural adjectives: Add an -s if the adjective ends in a vowel (“grandes”) or -es if it ends in a consonant (“azules”).
EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
The red book is on the table.El libro rojo está en la mesa.elle lee-bro ro-ho ess-tah ehn la meh-sahel ˈliβɾo ˈroxo esˈta en la ˈmesa ‖
The red books are on the table.Los libros rojos están en la mesa.lohs lee-bros ro-hos ess-tahn ehn la meh-sahloz ˈliβɾoz ˈroxos esˈtan en la ˈmesa ‖
The big house is pretty.La casa grande es bonita.lah cah-sah grahn-deh ess boh-nee-tahla ˈkasa ˈɣɾande ˈez βoˈnita ‖
The big houses are pretty.Las casas grandes son bonitas.lahs cah-sahs grahn-dehs sohn boh-nee-tahslas ˈkasaz ˈɣɾandes ˈsom boˈnitas ‖
The black cat sleeps.El gato negro duerme.elle gah-to neh-gro dwehr-mehel ˈɣato ˈneɣɾo ˈðweɾme ‖
The black cats sleep.Los gatos negros duermen.lohs gah-tos neh-gros dwehr-mehnloz ˈɣatoz ˈneɣɾoz ˈðweɾmen ‖
The comfortable chair is my favorite.La silla cómoda es mi favorita.lah see-yah koh-moh-dah ess mee fah-voh-ree-tahla ˈsiʝa ˈkomoða ˈez mi faβoˈɾita ‖
The comfortable chairs are my favorite.Las sillas cómodas son mis favoritas.lahs see-yahs koh-moh-dahs sohn mees fah-voh-ree-tahslas ˈsiʝas ˈkomoðas ˈsom mis faβoˈɾitas ‖
The happy child plays in the park.El niño feliz juega en el parque.elle nee-nyo feh-lees hweh-gah ehn elle pahr-kehel ˈniɲo feˈliθ ˈxweɣa en el ˈpaɾke ‖
The happy children play in the park.Los niños felices juegan en el parque.lohs nee-nyos feh-lee-sehs hweh-gahn ehn elle pahr-kehloz ˈniɲos feˈliθes ˈxweɣan en el ˈpaɾke ‖


Masculine to feminine

Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine. Most masculine nouns end in -o (“libro” for book, while most feminine nouns end in -a (“casa” for house). Any time you use an adjective, you must make sure it matches the gender of the noun.

  • Masculine adjectives: Typically end in -o (“bonito” for describing a masculine noun).
  • Feminine adjectives: Typically end in -a (“bonita” for describing a feminine noun).
  • Irregular adjectives: Some adjectives end in -e or a consonant and do not change for gender. For example, “amable” (kind) can be used to describe both male and female nouns without changing forms (“El señor amable” and “La señora amable”).

Here are some examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
The tall guy runs fast.El chico alto corre rápido.elle chee-ko ahl-toh koh-rreh rah-pee-dohel ˈʧiko ˈalto ˈkore ˈrapiðo ‖
The tall girl runs fast.La chica alta corre rápido.lah chee-kah ahl-tah koh-rreh rah-pee-dohla ˈʧika ˈalta ˈkore ˈrapiðo ‖
The small male dog barks a lot.El perro pequeño ladra mucho.elle peh-rro peh-keh-nyo lah-drah moo-chohel ˈpero peˈkeɲo ˈlaðɾa ˈmuʧo ‖
The small female dog barks a lot.La perra pequeña ladra mucho.lah peh-rrah peh-keh-nyah lah-drah moo-chohla ˈpera peˈkeɲa ˈlaðɾa ˈmuʧo ‖
The smart male professor teaches well.El profesor inteligente enseña bien.elle pro-feh-sor een-teh-lee-hehn-teh ehn-seh-nyah byehnel pɾofeˈsoɾ inteliˈxente enˈseɲa ˈβjen ‖
The smart female professor teaches well.La profesora inteligente enseña bien.lah pro-feh-soh-rah een-teh-lee-hehn-teh ehn-seh-nyah byehnla pɾofeˈsoɾa jnteliˈxente enˈseɲa ˈβjen ‖
The white male cat is on the sofa.El gato blanco está en el sofá.elle gah-toh blahn-koh ess-tah ehn elle soh-fahel ˈɣato ˈβlanko esˈta en el soˈfa ‖
The white female cat is on the sofa.La gata blanca está en el sofá.lah gah-tah blahn-kah ess-tah ehn elle soh-fahla ˈɣata ˈβlanka esˈta en el soˈfa ‖
The loyal male friend is always there.El amigo fiel siempre está ahí.elle ah-mee-goh feh-yehl see-ehm-preh ess-tah ah-eeel aˈmiɣo ˈfjel ˈsjempɾe esˈta aˈi ‖
The loyal female friend is always there.La amiga fiel siempre está ahí.lah ah-mee-gah feh-yehl see-ehm-preh ess-tah ah-eela aˈmiɣa ˈfjel ˈsjempɾe esˈta aˈi ‖


Color adjectives

Colors in Spanish must follow the same rules for noun-adjective agreement when used to describe nouns. Here’s how you can master using color adjectives correctly in your Spanish sentences:

  • Standard colors: Most color adjectives, like “rojo” (red) change their ending to agree with the gender of the noun. For example, “El lápiz rojo” and “La silla roja.”
  • Invariable colors: Some color adjectives don’t change based on gender. These typically end in -e or a consonant. For example, “El lápiz verde” and “La silla verde.”
  • Number agreement: Color adjectives must also agree with the noun in number, and they follow standard rules. For example, “El lápiz verde” and “Los lápices verdes.”
  • Compound colors: When colors are compound adjectives, they usually don’t change for gender or number. For example, “La camisa azul claro” (The light blue shirt) or “La casa verde oscuro” (The dark green house).
  • Adjectives ending in -a: Some color adjectives, like “rosa” (pink) and “naranja” (orange) don’t change for gender, but they do change for number. For example, “El carro rosa” and “Los carros rosas.”

Here are some examples of color adjectives in action:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
The yellow car is new.El coche amarillo es nuevo.elle koh-cheh ah-mah-ree-yo ess nweh-voel ˈkoʧe amaˈɾiʝo ˈez ˈnweβo ‖
The yellow chair is very comfortable.La silla amarilla es muy cómoda.lah see-yah ah-mah-ree-yah ess mwee koh-moh-dahla ˈsiʝa amaˈɾiʝa ˈez muj ˈkomoða ‖
The red hat looks really good on you.El sombrero rojo se te ve muy bien.elle sohm-breh-ro ro-ho seh teh veh mwee byehnel somˈbɾeɾo ˈroxo se te ˈβe muj ˈβjen ‖
Has anyone seen my red shirt?¿Alguien ha visto mi camiseta roja?ahl-gyehn ah vees-toh mee kah-mee-seh-tah ro-hahˈalɣjen ˈa ˈβisto mi kamiˈseta ˈroxa ‖
Black cats are signs of bad luck,Los gatos negros son una señal de mala suerte.lohs gah-tohs neh-grohs sohn oo-nah seh-nyahl deh mah-lah swehr-tehloz ˈɣatoz ˈneɣɾos ˈson ˈuna seˈɲal de ˈmala ˈsweɾte ‖
The black spider spins its web.La araña negra teje su telaraña.lah ah-rah-nyah neh-grah teh-heh soo teh-lah-rah-nyahla aˈɾaɲa ˈneɣɾa ˈtexe su telaˈɾaɲa ‖
The white mug is yours.La taza blanca es tuya.lah tah-sah blahn-kah ess too-yahla ˈtaθa ˈβlanka ˈes ˈtuʝa ‖
Be careful with the white plate.Ten cuidado con el plato blanco.tehn kwee-dah-doh kohn elle plah-toh blahn-kohˈten kwiˈðaðo kon el ˈplato ˈβlanko ‖
The pink flower is my favorite.La flor rosa es mi favorita.lah flor roh-sah ess mee fah-voh-ree-tahla ˈfloɾ ˈrosa ˈez mi faβoˈɾita ‖
The pink car is very fast.El carro rosa es muy veloz.elle kah-rro roh-sah ess mwee veh-lohsel ˈkaro ˈrosa ˈez muj βeˈloθ ‖


Quality adjectives

These adjectives describe characteristics like size, shape, and personality. Just like other adjectives in Spanish, quality adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in both gender and number. Here’s how to use them correctly:

  • Gender agreement: Many quality adjectives change their ending to match the gender of the noun. Typically, masculine adjectives end in -o (“alto” and “pequeño”) and feminine adjectives end in -a (“alta” and “pequeña”). Some quality adjectives that end in -e or a consonant don’t change their form (“inteligente” and “fácil”).
  • Number agreement: Quality adjectives must also match the noun in number. They remain singular when describing a singular noun (“alto” and “inteligente”) and become plural when describing plural nouns (“altos” and “inteligentes”).
  • Special cases: Adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, and -ín remain unchanged for masculine nouns (“trabajador” and “holgazán”) and add -a to form the feminine singular (“trabajadora” and “holgazana”). For plural nouns, first adapt the adjective to the gender and then follow normal pluralization rules (“trabajadores” and “trabajadoras”).

Let’s take a look at a few quality adjectives at work:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
The interesting book is very long.El libro interesante es largo.elle lee-bro een-teh-reh-sahn-teh ess lahr-goel ˈliβɾo jnteɾeˈsante ˈez ˈlaɾɣo ‖
Interesting books are long.Los libros interesantes son largos.lohs lee-bros een-teh-reh-sahn-tehs sohn lahr-gosloz ˈliβɾos inteɾeˈsantes ˈson ˈlaɾɣos ‖
The boring movie is over.La película aburrida terminó.lah peh-lee-koo-lah ah-boo-ree-dah tehr-mee-nohla peˈlikula aβuˈriða teɾmiˈno ‖
Boring movies are over.Las películas aburridas terminaron.lahs peh-lee-koo-lahs ah-boo-ree-dahs tehr-mee-nah-rohnlas peˈlikulas aβuˈriðas teɾmiˈnaɾon ‖
The easy exam was quick.El examen fácil fue rápido.elle ehk-sah-mehn fah-seel fweh rah-pee-dohel ekˈsamem ˈfaθil ˈfwe ˈrapiðo ‖
The easy exams were quick.Los exámenes fáciles fueron rápidos.lohs ehk-sah-meh-nehs fah-see-lehs fweh-rohn rah-pee-dohslos ekˈsamenes ˈfaθiles ˈfweɾon ˈrapiðos ‖
The dificult homework took hours.La tarea difícil me tomó horas.lah tah-reh-ah dee-fee-seel meh toh-moh oh-rahsla taˈɾea ðiˈfiθil me toˈmo ˈoɾas ‖
The difficult homeworks took hours.Las tareas difíciles me tomaron horas.lahs tah-reh-ahs dee-fee-see-lehs meh toh-mah-rohn oh-rahslas taˈɾeaz ðiˈfiθilez me toˈmaɾon ˈoɾas ‖
The important job is urgent.El trabajo importante es urgente.elle trah-bah-hoh eem-por-tahn-teh ess oor-hehn-tehel tɾaˈβaxo jmpoɾˈtante ˈes uɾˈxente ‖
The important jobs are urgent.Los trabajos importantes son urgentes.lohs trah-bah-hohs eem-por-tahn-tehs sohn oor-hehn-tehslos tɾaˈβaxos impoɾˈtantes ˈson uɾˈxentes ‖


Adjectives with invariant forms for gender

Some adjectives remain the same regardless of the gender of the noun they describe. These invariant adjectives simplify agreement rules since they only need to change to match the number of the noun.

  • End in -e or consonant: Many adjectives that end in -e or a consonant don’t change based on gender. They stay the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine. For example, “grande” (big) and “feliz” (happy).
  • Adjectives ending in -ista: These adjectives are also invariant in gender but do change for number. For example, “optimista” (optimist) and “pesimista” (pessimist).

Here are some examples where you can see them in action:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
The young male student is very studious.El estudiante joven es muy aplicado.elle ehs-too-dyahn-teh ho-vehn ess mwee ah-plee-kah-dohel estuˈðjante ˈxoβen ˈez muj apliˈkaðo ‖
The young female student is very studious.La estudiante joven es muy aplicada.lah ehs-too-dyahn-teh ho-vehn ess mwee ah-plee-kah-dahla estuˈðjante ˈxoβen ˈez muj apliˈkaða ‖
The interesting book is on history.El libro interesante es sobre historia.elle lee-bro een-teh-reh-sahn-teh ess soh-breh eess-toh-ree-ahel ˈliβɾo jnteɾeˈsante ˈes ˈsoβɾe jsˈtoɾja ‖
The interesting magazine is on history.La revista interesante es sobre historia.lah reh-vee-stah een-teh-reh-sahn-teh ess soh-breh eess-toh-ree-ahla reˈβista jnteɾeˈsante ˈes ˈsoβɾe jsˈtoɾja ‖
The easy exam didn’t last long.El examen fácil no duró mucho.elle ehk-sah-mehn fah-seel noh doo-roh moo-chohel ekˈsamem ˈfaθil ˈno ðuˈɾo ˈmuʧo ‖
The easy test didn’t last long.La prueba fácil no duró mucho.lah proo-eh-bah fah-seel noh doo-roh moo-chohla ˈpɾweβa ˈfaθil ˈno ðuˈɾo ˈmuʧo ‖
The kind boy helped me.El niño amable me ayudó.elle nee-nyo ah-mah-bleh meh ah-yoo-dohel ˈniɲo aˈmaβle me aʝuˈðo ‖
The kind girl helped me.La niña amable me ayudó.lah nee-nyah ah-mah-bleh meh ah-yoo-dohla ˈniɲa aˈmaβle me aʝuˈðo ‖
The optimist guy is always smiling.El chico optimista siempre sonríe.elle chee-koh op-tee-mees-tah see-ehm-preh sohn-ree-ehel ˈʧiko optiˈmista ˈsjempɾe sonˈrie ‖
The optimist girl is always smiling.La chica optimista siempre sonríe.lah chee-kah op-tee-mees-tah see-ehm-preh sohn-ree-ehla ˈʧika optiˈmista ˈsjempɾe sonˈrie ‖


Verb conjugations depending on subject conjugation

Knowing how to conjugate verbs in Spanish is a critical part of making even the most basic Spanish sentences. In fact, verb conjugation is so important that it often makes the subject unnecessary, since the verb conjugation includes information about who the subject is.

Unlike in English, Spanish verbs can change their forms significantly depending on the subject. Understanding these changes can help you greatly improve your Spanish fluency, making you sound like more of an intermediate or advanced Spanish speaker.

There are three main types of verbs according to their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each group follows a specific conjugation pattern in different tenses.

Verb conjugations depending on subject conjugation.

-AR verbs

Verbs ending in -ar are some of the most common verbs in Spanish. They typically follow a regular conjugation pattern, except for notable exceptions like the conjugation of estar in Spanish and other irregular verbs. Regular verbs typically follow this conjugation structure:

PronounConjugation endingExampleEnglish
Yo-oHablarHabloI speak
-asHablarHablasYou speak
Él/ella/usted-aHablarHablaHe/she speaks
Nosotros/nosotras-amosHablarHablamosWe speak
Vosotros/vosotras-áisHablarHabláisYou speak
Ellos/ellas/ustedes-anHablarHablanThey speak


-ER verbs

Verbs ending in -er also tend to be regular, almost always following these conjugation patterns:

PronounConjugation endingExampleEnglish
Yo-oComerComoI eat
-esComerComesYou eat
Él/ella/usted-eComerComeHe/she eats
Nosotros/nosotras-emosComerComemosWe eat
Vosotros/vosotras-éisComerComéisYou eat
Ellos/ellas/ustedes-enComerComenThey eat


-IR verbs

Verbs ending with -ir typically follow this conjugation pattern:

PronounConjugation endingExampleEnglish
Yo-oVivirVivoI live
-esVivirVivesYou live
Él/ella/usted-eVivirViveHe/she lives
Nosotros/nosotras-imosVivirVivimosWe live
Vosotros/vosotras-ísVivirVivísYou live
Ellos/ellas/ustedes-enVivirVivenThey live


Example sentences showing verb conjugations in different tenses

Now that you’re familiar with the regular conjugation pattern for each of the three types of Spanish verbs, let’s take a look at some examples of each:

Hablar (To speak)

Verb tenseHablar (To speak)PronunciationIPAEnglish translation
PresentYo hablo español con mis amigos.yo ah-bloh ess-pah-nyohl kohn mees ah-mee-gohsˈʝo ˈaβlo espaˈɲol kom mis aˈmiɣos ‖I speak Spanish with my friends.
PreteritYo hablé con mi profesor ayer.yo ah-bleh kohn mee pro-feh-sor ah-yehrˈʝo aˈβle kom mi pɾofeˈsoɾ aˈʝeɾ ‖I spoke with my professor yesterday.
ImperfectYo hablaba con mi abuela todos los días.yo ah-blah-bah kohn mee ah-bweh-lah toh-dohs lohs dee-ahsˈʝo aˈβlaβa kom mj aˈβwela ˈtoðoz loz ˈðias ‖I was speaking with my grandma every day.
FutureYo hablaré en la conferencia de mañana.yo ah-blah-reh ehn lah kohn-feh-rehn-see-ah deh mahn-yah-nahˈʝo aβlaˈɾe en la komfeˈɾenθja ðe maˈɲana ‖I will speak at tomorrow’s conference.
ConditionalYo hablaría contigo si tuviera tiempo.yo ah-blah-ree-ah kohn-tee-goh see too-vee-eh-rah tyehm-pohˈʝo aβlaˈɾia konˈtiɣo si tuˈβjeɾa ˈtjempo ‖I would speak with you if I had the time.

Comer (To eat)

Verb tenseComer (To speak)PronunciationIPAEnglish translation
PresentYo como una manzana todos los días.yo koh-moh oo-nah mahn-sah-nah toh-dohs lohs dee-ahsˈʝo ˈkomo ˈuna manˈθana ˈtoðoz loz ˈðias ‖I eat an apple every day.
PreteritYo comí pasta anoche.yo koh-mee pahs-tah ah-noh-chehˈʝo koˈmi ˈpasta aˈnoʧe ‖I ate pasta last night.
ImperfectYo comía muchas frutas cuando era niño.yo koh-mee-ah moo-chahs froo-tahs kwahn-doh eh-rah nee-nyohˈʝo koˈmia ˈmuʧas ˈfɾutas ˈkwando ˈeɾa ˈniɲo ‖I used to eat lots of fruits when I was little.
FutureYo comeré en un restaurante elegante mañana.yo koh-meh-reh ehn oon rehs-tow-rahn-teh eh-leh-gahn-teh mahn-yah-nahˈʝo komeˈɾe en un restawˈɾante eleˈɣante maˈɲana ‖I will eat at a fancy restaurant tomorrow.
ConditionalYo comería pizza todos los días si pudiera.yo koh-meh-ree-ah peet-sah toh-dohs lohs dee-ahs see poo-dyeh-rahˈʝo komeˈɾia ˈpitsa ˈtoðoz loz ˈðias si puˈðjeɾa ‖I would eat pizza every day if I could.

Vivir (To live)

Verb tenseHablar (To speak)PronunciationIPAEnglish translation
PresentYo vivo en una casa pequeña.yo vee-voh ehn oo-nah kah-sah peh-keh-nyahˈʝo ˈβiβo en ˈuna ˈkasa peˈkeɲa ‖I live in a small house.
PreteritYo viví en México por un año.yo vee-vee ehn meh-hee-koh pohr oon ah-nyohˈʝo βiˈβi em ˈmexiko poɾ un ˈaɲo ‖I lived in Mexico for a year.
ImperfectYo vivía en el campo cuando era niño.yo vee-vee-ah ehn ehl kahm-poh kwahn-doh eh-rah nee-nyohˈʝo βiˈβia en el ˈkampo ˈkwando ˈeɾa ˈniɲo ‖I used to live in the countryside when I was a kid.
FutureYo viviré en Bogotá el próximo año.yo vee-vee-reh ehn boh-goh-tah ehl prohk-see-moh ah-nyohˈʝo βiβiˈɾe em boɣoˈta el ˈpɾoksimo ˈaɲo ‖I will live in Bogotá next year.
ConditionalYo viviría en la playa si tuviera dinero.yo vee-vee-ree-ah ehn lah plah-yah see too-vee-eh-rah dee-neh-rohˈʝo βiβiˈɾia en la ˈplaʝa si tuˈβjeɾa ðiˈneɾo ‖I would live at the beach if I had the money.


Spanish word order and question formation

Knowing how to ask questions in Spanish is extremely helpful, and the Spanish question structure is quite easy to nail down. There are two main types of questions in Spanish: yes/no questions and information questions. Let’s take a look.

Spanish word order and question formation.

Yes/no questions in Spanish

Yes/no questions are typically formed by inverting the subject-verb order found in declarative sentences. While in English, you might add auxiliary verbs like “do” or “does” to form a question, Spanish relies on this simple inversion. For example, the statement “Tú hablas español” can be inverted into “¿Hablas tú español?” to ask a question. Since the conjugated verb includes the person doing the action, the pronoun is usually dropped, and you end up with a simple “¿Hablas español?

Here are some examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
Do you speak Spanish?¿Hablas español?ah-blahs ess-pah-nyohlˈaβlas espaˈɲol ‖
Have you had breakfast yet?¿Ya desayunaste?yah deh-sah-yoo-nahs-tehʝa ðesaʝuˈnaste ‖
Do you live here?¿Vives aquí?vee-ves ah-keeˈbiβes aˈki ‖
Are you going to tonight’s party?¿Vas a ir a la fiesta de esta noche?vahs ah eer ah lah fee-ehs-tah deh eh-stah noh-chehˈbas a ˈiɾ a la ˈfjesta ðe ˈesta ˈnoʧe ‖
Do you like chocolate?¿Te gusta el chocolate?teh goos-tah ehl choh-koh-lah-tehte ˈɣusta el ʧokoˈlate ‖


Information questions in Spanish

Information questions ask for specific details rather than a simple yes or no. They follow a slightly different structure, as they typically begin with an interrogative word like:

  • Qué = what
  • Cuándo = when
  • Dónde = where
  • Por qué = why
  • Cómo = how

The structure generally involves placing the interrogative word at the beginning, followed by the verb, and then the subject. Like yes/no questions, the subject pronoun is often omitted unless it’s necessary for clarity or emphasis.

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
What’s your name?¿Cómo te llamas?koh-moh teh yah-mahsˈkomo te ˈʝamas ‖
Where do you live?¿Dónde vives?dohn-deh vee-vesˈdonde ˈβiβes ‖
When’s your birthday?¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?kwahn-doh ess too koom-pleh-ah-nyohsˈkwando ˈes tu kumpleˈaɲos ‖
Why do you want to learn Spanish?¿Por qué quieres aprender español?pohr keh kyeh-rehs ah-pren-dehr ess-pah-nyohlpoɾ ˈke ˈkjeɾes apɾenˈdeɾ espaˈɲol ‖
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre?keh teh goos-tah ah-sehr ehn too tyem-poh lee-brehˈke te ˈɣusta aˈθeɾ en tu ˈtjempo ˈliβɾe ‖


Use of pronouns in Spanish sentence structure

Spanish pronouns play a very big part in sentence structure. Unlike in English, where pronouns often maintain a consistent position, Spanish pronouns can shift within the sentence to provide more nuance and emphasis.

Use of pronouns in Spanish sentence structure.

Subject pronouns

Subject pronouns in Spanish identify who is doing the action of the verb (Yo, /usted, él/ella, nosotros/nosotras, ustedes/vosotros, ellos/ellas). One key feature of Spanish is that subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation itself indicates the subject. For example, “I eat” translates to “Yo como” but more commonly to simply “Como.”

Subject pronouns are typically only included for emphasis or clarity, especially when contrasting between subjects in complex sentences. Here are some examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I’m going to the market.Yo voy al mercado.yo voy ahl mehr-kah-dohˈʝo ˈβoj al meɾˈkaðo ‖
You are my best friend. eres mi mejor amigo.too eh-rehs mee meh-hohr ah-mee-gohˈtu ˈeɾez mi meˈxoɾ aˈmiɣo ‖
He studies at university.Él estudia en la universidad.ehl eh-stoo-dyah ehn lah oo-nee-vehr-see-dahdˈel esˈtuðja en la wniβeɾsiˈðað ‖
We play soccer on Saturdays.Nosotros jugamos fútbol los sábados.noh-soh-tros hoo-gah-mohs foot-bohl lohs sah-bah-dohsnoˈsotɾos xuˈɣamos al ˈfutβol los ˈsaβaðos ‖
You (plural) know how to cook very well.Ustedes saben cocinar muy rico.oo-steh-dehs sah-behn koh-see-nahr mwee ree-kohusˈteðes ˈsaβen koθiˈnaɾ muj ˈriko ‖
They are going to the movie theater tonight.Ellos van al cine esta noche.eh-yos vahn ahl see-neh eh-stah noh-chehˈeʝoz ˈβan al ˈθine ˈesta ˈnoʧe ‖


Direct object pronouns

Direct object pronouns (me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las) replace nouns that directly receive the action of the verb. They generally appear before the conjugated verb or attached to the end of an infinitive or gerund:

  • Original sentence: Yo leo el libro. (I read the book.)
  • With direct object pronoun: Yo lo leo. (I read it.)

When attached to the infinitive or gerund, the pronoun follows:

  • Infinitive: Quiero leerlo. (I want to read it.)
  • Gerund: Estoy leyéndolo. (I am reading it.)

Here are a few more examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I don’t know him.No lo conozco.noh loh koh-nohs-kohˈno lo koˈnoθko ‖
I saw her yesterday at the store.La vi ayer en la tienda.la vee ah-yehr ehn lah tyehn-dahla ˈβi aˈʝeɾ en la ˈtjenda ‖
Where did you put them?¿Dónde los pusiste?dohn-deh lohs poo-sees-tehˈdonde los puˈsiste ‖
We were invited to the party.Nos invitaron a la fiesta.nohs een-vee-tah-rohn ah lah fee-ehs-tahnos imbiˈtaɾon a la ˈfjesta ‖
I didn’t hear you.No te escuché.noh teh ehs-koo-chehˈno te eskuˈʧe ‖


Indirect object pronouns

Indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) indicate to whom or for whom the action is performed. These pronouns typically precede the conjugated verb or attach to infinitives and gerunds.

  • Original sentence: Yo doy el libro a María. (I give the book to María.)
  • With indirect object pronoun: Yo le doy el libro. (I give her the book.)

In sentences with both a direct and an indirect object pronoun, the indirect object pronoun comes first:

  • Combined pronouns: Yo se lo doy. (I give it to her.)

When both the direct and indirect pronouns are third person, “le” and “les” change to “se” to avoid awkward pronunciation.

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
They gave me a gift.Me dio un regalo.me dee-oh oon reh-gah-lohme ˈðjo wn reˈɣalo ‖
I brought you a book.Te traje un libro.teh trah-heh oon lee-brohte ˈtɾaxe wn ˈliβɾo ‖
I sent them a letter.Le envié una carta.leh ehn-vee-eh oo-nah kahr-tahle emˈbje ˈuna ˈkaɾta ‖
We were told a story.Nos contaron una historia.nohs kohn-tah-rohn oo-nah ees-toh-ree-ahnos konˈtaɾon ˈuna jsˈtoɾja ‖
I bought them candy.Les compré dulces.lehs kohm-preh dool-sehsˈles komˈpɾe ˈðulθes ‖


Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) are used when the subject and object of the verb are the same, meaning the action is performed on oneself. Reflective pronouns also precede the conjugated reflexive verb or attach to infinitives and gerunds.

  • Original sentence: Yo lavo las manos. (I wash hands).
  • With reflexive pronoun: Yo me lavo las manos. (I wash my hands.)

Here are a few more examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I wash my hands before eating.Me lavo las manos antes de comer.meh lah-voh lahs mah-nohs ahn-tehs deh koh-mehrme ˈlaβo laz ˈmanos ˈantez ðe koˈmeɾ ‖
You wake up early every day.Te despiertas temprano todos los días.teh dehs-pyehr-tahs tehm-prah-noh toh-dohs lohs dee-ahste ðesˈpjeɾtas temˈpɾano ˈtoðoz loz ˈðias ‖
They do their hair every morning.Se peina el cabello cada mañana.seh pay-nah ehl kah-beh-yoh kah-dah mah-nyah-nahse ˈpejna el kaˈβeʝo ˈkaða maˈɲana ‖
We dress quickly to go to school.Nos vestimos rápidamente para ir a la escuela.nohs vehs-tee-mohs rah-pee-dah-men-teh pah-rah eer ah lah ehs-kweh-lahnoz βesˈtimoz ˈrapiðamente ˈpaɾa ˈiɾ a la esˈkwela ‖
They feel happy today.Se sienten felices hoy.seh syen-tehn feh-lee-sehs oyse ˈsjentem feˈliθes ˈoj ‖


Structuring negation sentences in Spanish

Creating negative sentences in Spanish is very easy — and a critical part of everyday conversations. Knowing how to say no in Spanish involves forming negations, denials, and prohibitions effectively.

General denial

The basic negative sentence structure involves placing the word “no” before the verb. This simple structure works for both present and past-tense verbs:

  • Affirmative: Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish.) 
  • Negative: Yo no hablo español. (I don’t speak Spanish.)

Let’s take a look at some examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I don’t like going to the movie theater.No quiero ir al cine.noh kyeh-roh eer ahl see-nehˈno ˈkjeɾo ˈiɾ al ˈθine ‖
I don’t like to drink coffee.No me gusta tomar café.noh meh goos-tah toh-mahr kah-fehˈno me ˈɣusta toˈmaɾ kaˈfe ‖
I don’t understand what you’re saying.No entiendo lo que dices.noh ehn-tyen-doh loh keh dee-sehsˈno enˈtjendo lo ˈke ˈðiθes ‖
I have no money.No tengo dinero.noh tehn-goh dee-neh-rohˈno ˈtenɡo ðiˈneɾo ‖
There’s no food.No hay comida.noh ay koh-me-dahˈno ˈaj koˈmiða ‖


Double negatives

Spanish also uses negative words to enhance or specify the negation. These words can be used alone or in combination with “no” to create more complex negative sentences.

EnglishNegative wordExampleExample English
No, notNoNo tengo dinero.I don’t have money.
Nothing, anythingNadaNo tengo nada.I don’t have anything.
No one, nobodyNadieNo hay nadie aquí.There’s no one here.
NeverNuncaNo he ido a México nunca.I have never been to Mexico.
Neither, not eitherTampocoNo me gusta la pizza, y tampoco me gusta el helado.I don’t like pizza and I don’t like ice cream either.


Negative pronouns

Negative pronouns in Spanish are used to indicate the absence of people, things or quantities. These pronouns are essential for expressing complete negation in a sentence. These pronouns can be used alone or in conjunction with “no” to reinforce the negation.

  • Algo (something) → Nada (nothing)
  • Alguien (someone) → Nadie (no one)
  • Uno (one) → Ninguno (none)

Here are some example sentences:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I don’t have anything.No tengo nada.no tehn-go nah-dahˈno ˈtenɡo ˈnaða ‖
Nothing interests me.Nada me interesa.nah-dah meh een-teh-reh-sahˈnaða me jnteˈɾesa ‖
There’s nobody here.No hay nadie aquí.no ay nah-dee-eh ah-keyˈno ˈaj ˈnaðje aˈki ‖
No one called me.Nadie me llamó.nah-dee-eh meh yah-moˈnaðje me ʝaˈmo ‖
I don’t have any books.No tengo ningún libro.no tehn-go neen-goon lee-broˈno ˈtenɡo ninˈɡun ˈliβɾo ‖
Neither of the two options is good.Ninguna de las dos opciones es buena.neen-goo-nah deh las dohs ohp-seeoh-nehs ess boo-eh-nahninˈɡuna ðe laz ˈðos opˈθjones ˈez ˈβwena ‖


Negative imperatives

Negative imperative sentences are used to give commands or instructions that prohibit an action. In Spanish, these commands are formed by placing “no” before the verb in its imperative form. The structure changes slightly depending on whether you’re using the informal tú vs. informal usted.

Here are some examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
Don’t talk during the movie.No hables durante la película.no ah-blehs doo-rahn-teh la peh-lee-coo-lahˈno ˈaβlez ðuˈɾante la peˈlikula ‖
Don’t touch that button.No toques ese botón.no toh-kess eh-seh boh-tohnˈno ˈtokes ˈese βoˈton ‖
Don’t come in without permission (formal). No entre sin permiso.no ehn-treh seen pehr-mee-soˈno ˈentɾe sim peɾˈmiso ‖
Don’t eat without me (plural).No coman sin mí.no koh-mahn seen meˈno ˈkoman sim ˈmi ‖
Don’t use the phone in class (plural).No usen el teléfono en clase.no oo-sehn elle teh-leh-fo-no ehn klah-sehˈno ˈusen el teˈlefono en ˈklase ‖


Absence

Absence sentence structures in Spanish use negative pronouns like “nada” (nothing), “nadie” (no one), and “ninguno/ninguna” (none) to indicate the absence of people, things, or quantities. These structures often combine with the word “no” for emphasis to communicate a complete lack or negation of something. Here are some examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
There’s no one home.No hay nadie en casa.noh ahy nah-dyeh ehn kah-sahˈno ˈaj ˈnaðje en ˈkasa ‖
I don’t have any books from that series.No tengo ningún libro de esa serie.noh tehn-goh neen-goon lee-broh deh eh-sah seh-ryehˈno ˈtenɡo ninˈɡun ˈliβɾo ðe ˈesa ˈseɾje ‖
There’s nothing in the fridge.No hay nada en el refrigerador.noh ay nah-dah ehn elle reh-free-heh-rah-doorˈno ˈaj ˈnaða en el refɾixeɾaˈðoɾ ‖
I don’t see anyone in the street.No veo a nadie en la calle.noh veh-oh ah nah-dyeh ehn lah kah-yehˈno ˈβeo a ˈnaðje en la ˈkaʝe ‖
There’s no bread left in the bakery.No hay nada de pan en la panadería.noh ay nah-dah deh pahn ehn la pah-nah-deh-ree-ahˈno ˈaj ˈnaða ðe ˈpan en la panaðeˈɾia ‖


Negation of past actions

Coming up with negative sentences for past actions in Spanish is extremely easy, as it just requires you to add a “no” before the conjugated verb to indicate that the action didn’t occur. Here are a few examples:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I didn’t go to last night’s party.No fui a la fiesta de anoche.noh fwee ah lah fee-ehs-tah deh ah-noh-chehˈno ˈfwi a la ˈfjesta ðe aˈnoʧe ‖
I didn’t eat anything this morning.No comí nada esta mañana.noh koh-mee nah-dah eh-stah mahn-yah-nahˈno koˈmi ˈnaða ˈesta maˈɲana ‖
I didn’t see the movie you recommended.No vi la película que me recomendaste. noh vee lah peh-lee-koo-lah keh meh reh-koh-mehn-dahs-tehˈno ˈβi la peˈlikula ˈke me rekomenˈdaste ‖
I didn’t do yesterday’s homework.No hice la tarea ayer.noh ee-seh lah tah-reh-ah ah-yehrˈno ˈiθe la taˈɾea aˈʝeɾ ‖
I didn’t call my mom last weekend.No llamé a mi madre el fin de semana pasado.noh yah-meh ah mee mah-dreh ehl feen deh seh-mah-nah pah-sah-dohˈno ʝaˈme a mi ˈmaðɾe el ˈfin de seˈmana paˈsaðo ‖


Negation of future actions

Similarly, coming up with negative sentence structures for future actions in Spanish is quite easy. Just add a “no” before the conjugated verb and you’re making it clear that the action won’t happen! Here’s how:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I won’t go to work tomorrow. No iré al trabajo mañana.noh ee-reh ahl trah-bah-hoh mahn-yah-nahˈno jˈɾe al tɾaˈβaxo maˈɲana ‖
I won’t study tonight.No voy a estudiar esta noche.noh voy ah ehs-too-dyahr eh-stah noh-chehˈno ˈβoj a estuˈðjaɾ ˈesta ˈnoʧe ‖
I won’t travel to Spain this year.No viajaré a España este año.noh vyah-hah-reh ah ehs-pah-nyah eh-steh ah-nyohˈno βjaxaˈɾe a esˈpaɲa ˈeste ˈaɲo ‖
I won’t watch television all week.No veré televisión toda la semana.noh veh-reh teh-leh-vee-syohn toh-dah lah seh-mah-nahˈno βeˈɾe teleβiˈsjon ˈtoða la seˈmana ‖
I won’t buy any more clothes this month.No compraré más ropa este mes.noh kohm-prah-reh mahs roh-pah eh-steh mehsˈno kompɾaˈɾe ˈmaz ˈropa ˈeste ˈmes ‖


Conditional negations

Conditional negations in Spanish express hypothetical scenarios where an action won’t happen unless a certain condition is met. These sentences typically use “si” (if) followed by “no” right before the verb. This structure emphasizes the dependence of one action on another condition being met. Here’s how it works:

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
If you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.Si no estudias, no vas a pasar el examen.see noh ehs-too-dyahs, noh vahs ah pah-sahr ehl ehk-sah-mehnsi ˈno esˈtuðjas | ˈno ˈβas a paˈsaɾ el ekˈsamen ‖
If you don’t hurry up, we’re going to be late.Si no te apuras, vamos a llegar tarde.see noh teh ah-poo-rahs, vah-mohs ah yeh-gahr tahr-dehsi ˈno te aˈpuɾas | ˈbamos a ʝeˈɣaɾ ˈtaɾðe ‖
If you don’t eat, you won’t have energy.Si no comes, no tendrás energía.see noh koh-mehs, noh tehn-drahs ehn-ehr-hee-ahsi ˈno ˈkomes | ˈno tenˈdɾas eneɾˈxia ‖
If you don’t call me, I won’t know about you.Si no me llamas, no voy a saber nada de ti.see noh meh yah-mahs, noh voy ah sah-behr nah-dah deh teesi ˈno me ˈʝamas | ˈno ˈβoj a saˈβeɾ ˈnaða ðe ˈti ‖
If you don’t work hard, you won’t reach your goals.Si no trabajas duro, no lograrás tus metas.see noh trah-bah-hahs doo-roh, noh loh-grah-rahs toos meh-tahssi ˈno tɾaˈβaxaz ˈðuɾo | ˈno loɣɾaˈɾas tuz ˈmetas ‖


Compound and complex sentence structure in Spanish

Mastering compound and complex sentences is key to advancing your Spanish language skills. These sentence structures allow you to connect ideas and provide detailed explanations, making your communications more sophisticated and engaging. Let’s explore how compound and complex sentences can enrich your conversations and your writing in Spanish.

Compound and complex sentence structure in Spanish.

Compound sentence

Compound sentences are used to connect related ideas, showing their relationship and providing a clearer context. By mastering compound sentences, you’ll be able to express complex thoughts more naturally and fluently.

To form a compound sentence in Spanish, you will need to join two or more independent clauses in a single sentence. Independent clauses are complete sentences on their own, so a quick trick to tell if you’re dealing with an independent vs. an independent clause is to separate it from the rest of the sentence and see if it would make sense on its own.

Independent clauses in compound sentences are joined with words like “y” (and), “o” (or), “pero” (but), and “sino” (but rather). This type of sentence allows you to convey multiple ideas or actions within a single sentence, making your speech or writing more dynamic and engaging.

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
I’m hungry, but there’s nothing in the fridge.Tengo hambre, pero no hay nada en el refrigerador.tehn-go ahm-breh, peh-ro no ay nah-dah ehn elle reh-free-heh-rah-doorˈtenɡo ˈambɾe | ˈpeɾo ˈno ˈaj ˈnaða en el refɾixeɾaˈðoɾ ‖
Maria wants to go to the theater, but Juan wants to go to the park.María quiere ir al cine, pero Juan quiere ir al parque.mah-ree-ah key-air-eh eer all see-neh, peh-ro who-ahn key-eh-reh eer all par-kehmaˈɾia ˈkjeɾe ˈiɾ al ˈθine | ˈpeɾo ˈxwan ˈkjeɾe ˈiɾ al ˈpaɾke ‖
I studied all night, so I’m feeling very tired.Estudié toda la noche, así que me siento muy cansado.ehs-too-dyeh toh-dah lah noh-cheh, ah-see keh meh syen-toh mwee kahn-sah-dohestuˈðje ˈtoða la ˈnoʧe | aˈsi ˈke me ˈsjento muj kanˈsaðo ‖
I bought a book, but I haven’t read it yet.Compré un libro, pero todavía no lo he leído.kohm-preh oon lee-broh, peh-roh toh-dah-vee-ah noh loh eh leh-ee-dohkomˈpɾe wn ˈliβɾo | ˈpeɾo toðaˈβia ˈno lo ˈe leˈiðo ‖
The dog barks while the cat sleeps.El perro ladra mientras que el gato duerme. ehl peh-rroh lah-drah myen-trahs keh ehl gah-toh dwehr-mehel ˈpero ˈlaðɾa ˈmjentɾas ˈke el ˈɣato ˈðweɾme ‖


Complex sentence

Complex sentences in Spanish add depth to your language by combining an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, as opposed to an independent clause. Dependent clauses are 

Sentences with a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Subordinating conjunctions like “que” (that), “porque” (because), “cuando” (when), “aunque” (although), and “si” (if) typically introduce dependent clauses. This structure allows you to provide additional information and context, making your statements more informative and nuanced.

EnglishSpanishPronunciationIPA
When I got home, I saw that the door was open.Cuando llegué a casa, vi que la puerta estaba abierta.kwahn-doh yeh-geh ah kah-sah, vee keh lah pwehr-tah ehs-tah-bah ah-byehr-tahˈkwando ʝeˈɣe a ˈkasa | ˈbi ˈke la ˈpweɾta esˈtaβa aˈβjeɾta ‖
I’m not going out because it’s raining.No voy a salir porque está lloviendo.noh voy ah sah-leer pohr-keh ehs-tah yoh-vyen-dohˈno ˈβoj a saˈliɾ ˈpoɾke esˈta ʝoˈβjendo ‖
The book you lent me is very interesting.El libro que me prestaste es muy interesante.ehl lee-broh keh meh preh-stahs-teh ehs mwee een-teh-reh-sahn-tehel ˈliβɾo ˈke me pɾesˈtaste ˈez muj inteɾeˈsante ‖
Even though it’s cold, we’re gonna go to the beach. Aunque hace frío, vamos a ir a la playa.ah-oon-keh ah-seh free-oh, vah-mohs ah eer ah lah plah-yahˈawnke ˈaθe ˈfɾio | ˈbamos a ˈiɾ a la ˈplaʝa ‖
I need to talk to you, because there’s something important I need to tell you.Necesito hablar contigo, porque hay algo importante que debo decirte.neh-seh-see-toh ah-blahr kohn-tee-goh, pohr-keh ahy ahl-goh eem-pohr-tahn-teh keh deh-boh deh-seer-tehneθeˈsito aˈβlaɾ konˈtiɣo | ˈpoɾke ˈaj ˈalɣo jmpoɾˈtante ˈke ˈðeβo ðeˈθiɾte ‖


FAQs about the Spanish sentence structure

Do all Spanish sentences need a subject?

No, not all Spanish sentences need to have a subject. In Spanish, the subject is often implied by the verb conjugation and can be omitted if the context makes it clear who or what is being discussed. This feature helps simplify conversation and writing.

What is the most common word order in a Spanish sentence?

The standard word order in Spanish is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), similar to English. However, Spanish is more flexible, so you might also find variations like Object-Verb-Subject (OVS) or Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) to emphasize different parts of the sentence.

Can adjectives be placed before nouns in Spanish?

While adjectives in Spanish typically follow the nouns they describe, they can be placed before the noun for emphasis or to express a subjective quality. For example, “un gran hombre” (a great man) emphasizes the greatness of the man.

How do you form questions in Spanish?

Questions in Spanish are formed by inverting the order of the subject and the verb. For example, “Tú comes manzanas” becomes “¿Comes tú manzanas?” However, remember that Spanish often drops the subject when the context is enough, and this is almost always the case with questions. So, after dropping the question, our example would end up as “¿Comes manzanas?

How do reflexive verbs affect the sentence structure?

Reflexive verbs in Spanish require the addition of reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that correspond to the subject. These pronouns are placed directly before conjugated verbs or are attached to the end of infinitive forms and gerunds, affecting the placement and form of verbs in sentences.


Take your Spanish to a whole new level with these sentence structures

Now that you’re familiar with all of these Spanish word orders and sentence structures, you’ll be able to communicate more effortlessly in Spanish. From expressing simple things as negations to describing complex sentences with multiple independent clauses, you’ll be much more able to express a wide range of emotions and ideas once you’re familiar with these simple Spanish sentence orders.

And if you want to learn even more about Spanish grammar, then check out our Spanish blog, where we routinely publish helpful guides. You can take a look at some of our latest articles, like our ultimate guide to Spanish false cognates or our expert review of Spanglish terms.

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