Do you know how to say Happy Holidays in Spanish? In this lesson, we practice saying Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and more in Spanish.
📺 Watch the video version of this lesson on YouTube. 🔑 Become a member! Membership gives you access to over 500 interactive medical Spanish lessons, organized into easy-to-follow courses. Ask questions, reinforce with Quizlet sets and downloadable PDFs, and track your progress. ❤️ We use a sliding scale model, so cost is never a barrier to learning Medical Spanish. If the current price doesn’t work for you, click More Pricing Options or email me directly at molly@docmolly.com. Muchísimas gracias a todos nuestros miembros.
🙏 Gracias a Elizabeth Cortez de Español Sin Límite por su ayuda con esta lección.
LEVEL – BEGINNER
Happy Holidays
00:55
¡Felices Fiestas!
To wish a colleague or classmate Happy Holidays before leaving on Christmas vacation, you can say:
¡Felices Vacaciones!
Merry Christmas
01:25
¡Feliz Navidad!
Happy New Year
01:36
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
I wish you a happy New Year!
Addressing a friend:
Te deseo un próspero año nuevo.
Addressing a group of people:
Les deseo un próspero año nuevo.
Happy 2026!
02:33
¡Feliz dos mil veintiséis!
📚 ¡Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros!
If you like this podcast, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Así podemos llegar a más gente. ¡Gracias!
Do you know how to give directions in Spanish?
Apr 12, 2024
In our premium lessons, we practice giving directions in Spanish within a hospital. In this post, I will review the essential questions, verbs, prepositional phrases, adverbs and places we learned in this series.
Asking for Directions
Here is a list of all the different ways practiced asking for directions in the audio lessons: (I will use the USTED conjugation for this list. We also practice the tú conjugation in the audio lessons.)
Disculpe. Perdone. (Excuse me.)
¿Me puede decir .... ? (Can you tell me...?)
¿Me podría decir...? (Could you tell me...?
¿Podría indicar me.... ? (Could you show me...?)
¿Cómo llego a....? (How do I get to...?)
¿Cómo se llega.... ? (How do you (does one) get to...?)
¿Sabe dónde está.... (Do you know where ____ is?)
¿Por dónde se va... (How do you (does one) go to ....?)
¿Por dónde voy....? (How do I go to .... ?)
Notes:
Using the conditional of poder, PODRÍA, makesthe request more formal and polite, but is certainly not necessary.
It is common to use the IMPERSONAL SE, as in questions #6 and #8, when asking for directions.
Notice how we use the verb LLEGAR A to say "to get to." I remember when I used to stumble over how to say this in Spanish, until I realized it was simply LLEGAR!
Common Verbs for Giving Directions
During the exchanging we use the following verbs when asking and giving directions in the audio lesson, and we practice both the usted and tú conjugation of the verbs and their respective commands.
As discussed above, LLEGAR is the Spanish equivalent of " to get to" in English. Note that we use the preposition " a" before the location to which we arrive. It is common to use the subjunctive of llegar when giving directions.
" Cuando llegues a.... " (When you get to... )
Doblar/Girar
Both are used in Spain and Latin America to say " to turn." My impression is that DOBLAR is
more common in Latin America and GIRAR is more common in Spain.
" Dobla a la izquierda. " (Turn left.)
Pasar
This verb can be used to say " to pass" or to simply express movement, as in " to enter, to move, to go, etc."
" Pasa adelante. “(Come in or go ahead.)
" Pasa por recepción." (Go through reception.)
" Pasarás la sala de urgencias a la izquierda." (You will pass the emergency room on your left.)
Tomar
On the street you can simply say, " toma la segunda a la derecha" and it is understood that you are referring to the street.
" Toma la segunda (calle) a la derecha." (Take the second right.)
" Toma el segundo pasillo a la derecha." (Take the second hallway on your right.)
" Toma el ascensor o las escaleras." (Take the stairs or the elevators.)
" Toma la derecha." (Take a right.)
Subir
" Sube al cuarto piso." (Go up to the 4th floor.)
Bajar
" Baja al sótano." (Go down to the basement.)
Dar(se)lavuelta
" Da la vuelta y sigue derecho." (Turn around and go straight.)
Ver
" Verás los rótulos adelante." (You'll see the signs ahead.) "¿Ves ese pasillo?" (Do you see that hallway? )
Entrara
To express entering a location you follow it with the preposition EN or A. Many Spanish speakers prefer the preposition A as it sounds less redundant than EN.
" Entra al hospital." (Enter the hospital.)
Cruzar
" Cruza el puente. " (Cross the bridge.)
When
You
Need
to
Get
There
Quickly
Tardarsemucho/pocoenllegar.
(To take a long / short time to get there.)
¿Se tarda mucho en llegar? (Does it take a long time to get there? )
Se[indirectobjectpronoun]hacetarde.
(___ running late. )
Se me hace tarde. (I am running late.)
Estáa[periodoftimeordistance].
(It's ___ away.)
Está a dos horas de aquí. (It is two hours from here.)
Prepositional
Phrases,
Adverbs
&
Adjectives
for
Giving
Directions
Bruises, Cuts, Ruptures, Breaks, Tears, and Sprains
Mar 23, 2023
I am back with Rory Foster for an interactive lesson focused on discussing injuries in Spanish. This lesson builds upon one of Rory's lessons at Common Ground International. In this lesson, we practice talking about bruises, cuts, ruptures, breaks, tears, and sprains. We will first present a verb, a noun, and an adjective that all share the same root. Then, we will use this vocabulary in phrases as we discuss these different types of injuries.
A big shout out to La Comunidad's teachers, Nelly from Colombia, Gloria from Mexico, and Daniela from Mexico, for reviewing the phrases in this lesson.
Common Ground International is an excellent resource for learning medical Spanish. They offer courses from beginner to advanced and Medical Spanish Immersion Trips to Ecuador and Costa Rica. Their Spanish Immersion Programs are for all levels and include:
Spanish immersion classes
Volunteer programs in the community
Homestays with local families
Weekend excursions
They just returned from their winter program in Costa Rica in February. On June 16, they travel to Ecuador to begin a 2-week program. On July 1st, they head to Costa Rica, where they offer a 6-week program. You can adjust the duration of your trip to your schedule. Learn more in the interview.
In this lesson, we explore verbs with the body and learn when to use the pronominal (reflexive) vs the non-pronominal form of the verb.
While working on our latest series covering common orthopedic injuries in Spanish, I noticed how the verb to say, "I injured my knee," is pronominal: "Me lesioné la rodilla." Whereas the verb to say, "I bent my knee," is not: "Doblé la rodilla." So why is that? We learn this and more in this audio lesson. It’s a tricky subject, so I will try to make it clear through lots of examples.
Spanish for Dentistry and a New Spanish School in Guatemala
Jun 15, 2021
This lesson introduces the Routine Dentistry Module of our Dentistry Course. In this module, we cover vocabulary and essential phrases pertaining to:
Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia Cavities Root Canals Impressions Braces, Dentures, Crowns and Bridges
Our guest Spanish teacher for this series is Francisco González Yojcóm from San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. After we review vocabulary pertaining to the teeth and mouth, Francisco tells us about his new Spanish school.
Special thanks to one of our members, Nancy Grainer. Nancy provided us with a list of useful vocabulary and phrases in English, which we expanded on and made into lessons for this series. Nancy is a retired dialysis social worker who now volunteers at a free medical and dental clinic, and her husband is a dentist. Nancy is a perfect example of why we make this podcast, to support people serving our Spanish-speaking communities. Muchísimas gracias, Nancy Grainer!
LEVEL – BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE
Vocabulario Dental
2:24
Tooth El diente
Teeth Los dientes
Teeth, as in the set of teeth when speaking of their overall condition La dentadura
You have good teeth. Tiene una buena dentadura.
Molar La muela
Molars Las muelas
Often ‘las muelas’ refers to teeth in general and not specifically to molars.
Toothache El dolor de muelas
Wisdom teeth Las muelas del juicio Las cordales
Gums Las encías
The mouth La boca
The tongue La lengua
Jaw La quijada La mandíbula
To bite Morder (irregular)
The bite La mordida
The overbite La sobremordida
To chew Masticar
To grind the teeth Rechinar los dientes
Sensitive Sensible
Francisco’s school in Guatemala
6:05
See video at the top of this post.
Special thanks to Francisco González Yojcóm, from the Cultural Spanish School, and to my friend, Sonja Um-Siri, who provided the Spanish for this series.
It's been a while since I published the last lesson in the Spanish Grammar Review podcast. However, that’s not because I haven’t been podcasting about Spanish grammar. I just decided to dedicate the time I have outside of the hospital to my Medical Spanish Podcast and in the Medical Spanish Podcast, we cover a ton of advanced grammar within the context of clinical dialogues. Today’s podcast is an excerpt from our latest Medical Spanish podcast on the Covid vaccines. In this excerpt, we practice making a hypothetical if-then statement using the imperfect subjunctive and the conditional.
For this Spanish Grammar Review podcast, I have added a couple of examples where we then practice how to make and if-then statement that is not hypothetical, but reflects a real possibility.
Además, la vacuna nunca entra en el núcleo donde se encuentra el ADN y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN.
aun si even if
Y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN. And even if it did enter the nucleus, it would have no way to change your DNA.
This is a CONDITIONAL (IF-THEN) STATEMENT, where we use the IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE to present the HYPOTHETICAL condition (“y aun si entrara en el núcleo”) and we use the CONDITIONAL to present the result of that condition (“no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN”).
Hypothetical vs Possible and AUNQUE
3:29
When making a conditional statement using AUN SI it acts just like SI, where we can use either the IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE (hypothetical possibility) or the INDICATIVE (likely possibility). It canNOT be followed by the PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.
In this premium lesson we explain AUNQUE + SUBJUNTIVO = “even if”: Quiz # 4 – The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses (Free lesson). Spanish Grammar members see: Subj14 How and Where. AUNQUE, unlike AUN SI, it can be used with either the imperfect or the present subjunctive.
Practice
4:05
Y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN. And even if it did enter the nucleus, it would have no way to change your DNA.
Aunque la vacuna entre en el núcleo, no tendrá manera de cambiar su ADN. Even if the vaccine enters the nucleus, it will not have a way to change your DNA.
Aun si la vacuna entra en el núcleo no tiene manera de cambiar su ADN. Even if the vaccine enters the nucleus, it does not have a way to change your DNA.
Review
5:29
Hypothetical
AUN SI / SI + IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE > CONDITIONAL
Y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN.
Possible
AUN SI / SI + PRESENT INDICATIVE > PRESENT / FUTURE INDICATIVE
Aun si la vacuna entra en el núcleo no tiene / tendrá manera de cambiar su ADN.
AUNQUE + PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE > PRESENT / FUTURE INDICATIVE
Aunque la vacuna entre en el núcleo, no tiene / tendrá manera de cambiar su ADN.
Note: There are other possible combinations (e.g. Si + present indicative > conditional), but these represent the most common ones.
Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala who provided most of the Spanish for this lesson.
The lessons offered at docmolly.com are a fun way to practice medical Spanish. They are not intended to teach medicine or provide medical advice. These lessons are intended to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients, but they are not intended to substitute for a qualified medical interpreter.
¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces? (Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?)
I am guessing that some of you struggled with the following phrase:
cuando le dieron mareos (when you experienced dizziness -o- when you got dizzy)
Here, we use LE to refer to “you” (used), and the verb DAR acts like the verb GUSTAR, where the subject of the verb in English corresponds to the object of the verb in Spanish.
You got dizzy. >>> Le dieron mareos.
In English, “you” is the subject of the verb. In Spanish, you (usted) is the object of the verb and is expressed by the pronoun “le.”
Let’s look at another example.
I get chills. >>> Me dan escalofríos.
In English, “I” is the subject of the verb. When we interpret this in Spanish, I become the object of the verb, which is expressed by the pronoun “me.”
Ejemplos Interactivos
3:23
¿Te dieron escalofríos? Did you get chills?
Me da dolor de estómago después de comer. I get a stomachache after eating.
¿Cuándo le da dolor en el pecho? When do you get pain in your chest? (addressing the patient as usted)
Me dan calambres en las piernas por la noche. I get leg cramps at night.
¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces? Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?
¿Quieres Practicar Más?
4:43
Join our membership and unlock access to over 400 interactive lessons across all our courses. Learn Medical Spanish by listening and responding in real-life scenarios to build confidence and fluency quickly.
Hola! Me alegra mucho estar de vuelta. I am very happy to be back podcasting about Spanish grammar! My last grammar podcasts were in June, when we covered Spanish verbs with prepositions. In this lesson, we are going to learn why the adjective sometimes goes before the noun in Spanish.
Where have I been all summer?
I also host the Medical Spanish Podcast and with the help of my Spanish teacher from the San Pedro Spanish School, Elizabeth Cortez and my friend and interpreter, Sonja Um-Siri, I have been busy making audio lessons that cover Spanish for prenatal care. We cover a lot of grammar in the medical Spanish lessons and they are made to help us communicate with our patients. Therefore, even non-medical providers understand them and find them useful for learning conversational Spanish.
What motivated me to start podcasting about Spanish grammar again?
I just took part in an incredible course called Deliberate Spanish offered by a guy named Nacho from Spain. He also has a fantastic YouTube channel: NachoTime Spanish. As the name implies, the Deliberate Spanish course taught me to be more deliberate when I practice Spanish. For example, instead of just watching Casa de Flores, I often make it into a study session. When I hear a new word or phrase, I write it down to study later. Then I organize what I learn into mi cuaderno de dudas, and mi cuaderno de dudas has now become the inspiration for the Spanish Grammar Podcast!
Why does the adjective sometimes go before the noun?
2:25
Now let’s talk about adjectives and the where and why of adjective placement. When you are first learning Spanish, you learn that the you must place the adjective after the noun. However, as you advance in your Spanish-speaking ability, you start to notice that the adjective often goes before the noun. You may even find yourself instinctively placing an adjective before a noun, but when you stop to wonder why, you can’t say. Well, in this lesson, we are going to learn why the adjective sometimes goes before the noun through interactive examples. I hope you find it helpful. Onward!
Inherent Characteristic
3:03
Usually adjectives follow the nouns they describe, but when an adjective describes an inherent or assumed quality it is usually placed before the noun.
The city is covered in WHITE snow. La ciudad está cubierta de BLANCA nieve.
OJO: Note the use of the preposition DE in this phrase: “cubierta de nieve.”
I want to see the TALL building of New York. Quiero ver los ALTOS edificios de Nueva York.
Be careful in the STRONG mountain winds. Ten cuidado con el FUERTE viento de las montañas.
OJO: Note the use of the preposition CON in this phrase: “ten cuidado con….”
We must take advantage of this PRECIOUS life. Hay que aprovechar esta PRECIOSA vida.
OJO: Note the absence a preposition after APROVECHAR: “aprovechar esta vida”
In all the above examples, the adjective adds unnecessary information. O sea… If you omit the adjective, the meaning of the sentence would not change.
Subjective, Opinion
5:20
Adjectives may also precede the nouns they describe when they reflect a subjective characteristic or opinion about something.
I love these BEAUTIFUL gardens. Me encantan estos hermosos jardines.
I’m enjoying a WONDERFUL day. Estoy disfrutando de un MARAVILLOSO día.
It left me with this LONG scar. Me dejó con esta LARGA cicatriz.
They always have GOOD parties. Los Hernandez siempre tienen BUENAS fiestas.
I have GOOD news. Tengo BUENAS noticias.
Qualifying something as the BEST or WORST
It’s the WORST movie of 2008. Es la PEOR película del 2008.
It’s the BEST coffee in town. Es el MEJOR café de la ciudad.
Followinng the Exclamation QUÉ
7:20
Often we give our opinion about something in an exclamation preceded by the word “qué.” In this case, the adjective falls before the noun.
What a beautiful country. ¡Qué hermoso país!
What a cute puppy! ¡Qué lindo cachorro!
However, when you throw in an adverb, such as más or tan, the adjective then follows the noun.
What a cute puppy! (más) ¡Qué cachorro más lindo!
What a boring lesson! (tan) ¡Qué lección tan aburrida!
Quantity
8:36
When we use adjectives to describe the quantity of something we place them before the nouns.
We have SOME books. Tenemos ALGUNOS libros.
The snow covers the ENTIRE city. La nieve cubre TODA la ciudad.
You have a LOT of patience. Tienes MUCHA paciencia.
I don’t have ENOUGH time. No tengo SUFICIENTE tiempo.
As in many of the examples in the earlier sections, you could also place SUFICIENTE after the noun here.
I have LITTLE energy today. Tengo POCA energía hoy.
I’m looking for ANOTHER opportunity. (Busco o) Estoy buscando OTRA oportunidad.
Turn right at the FIRST stoplight. Gire / Doble a la derecha en el PRIMER semáforo.
I’m carrying TOO MANY books. Llevo DEMASIADOS libros.
I have SEVERAL ideas. Tengo VARIAS ideas.
Gracias por escuchar y Hasta la próxima.
Si tienes alguna pregunta, no dudes en dejar un comentario.
Welcome to another lesson covering Spanish Verbs. In this Spanish grammar audio lesson, we practice using common Spanish verbs with prepositions. As with all my audio lessons, I invite you to speak Spanish with me. This lesson will focus on verbs with prepositions, followed by the infinitive of another verb.
Table of Contents
1:24 Verbo + A
3:40 Verbo + CON
4:59 Verbo + DE
6:35 Verbo + EN
In this free audio lesson, we practice many of the verbs below.
Member? In the premium lesson, Spanish Verbs with Prepositions, we practice all the verbs below. The full transcript is included in the show notes, and a quizlet is included to reinforce what you learn.
Verbo + A
1:24
ACOSTUMBRARSE A
ENSEÑAR A, APRENDER A (To teach / learn)
ATREVERSE A
AYUDAR A
EMPEZAR A, COMENZAR A, ECHARSE A, PONERSE A (To begin)
DISPONERSE A.
DECIDIRSE A
INVITAR A
OBLIGAR A
NEGARSE A
RESOLVERSE A
LIMITARSE A
VOLVER A
Verbo + CON
3:40
AMENAZAR CON
CONTAR CON
SOÑAR CON
CONTENTARSE CON
Verbo + DE
4:59
ACABAR DE
ACORDARSE DE, OLVIDARSE DE
ARREPENTIRSE DE
CANSARSE DE
DEJAR DE, PARAR DE (To stop doing something)
ENCARGARSE DE, OCUPARSE DE (To take charge of something)
CONSENTIR EN, CONVENIR EN, QUEDAR EN (To agree to do something)
EMPEÑARSE EN
INSISTIR EN
ESFORZARSE EN
TARDAR EN
Rellenemos los Huecos
This audio quiz is part of the premium lesson: Spanish Verbs with Prepositions. I read a short story about our cat Schnookies. As I read, I leave pauses for you to fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
Nuestro gato siempre insiste __ salir. Se niega __ quedarse en casa más de cuatro horas por vez. Y si tardamos __ llegar a la puerta para dejarlo salir, se pone __ llorar. ¿Y por qué se empeña __ salir? Porque sueña __ cazar conejitos y pajaritos. Justo después de salir por la puerta se echa __ correr al bosque para cazar. Mi marido, a quien le encantan los pajaritos, se cansa __ ver a nuestro gato cazándolos. Por eso, se esfuerza __ enseñar a nuestro Schnookies __ no cazar los pajaritos. Cuando ve a Schnookies persiguiendo a un pajarito, comienza __ gritar, “¡No! ¡No!” Y amenaza __ mojarlo con un balde de agua. ¿Qué opinas? ¿Schnookies va a dejar __ cazar pajaritos? ¡Lo dudo mucho!; Schnookies es muy listo pero es un gato, No puedes entrenar a un gato.
¡Gradias por Escuchar!
If you have any questions about this lesson, please leave a comment below.
How People Are Named in Guatemala (from Medical Spanish Podcast)
May 17, 2019
This episode is a rerun from my Medical Spanish Podcast. If you have already heard it there, I do have more to come for the Spanish Grammar Podcast. I will be back within the week to cover common verbs followed by prepositions.
Ever wonder why people from Spanish-speaking countries have long names? Today's episode is an off-the-cuff interview with my teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School, Jesus Elizabeth Cortez Cox. She tells us how people are named in Guatemala. I hope you enjoy!
Table of Contents
Introducción a la Entrevista 2:21
Su nombre completo 2:55
¿De dónde viene cada nombre en tu nombre completo? 3:03
El segundo nombre 3:51
Los dos apellidos 5:53
Machismo tras los nombres 7:33
Origen de cada nombre 8:39
Conclusión 9:13
Upcoming Audio Lessons 9:34
Elizabeth and I studying at the San Pedro Spanish School.
Entrevista
Molly
2:55
OK. Tu nombre. Yo quiero escuchar tu nombre completo.
Eliza
Bien. Me llamo Jesús Elizabeth Cortez Cox.
Molly
3:03
¿Y nos podrías explicar de dónde viene cada nombre en tu nombre completo?
Eliza
Perfecto. Generalmente nosotros siempre pienso que vamos a estar hablando con respecto a las costumbres, a las tradiciones. Aquí específicamente una de las costumbres es que cuando en una familia nace un bebé, sea niño o una niña. Por lo general, lleva el primer nombre tiene que ser el nombre del abuelo de este bebé. En mi caso, por ser niña, mi primer nombre es el nombre de mi abuela, la madre de mí, de mi padre.
3:51
Y el segundo, pues, fue la elección de ellos. Y esto es algo muy común para nosotros. Siempre es eso y ya llevamos muchos años. Y quizás por esa misma razón, en nuestra comunidad, hay muchas personas que llevan el mismo nombre. Tenemos muchas Marías, muchas personas que se llaman Juana, Juan, José, Pedro, porque se van repitiendo. En las familias, por ejemplo en mi familia habemos 5....6 personas con mi primer nombre. Entonces, para hacer la diferencia se nos da el segundo nombre. Tengo primas que se llaman Jesús, Elvira Jesús, Leyda Jesús, Zulmy Jesús.... todas estas llevan Jesús en su nombre.
Molly
Jesus el nombre de tu abuelo.... Oh, de tu abuela?
Eliza
Es el nombre de mi abuela. Um hm, de mi abuela. Entonces esto es muy común en estos lugares.
5:04
O también otra de las costumbres y quizás esto es más religioso, porque a veces se le da el nombre al bebé que nace dependiendo del día que nace. Si hay una fiesta... Entonces, por ejemplo, hoy estamos en día 25 de abril es la fiesta de San Marcos. Entonces, si un niño nace en esta fecha o hoy, estas personas le dan el nombre de Marcos, como para recordar el día que el niño... o el día de su santo. Entonces, esas son algunas de las tradiciones, de las costumbres con referencia al nombre.
Molly
5:53
¿Y los dos apellidos de dónde vienen?
Eliza
Bien, los dos apellidos. El primer apellido es de mi padre y el segundo apellido es de mi made. Y el segundo apellido se va perdiendo con el tiempo. ¿Cómo? Al momento de que la mujer se casa, se le otorga el apellido del esposo. Entonces, de esta manera se va perdiendo el segundo apellido, y generalmente el de la madre. Pero siempre contamos con dos apellidos.
Molly
6:28
Y cuando tú me dijiste tu nombre completo.... ya no, ya no sale el nombre de tu madre.
Eliza
Todavía yo lo conservo porque no estoy casada legalmente. Ahora vivo con mi pareja. No tenemos una boda civil, ni religiosa. Entonces, todavía lo sigo conservando.
Molly
Entonces, en tu nombre completo no sale el nombre de tu pareja.
Eliza
Exacto. Al momento en que yo contraiga matrimonio. Ahora ya es una opción. Anteriormente, era diferente. Era casi como ley agregar el nombre del esposo. En mi caso, habría sido Cortés de Quiacain, le agregamos la palabra “de,” como de posesión. Entonces... pero ahora ya es una opción. Si al momento de casarme quisiera adoptar este apellido, bien, lo puedo hacer o seguir conservando el apellido de mi madre.
7:33
Molly
Ok bueno. Porque esto de añadir el apellido de tu esposo y con “de” antes del apellido me parece un poco machista.- ¿No?
Eliza
No. Yo pienso que sí. No es un poco. Para mí es muy machista.
Molly
Entonces, es bueno que la costumbre está... esté cambiando
Eliza
Exacto, y es igual con los nombres ahora. Ahora en esta nueva generación ya no se da mucho de darle el nombre del padre o de los abuelos. Quizás en cierto modo hay pequeños conflictos en la familia porque se está rompiendo esta forma de tradición. Ahora hay nombres diferentes, nombres muy... Por supuesto, los nombres de nuestros abuelos son bonitos pero son muy repetitivos. En una familia hay muchas personas con este nombre. Ahora se está cambiando también. Las nuevas generaciones van buscando nombres diferentes a sus hijos.
Molly
8:39
¿Y puedes repetir tu nombre completo? Y vamos a decir de dónde venía cada nombre.
Eliza
Sí. Jesús que es por parte de mi abuela. Elizabeth fue la elección de mis padres. Les gustó ese nombre. Y mi apellido que es Cortés es por parte de mi padre y Cox es por parte de mi madre.
Molly
Perfecto. Muchísimas gracias.
Eliza
No hay problema.
9:34
What's to come!
Creating audio with my friend Sonja in Guatemala. We interviewed la comadrona Ester Pop (upper left) and Dr. Francisco Méndez (lower right). We also created clinical dialogues in Spanish with our teachers, Francisco González Yojcóm and Elizabeth Cortez, and Eliza’s daughter Nicole (middle right).
This interview is just a taste of what's to come. My friend Sonja Um-Siri, who is an interpreter, and I recorded interviews and clinical dialogues while studying at the San Pedro Spanish School. I will be using these recordings to make audio lessons... coming soon! This was a return trip to the San Pedro Spanish School, which I highly recommend. (See previous episode Podcasts from Guatemala.) Be sure to stay with a family when you're there!
I will be back soon with more lessons from our trip to Guatemala. While in San Pedro....
Interviews with Dr. Francisco Méndez and la comadrona Ester Pop about prenatal care.
Vocabulary and phrase review lessons for prenatal care.
Clinical dialogue on Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Clinical dialogue on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
A few more off-the-cuff interviews with mi profesora Jesus Elizabeth Cortez Cox.
I hope you enjoy all this. We will also finish up the series on Spanish for COPD soon. So there is a lot to look forward to.. Hasta pronto!
Creating audio with my friend Sonja in Guatemala. We interviewed la comadrona Ester Pop (upper left) and Dr. Francisco Méndez (lower right). We also created clinical dialogues in Spanish with our teachers, Francisco González Yojcóm and Elizabeth Cortez, and Eliza’s daughter Nicole (middle right).
Prior lessons from my first trip to San Pedro, Guatemala
In this audio lesson, we practice when to use the Spanish verbs TRAER and LLEVAR. TRAER is used to say “to bring,” and LLEVAR is used to say “to bring” or “to take.” Unlike their English counterparts, the Spanish verbs TRAER and LLEVAR imply a certain direction of movement. This can be a bit confusing for non-native Spanish speakers. Pero no pasa nada. After listening to this audio Spanish lesson packed with examples, you’ll know exactly when to use TRAER and when to use LLEVAR.
But wait! There’s more! After we pin down when to use TRAER vs. LLEVAR, we’ll focus on the reflexive verb LLEVARSE and then practice conjugating the irregular verb TRAER in the present and preterite tenses.
Sample Dialogue
0:55
Molly (M) está en la sala de estar y Aaron (A) está en la cocina.
M: ¿Me traes una cerveza? A: Cómo no. Te la llevo.
(Aaron va a la sala de estar y ahora está con Molly en la sala de estar.)
A: Aquí tiene. ¿Te traigo algo más? M: Gracias mi amor. ¿Me traes un sandwich?
(Aaron regresa a la cocina.)
A: Te lo llevo enseguida.
Direction Implied with Llevar and Traer
2:27
LLEVAR Llevar is used when you are taking something from your current location to another location. Llevar often translates as “to take” in English.
If I’m in the cocina and my husband is in the sala de estar, how would I say, “I’ll bring it to you”?
Te lo llevo.
TRAER Traer is used when you are bringing something to your current location. In English, it usually translates as “to bring.”
If I’m in the living room with my husband, how would I say, “I’ll bring it to your”?
Te lo traigo.
Situation 1 – Bring Your Books to Class
3:48
(En clase)
Profesora: Por favor, traigan sus libros a clase mañana.
(En casa)
Estudiante: Llevo mi libro a clase hoy.
Situation 2 – I Brought the Dog to the Vet
4:28
A husband is talking to his wife. They are both at home.
Llevé al perro al veterinario ayer. Y cuando llegué, vi que nuestro vecino había traído a su perro también.
Situation 3 – Bring Me the Report
5:10
(En la oficina) Two colleagues are at work. Colleague A goes up to the desk of Colleague B and asks…
A: ¿Tienes el informe que te traje ayer? B: No. Lo llevé a casa. A: ¿Me lo traes mañana?
(Colega B en casa) Colleague B says to her husband…
B: Tengo que llevar este informe al trabajo mañana.
6:19
OJO: When you could use “take” instead of “bring,” use LLEVAR.
The Reflexive Verb LLEVARSE
6:40
LLEVARSE – to take away, to take with you.
When you notice your purse (cartera) is missing….
Alguien se la llevó.
More examples:
Llévate a tu hermano.
Puedes llevarte las sobras a casa.
Conjugate the Irregular Verb TRAER
8:16
Present Traigo Traes Trae Traemos Traéis Traen
Preterite Traje Trajiste Trajo Trajimos Trajisteis Trajeron
¡Gracias por escuchar!
Want to learn more?
10:02
Listen to more lessons covering common Spanish verbs:
Become a member! We cover the subjunctive in depth with a series of 20 premium audio lessons. Instead of sitting in front of a grammar book or computer, you can be on a walk as you interact with the audio lessons, speak Spanish, and master tricky grammatical concepts.
The best way to learn the subjunctive is to practice using the subjunctive out loud. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback about my series of 20 interactive audio lessons covering the subjunctive, so I decided I would feature a premium lesson from the subjunctive series in my blog. This will give you a taste of the premium lessons in my Spanish Grammar Subscription. Today I will feature a premium lesson: “Subj05 – Influence, Emotion, & Judgment.”
Influence, Emotion, and Judgement Triggers the Subjunctive
This lesson covers the use of the subjunctive following a main clause that expresses one of the following attitudes:
When the main clause exerts influence over the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is triggered. Compare the use of the indicative vs the subjunctive in the following examples:
Es cierto que voy mañana. (It’s true that I go tomorrow.)
I am simply reporting reality, and thus the indicative is used.
Es urgente que vaya mañana. (It’s urgent that I go tomorrow.)
Here, I am trying to influence the outcome of the action in the subordinate noun clause, and thus the subjunctive is used.
What is an Impersonal Expression?
1:33
“Es urgente” is an example of an impersonal expression. It is called an impersonal expression because no personal subject is expressed.
Verbs and impersonal expressions exert influence over the outcome of the action/event that follows when they express desire, need, hope, urgency, advice, or a request/command.
Additionally, when the main clause expresses an emotional reaction or value judgment, the subjunctive is triggered.
Don’t worry if you are a little overwhelmed. The best learning comes from doing. After we go through the examples below, you’ll have it down.
Now, SPEAK SOME SPANISH!
Impersonal Expressions of Influence
2:18
Es urgente que termines rápido. (It’s urgent that you finish quickly.)
OJO: If NO SUBJECT IS SPECIFIED, the impersonal expression is followed by the INFINITIVE.
Es urgente terminar rápido. (It’s urgent to finish quickly.)
Es importante que sigamos las reglas. (It’s important that we follow the rules.)
Es importante seguir las reglas. (It’s important to follow the rules.)
Era obligatorio asistir a clase. (It was mandatory to attend class.)
Era obligatorio que nosotros asistiéramos / asistiésemos a clase. (It was mandatory that we attended class.)
Fue preciso hablar con ellos. (It was necessary to speak to them.)
Fue preciso que Monica hablara / hablase con ellos. (It was necessary that Monica spoke with them.)
No hace falta que lo digan. (They do not need to say it.)
No hace falta decirlo. (There’s no need to say it.)
Urge que pongamos manos a la obra. (It’s urgent that we get to work.)
Urge poner manos a la obra. (It’s urgent to get to work.)
Expressing Emotion or Judgement
6:06
When the main clause expresses an emotional reaction or value judgment, with regards to the verb in the subordinate noun clause, the subjunctive is used. When there is no change in the subject, an infinitive follows.
Me alegro de estar aquí. (I’m glad to be here.)
Me alegro de que hayas venido. (I’m glad you have come.)
OJO: This could also be translated as, “I’m glad you came.” We use the present perfect subjunctive to describe past events that are relevant to the present moment.
Siento que tengas que irte. (I’m sorry you have to go.)
Siento tener que irme. (I’m sorry I have to go.
Siento que no me escuchas. (I feel like you aren’t listening to me.)
OJO: When we use SENTIR to express our perceived reality, we follow it with the indicative.
Lamento no haber respondido antes. (I’m sorry for not responding sooner.)
Lamento que no hayamos respondido antes. (I’m sorry we have not responded sooner.)
OJO: Just like above, this could also be translated as, “I’m sorry we did not respond sooner. We use the PRESENT PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE to describe past events relevant to the present moment.
Le sorprendió que ya hubiera / hubiese pasado un año. (It surprised her that a year had already gone by.)
Nos enfadó que no hubiera / hubiese cumplido el contracto. (It angered us that he had not fulfilled the contract.)
Nos gustó que bailaras / bailases en la boda. (We liked that you sang at the wedding.)
Me gustó bailar en la boda. (I liked dancing at the wedding.)
No aguanto mentir. (I can’t stand lying.)
No aguanto que nos mienta. (I can’t stand that he lies to us.)
Tienen miedo de hacerlo. (They’re afraid to do it.)
Tienen miedo de que lo hagas. (They’re afraid that you will do it.)
Tememos que se entere de la verdad. (We fear that he will find out the truth.)
OJO: Temerse, to acknowledge a regrettable fact, is followed by the indicative.
Me temo que no podemos ir. (I’m afraid we can’t go.)
Impersonal Expressions of Emotion or Judgement
12:10
Es una lástima desecharlo. (It’s a shame to throw it out.)
Es una lástima que lo deseches. (It’s a shame that you are throwing it out.)
Fue bueno dormir un rato. (It was good to get some sleep.)
Fue bueno que durmieras / durmiesen en casa.) (It was good that you got some sleep.)
No está bien estar aquí solo. (It’s not okay to be here alone.)
No está bien que hayas estado aquí sola. (It’s not okay that you have been here alone.)
Es malo no obedecerla. (It’s bad not to obey her.)
Es malo que no la obedezcan. (It’s bad they don’t obey her.)
Estuvo mal reaccionar así. (It was bad to react that way.)
Estuvo mal que reaccionara / reaccionase así. (It was bad that she reacted like that.)
OJO: We use the adjectives MALO y BUENO after SER and the adverbs MAL and BIEN after the verb ESTAR.
Más vale llegar a tiempo. (It’s better to arrive on time.)
Más vale que llegues a tiempo. (You better arrive on time.)
Giving Directions in Spanish Within a Hospital
Jun 26, 2018
This free Spanish audio lesson introduces the "Giving Directions in Spanish" module at docmolly.com. As requested by Bien, a listener, we will practice giving directions in Spanish within a hospital.
First, we will review the vocabulary. Then, we will use this vocabulary to give directions in Spanish. Normally we are speaking with strangers when we ask for and give directions. Therefore, we will use the Usted conjugation for all the verbs.
Vocabulary
Perdone Excuse me.
La cafeteria Cafeteria
El sótano Basement
Baje al sótano. Go down to the basement.
El pasillo, el corredor Hall(way)
Siga el pasillo. Follow the hall.
A la derecha / izquierda To the right / left
El ascensor Elevator
Al salir del ascensor As you leave the elevator
Doble/gire a la derecha/izquierda Turn right/left
A mano derecha/izquierda On the right-hand/left-hand side
Asking for and Giving Directions
Perdone, ¿Dónde está la cafetería? Excuse me. Where is the cafeteria?
Está en el sótano. It’s in the basement.
¿Cómo se va / se llega allí? How do you get there?
Siga (por) este pasillo y usted verá el ascensor a la derecha. Follow this hallway and you’ll see the elevator to your right.
Baje al sótano. Go down basement.
Al salir del ascensor, doble/gire a la izquierda. As you exit the elevator, turn left.
Verá la cafeteria a mano derecha. You will see the cafeteria on the right-hand side.
Want to learn more?
Become a premium member and access all the Spanish Grammar and Medical Spanish lessons at docmolly.com.
Today’s podcast is a quiz on the Spanish prepositions POR y PARA. It kicks off a series of audio lessons that will cover these two prepositions at docmolly.com.
This podcast reviews some of the grammar points covered during an interview I did for the Medical Spanish Podcast. I interviewed folk healer Francisco Chavajay while studying at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala. The clinical dialogues and interviews presented in the Medical Spanish Podcast provide an effective method of learning key grammatical concepts used in everyday Spanish conversation. In this free grammar podcast, we go over a sampling of the grammar points covered in my interview with don Francisco.
Don Francisco and I
Grammar Points from the Interview
“Fíjese que para ser curandero uno no aprende, no le enseñan.”
Fijarse
Fíjate que son muy caros. Look, they are very expensive.
Fíjese que para ser curandero uno no aprende. You see, to be a curandero one doesn’t learn.
The Third Person Plural to Express a Passive Action in Spanish
“No le enseñan.” One is not taught.
Me ingresaron en el hospital. I was admitted to the hospital.
Le enseñaron a respetar a los mayores. She was taught to respect her elders.
Sino Que
“No le enseñan, sino que lo trae desde el vientre de la madre.” One isn’t taught, rather one gets it from the womb of the mother.
No me riñeron, sino que me animaron. They did not scold me, instead, they encouraged me.
Want to learn more?
Subscribe to the premium Spanish Grammar podcast at docmolly.com.
I highly recommend San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala. My niece and I had an amazing experience living with a host family and studying at the school. Listen to this podcast to hear more about our experience.
Spanish Practice: Quedar vs. Quedarse Quiz
Apr 10, 2017
Practice the confusing difference between quedar and quedarse with this interactive quiz. Whether you are using it to say “to stay,” “to meet up,” or “to run out of,” mastering these two forms is essential for natural Spanish.
Below are several common examples to test your knowledge. For a deep dive into the grammar, check out our essential guide to Quedarse here.
Audio Quiz
Skip the introduction 👉 04:05
Staying and meeting up
Me quedé en casa de un amigo.
(I stayed at a friend’s house.)
Se quedó pensativa un largo rato.
(She stayed lost in thought for a long time.)
Quedamos a las siete en la plaza.
(We’re meeting at seven at the plaza.)
La escuela queda a tres millas de aquí.
(The school is 3 miles from here.)
Agreements & Impressions
(Ellos) Quedaron en ir hoy.
(They decided/agreed to go today.)
Él siempre queda bien con las chicas.
(He always makes a good impression with the girls.)
Esa corbata queda bien con tus ojos.
(That tie goes well with your eyes.)
Remaining & Running Out
Nos quedan tres invitaciones por escribir.
(We have three invitations left to write.)
Quedan cinco días para Navidad.
(There are five days left until Christmas.)
Aún queda comida.
(There’s still food left.)
¿Te quedaste sin dinero?
(Did you run out of money?)
No nos queda más remedio que operar.
(We have no choice.)
¡Siempre se me quedan los guantes en casa!
(I always leave my gloves at home.)
Ready to dive deeper? If you want to master the grammar behind these examples, check out our comprehensive guide: Mastering the Spanish Verb Quedarse.
Unlock the Audio Lessons: Members get access to two full interactive audio lessons covering every nuance of Quedar and Quedarse. Become a member here to start practicing with our audio flashcards today!
Verb Quedarse Spanish: Transform Your Conversations
Mar 19, 2017
The reflexive verb quedarse is one of the most versatile tools in the Spanish language. While many students first learn it simply as “to stay,” it actually covers a wide range of meanings—from expressing emotional changes to describing objects left behind.
Understanding the reflexive form is a total game-changer for expressing complex ideas naturally. Here are six essential ways to use quedarse in everyday Spanish:
1. To Stay or Remain
This is the most common use, referring to staying in a physical location.
Example: Vamos a quedarnos en casa de los abuelos.
Translation: (We’re going to stay at our grandparents’ house.)
2. To Become or To Be (Change of State)
In this context, quedarse describes a reaction or a lasting change in an emotional or physical state.
Example: Me quedé contento(a) con el resultado.
Translation: (I was happy/became satisfied with the result.)
3. To Keep Doing Something
When followed by a gerund (the “-ing” form), quedarse implies that an action is being sustained or prolonged.
Example: Me lo quedé mirando.
Translation: (I stared at him / I kept looking at him.)
4. To Keep (Possession)
When you want to say you are keeping something rather than returning it or giving it away, use quedarse con.
Example: Ellos quieren quedarse con el cachorro.
Translation: (They want to keep the puppy.)
5. To Run Out of
Pairing quedarse with the word sin is the standard way to say you have exhausted your supply of something.
Example: ¿Te quedaste sin dinero?
Translation: (Did you run out of money?)
6. To Accidentally Leave Something Behind
This uses the “accidental se” construction (se me quedó) to show that you didn’t mean to leave an object behind.
Example: Se me quedó la cartera en casa.
Translation: (I left my purse/wallet at home.)
Practice This Verb in our Premium Lesson
I have just published an interactive audio lesson that covers these uses in depth! Each example in the lesson works like an audio flashcard, giving you the chance to produce the Spanish yourself before hearing the correct answer.
Are you ready to take on some advanced Spanish grammar? This audio quiz reviews the material covered in the following premium audio lessons.
Subjunctive 15 – Conditional (If… then… ) Statements About the Present Subjunctive 16 – Conditional Statements About the Past Subjunctive 17 – The Subjunctive Following “Como Si” Subjunctive 18 – The Subjunctive Following “Ojalá” Subjunctive 19 – “No Matter How Much” in Spanish Subjunctive 20 – La Forma Reduplicativa
Subjunctive in Adverbial Phrases Quiz and Review (Quiz #4)
Dec 06, 2015
Mastering the subjunctive in adverbial phrases (and adverbial clauses) is one of the biggest milestones in achieving Spanish fluency. Adverbial clauses modify the main verb by telling us how, why, when, or under what conditions an action happens.
In this quick review and quiz, we break down the essential rules of when to use the subjunctive mood versus the indicative mood in adverbial expressions.
Conjunctions That ALWAYS Require the Subjunctive
Some adverbial phrases introduce a condition, purpose, or hypothetical situation that hasn’t happened yet. These conjunctions always require the subjunctive mood when followed by a new subject and a conjugated verb.
En caso de que (In case) Example: Llevaré mi paraguas en caso de que llueva. (I will bring my umbrella in case it rains.)
Con tal (de) que (As long as / Provided that) Example: Te ayudaré con tal de que me acompañes al teatro esta noche. (I will help you as long as you come with me to the theater tonight.)
Para que / A fin de que (So that / In order that) Example: Voy a enseñárselo a Miguel para que me crea. (I am going to show it to Miguel so that he believes me.) Example: Ellos crearon este grupo a fin de que tuviéramos un lugar seguro para hablar. (They created this group so that we would have a safe place to talk.)
Sin que (Without) Example: No puedo hacerlo sin que me tiemblen las manos. (I cannot do it without my hands trembling.)
The Infinitive Exception (No Subject Change)
Grammar Tip: When the subject of the sentence does not change, drop the “que” and use the infinitive instead of the subjunctive.
Correct: Estoy a dieta para bajar de peso. (I am on a diet to lose weight.)
Correct: Todos tendremos que hacer sacrificios a fin de llegar a un acuerdo. (We will all have to make sacrifices in order to reach an agreement.)
The “A Menos Que” Exception
Unlike the others, a menos que (unless) almost always requires the subjunctive mood, even if the subject remains the same.
Example: No puedes participar a menos que sigas las reglas. (You cannot participate unless you follow the rules.)
Adverbial Clauses of Time (Subjunctive vs. Indicative)
Temporal conjunctions (like cuando, en cuanto, and siempre que) are flexible. You must choose between the subjunctive or indicative based on the timeline of the action:
Use the subjunctive for future, pending, or uncertain actions.
Use the indicative for habitual actions, facts, or past events.
Examples in Action:
Antes de que (Always requires subjunctive): Preparé la comida antes de que llegaran. (I prepared the meal before they arrived.)
Cuando (Future/Pending → Subjunctive): Llámame cuando estés lista. (Call me when you’re ready.)
Cuando (Habitual → Indicative): El niño siempre llora cuando el perro ladra. (The baby always cries when the dog barks.)
En cuanto (Future command → Subjunctive): Ustedes levántense en cuanto suene la alarma. (Get up as soon as the alarm clock goes off.)
Siempre que (Habitual → Indicative): La visito siempre que tengo la oportunidad. (I visit her whenever I have the chance.)
Siempre que (Future condition → Subjunctive): Ponte bloqueador siempre que salgas al sol. (Put on sunscreen every time you go out in the sun.)
Adverbial Clauses of Manner and Place (How & Where)
Just like time clauses, phrases introducing how (conjunctions like aunque) or where (donde) change meaning depending on reality versus hypothetical situations.
Aunque + Indicative (Even though it’s a known fact): Aunque tiene el dinero, no va a comprar la casa. (Although she has the money, she’s not going to buy the house.)
Aunque + Subjunctive (Even if it’s hypothetical/contrary to fact): Aunque tuviera el dinero, no podría comprar la casa. (Even if she had the money, she couldn’t buy the house.)
Donde + Indicative (A specific, known place): Vamos donde tú quieres. (Let’s go to the specific place where you want to go.)
Donde + Subjunctive (Anywhere / Unknown place): Vamos donde tú quieras. (Let’s go wherever you want to go.)
Ready to Test Your Knowledge?
Put your skills to the test with our comprehensive Spanish grammar quizzes!
Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses Explained Clearly | Quiz # 3
Mar 26, 2015
Do you know when to use the subjunctive in adjective clauses, and when to stick with the indicative?
A subordinate adjective clause is a group of words that describes a noun or pronoun in the main part of a sentence. Choosing the correct mood boils down to one simple rule: certainty vs. uncertainty.
Use the INDICATIVE when describing something known, specific, or certain.
Use the SUBJUNCTIVE when describing something unidentified, hypothetical, or uncertain (it may or may not even exist!).
Let’s test your skills and see how well you know this essential Spanish grammar rule!
Identify the Adjective Clause
Before jumping into the quiz, let’s look at how an adjective clause functions in a sentence. Notice how the bolded clause describes the person or object in question:
Indicative (Specific Person): Conozco a un chico que vive en Santiago. (I know a boy who lives in Santiago.) Why? The boy is a specific, real person known to the speaker.
Subjunctive (Unknown/Non-existent Person): No conozco a nadie que viva en Santiago. (I don’t know anyone who fits that description.) Why? The speaker doesn’t know anyone who lives there, making it uncertain and negative.
¿Subjuntivo o Indicativo?
Read through the sentences below and decide whether they require the indicative or the subjunctive in adjective clauses.
¿Sabes de alguien que ________ clases de español por Skype? (dar)
Answer: DÉ (Subjunctive)
Translation: Do you know of anyone who gives Spanish lessons by Skype?
Why: You are asking if someone exists; they are not yet identified.
Sí. Conozco a alguien que ________ clases de español por Skype. (dar)
Answer: DA (Indicative)
Translation: Yes. I know someone who gives Spanish lessons by Skype.
Why: You are referring to a specific, real person that you know.
Necesitamos a alguien que ________ mucha paciencia. (tener)
Answer: TENGA (Subjunctive)
Translation: We need someone who has a lot of patience.
Why: You are looking for a hypothetical person who fits this description.
No hay nada en la carta que me ________. (apetecer)
Answer: APETEZCA (Subjunctive)
Translation: There’s nothing on the menu that looks good to me.
Why: Used after a negative expression (no hay nada) because the item does not exist.
Vivo en un lugar que ________ mucho frío. (hacer)
Answer: HACE (Indicative)
Translation: I live in a place that is very cold.
Why: You live there right now; it is a known, factual reality.
Deseaba estudiantes que ________ su tarea. (hacer)
Answer: HICIERAN / HICIESEN (Past Subjunctive)
Translation: I wanted students that did their homework.
Why: This expresses a past wish or ideal standard for students, not necessarily a reality.
Nunca nos ofrecen nada que nos ________. (gustar)
Answer: GUSTE (Subjunctive)
Translation: They never offer us anything that we like.
Why: Triggered by a negative constraint (nunca… nada).
¿Recuerdas esa casa que te ________? (enseñar)
Answer: ENSEÑÉ (Indicative)
Translation: Do you remember that house that I showed you?
Why: The house is a specific, real object that both speakers know.
Buscamos una casa que ________ cerca del centro. (estar)
Answer: ESTÉ (Subjunctive)
Translation: We are looking for a house that is close to downtown.
Why: You are searching for a property, but you haven’t found or bought a specific one yet.
Subjunctive in Noun Clauses Explained Clearly | Quiz #2
Dec 05, 2014
Do you know when to use the subjunctive in noun clauses?
Do you know when to use the subjunctive in noun clauses? If you find yourself guessing between the subjunctive and the indicative mood, you’ve come to the right place.
Mastering this grammar rule is essential for achieving true fluency in Spanish. Below, we’ll break down exactly how to identify a noun clause and the three simple rules to determine when it requires the subjunctive mood.
What is a Noun Clause?
A subordinate noun clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a conjugated verb, typically introduced by the conjunction que (that). Just like a standard noun, a noun clause answers the question “What?” and can act as either the subject or the direct object of the main sentence.
Let’s look at three examples to identify the noun clause:
Deseo que me acompañes al baile. (What do I want? → que me acompañes al baile)
Es cierto que te voy a acompañar. (What is certain? → que te voy a acompañar)
Me sorprende que Francisco vaya a clase todos los días. (What surprises me? → que Francisco vaya a clase todos los días)
When to Use the Subjunctive in Noun Clauses
We use the subjunctive in noun clauses when the main clause triggers a shift away from objective reality. If the main clause doesn’t fit one of these categories, we use the indicative mood to state facts.
There are 3 primary triggers for the subjunctive in a subordinate noun clause:
1. Influence or Will
When the main clause expresses a desire, hope, order, or need to influence someone else’s actions, the noun clause triggers the subjunctive.
Example:Necesito que asistas a clase. (I need you to attend class.)
2. Emotion or Value Judgments
When the main clause describes an emotional response, feeling, or a subjective opinion about the action in the noun clause, you must use the subjunctive.
Example:Me enfada que ellos fumen en casa. (It angers me that they smoke in the house.)
3. Denial, Doubt, or Uncertainty
When the main clause implies that the speaker doubts, denies, or is unsure about the reality of the statement, the subjunctive mood is required.
Example:No estoy segura que puedan ir. (I’m not sure they can go.)
Interactive Quiz: Test Your Subjunctive Skills
Put your knowledge to the test! Practice choosing the right verb forms based on the triggers we discussed above. Review the main clause trigger, the English meaning, and the correct Spanish structure below:
1. Es probable (Uncertainty) English: It will likely rain this afternoon. Spanish: Es probable que llueva esta tarde.
2. Necesito (Influence) English: I need you to come with me. Spanish: Necesito que me acompañes.
3. Deseo (Influence) English: I want you to visit me in Italy. Spanish: Deseo que me visites en Italia.
4. *Deseo (Same Subject) English: I want to live in Italy. Spanish: Deseo vivir en Italia. (Infinitive)
5. Es cierto (Certainty) English: It’s true that I work here. Spanish: Es cierto que trabajo aquí. (Indicative)
6. Es importante (Value Judgment) English: It’s important that you keep still. Spanish: Es importante que te quedes quieto/a.
7. No era posible (Uncertainty/Past) English: It wasn’t possible for her to continue working. Spanish: No era posible que siguiera / siguiese trabajando.
8. Me molestó (Emotion/Past) English: It bothered me that they hadn’t studied for the test. Spanish: Me molestó que no hubieran / hubiesen estudiado para el examen.
9. Te ruego (Influence) English: I beg you to stop. Spanish: Te ruego que pares.
10. Tengo miedo (Emotion) English: I’m afraid that they can hear us. Spanish: Tengo miedo que nos puedan oír.
11. Me temo (Fact/Belief) English: I’m afraid there are no rooms available. Spanish: Me temo que no hay habitaciones disponibles. (Indicative)
12. Más vale (Value Judgment) English: You better tell the truth. Spanish: Más vale que digas la verdad.
13. Dudaba (Doubt/Past) English: I doubted that we could do it. Spanish: Dudaba que pudiéramos hacerlo.
*Grammar Tip: Notice that verbs of emotion and doubt can sometimes trigger the subjunctive even if the subject remains the same (e.g., Dudaba que pudiera hacerlo OR Dudaba poder hacerlo), unlike expressions of influence which collapse into an infinitive verb when the subject doesn’t change.
Ready to move beyond the basics and feel completely confident using complex grammar structures in conversation? We cover these concepts in deep, clinical, and conversational contexts in our premium audio course series.
Gain access to all our premium audio lessons, comprehensive study guides, and interactive practice tools specifically designed for heathcare professionals and dedicated language learners.
Conjugate the Spanish Subjunctive with Audio Quiz #1
Sep 05, 2014
Mastering how to conjugate the Spanish subjunctive can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down by tense and practicing with audio is one of the fastest ways to build your confidence.
In this interactive audio quiz, we review the fundamental conjugation patterns for the Spanish subjunctive across its four primary tenses.
What This Quiz Covers
This lesson corresponds to Module 1 of our comprehensive Subjunctive Course. Listen to the audio track below to test your ability to recognize and form the correct subjunctive tense for each clinical or everyday scenario:
Present Subjunctive
Present Perfect Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Pluperfect Subjunctive
Listen and Practice
Play the audio below. In each example, listen to the sentence structure, pause, and choose the correct tense of the subjunctive before the answer is revealed.
Quiz Review & Notes
Review the sentences from today’s audio lesson to practice how to conjugate the subjunctive in Spanish:
SACAR It was important that we got good grades. Era importante que __________ buenas notas. Answer: (sacáramos / sacásemos)
DECIR We insist that you tell him the truth. Insistimos en que le __________ la verdad. Answer: (digas)
RESOLVER They don’t think we have solved the problem. No creen que __________ el problema. Answer: (hayamos resuelto)
IR I was hoping he had gone to bed. Esperaba que __________ a la cama. Answer: (se hubiera / hubiese ido)
SER I doubt it was us. Dudo que __________ nosotros. Answer: (fuéramos / fuésemos)
TERMINAR I doubt he’ll have finished it by tomorrow. Dudo que lo __________ para mañana. Answer: (haya terminado)
CALLARSE I told you to be quiet. Te dije que __________. Answer: (te callaras / te callases)
PAGAR They are asking us to pay. Nos piden que __________. Answer: (paguemos)
LLEGAR We would have gone out if they had arrived earlier. Habríamos salido si ________ antes. Answer: (hubieran / hubiesen llegado)
ELEGIR We are glad that you have chosen us. Nos alegramos de que ustedes nos __________ . Answer: (hayan elegido)
DARSE PRISA Tell them to hurry up. Diles que __________ prisa. Answer: (se den prisa)
💡 Take Your Learning Further: Want to truly master how to conjugate the subjunctive in Spanish? Premium members get access to full show notes, complete transcriptions, interactive Quizlet sets, and downloadable study PDFs within our Subjunctive Course.
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:
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.
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. Three common variations express an action that started in the past and continues into the present.
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?)
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?
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.)
Hace que
¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que eres vegetariana? (How long have you been a vegetarian?)
Hace ocho años que soy vegetariana. (I have been a vegetarian for eight years.)
¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que vives aquí? (How long has he been living here?)
Hace tres años que vivo aquí. (I’ve been living here for 3 years.)
¿Cuánto tiempo hace que tiene problemas con la bebida? (How long has she had a drinking problem?)
Hace años que tiene problemas con la bebida. (She’s had a drinking problem for years.)
Hace mucho tiempo que no nos vemos. (We haven’t seen each other for a long time.)
Hace años que no hablamos. (We haven’t spoken for years.)
¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que te sientes así? (How long have you felt this way?)
Hace unos cuantos meses que me siento así. (I’ve been feeling this way for a few months.)
Desde
¿Desde cuándo trabajas para esa empresa? (How long have you been working for that company?)
Trabajo para esa empresa desde hace tres años. (I have been working for that company for three years?)
¿Desde cuándo esperan? (How long have they been waiting?)
Esperamos desde hace más de una hora. (We’ve been waiting for more than an hour.)
¿Desde cuándo vive en ese departamento? (How long has she lived in that apartment?)
Vive en ese departamento desde hace menos de un año. (She’s lived in that apartment for less than a year.)
¿Desde cuándo entrenas al equipo de fútbol? (How long have you been coaching the soccer team?)
Entreno al equipo de fútbol desde hace un año. (I’ve been couching the soccer team for a year.)
¿Desde cuándo tiene estos síntomas? (How long have you had these symptoms?)
Tengo estos síntomas desde hace una semana. (I’ve had these symptoms for a week.)
¿Desde cuándo tocas la guitarra? (How long have you played the guitar?)
Toco la guitarra desde que tenía 11 años. (I’ve played the guitar since I was 11 years old.)
Llevar
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas entrenándote para el maratón? (How long have they been training for the marathon?)
Llevo cinco meses entrenándome para el maratón. (I have been training for the marathon for five months.)
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva comportándose así? (How long has he been behaving like this?)
Lleva más de un mes comportándose así. (He’s been acting this way for over a month.)
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva en la cárcel? (How long has she been in prison?)
Lleva dos semanas en la cárcel. (She’s been in prison for two weeks.)
¿Cuánto tiempo llevamos aquí? (How long have we been here?)
Llevamos una semana aquí. (We’ve been here for a week.)
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas con esta llaga? (How long have you had this sore?)
Llevo por lo menos un mes con esta llaga. (I’ve had this sore for at least a month.)
¿Cuánto tiempo llevan casados? (How long have you been married?)
Llevamos cincuenta y dos años casados. (We have been married for 52 years.)
¿Cuánto meses llevas de embarazo? (How many months pregnant are you?)
Llevo seis meses de embarazo. (I am 6 months pregnant.)
SER vs ESTAR – Intro to the Spanish Grammar Review Podcast
Jun 23, 2012
Do you know when to use SER vs ESTAR?
Some of you may remember my original Spanish Grammar Review podcast, which I started in 2007. I took a break to focus on the Medical Spanish Podcast and resumed podcasting about Spanish grammar in June 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 free Spanish Grammar lessons. Members: Access the Ser y Estar module in our Spanish Grammar course!
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
The best way to learn the subjunctive is to practice using the subjunctive out loud. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback about my series of 20 interactive audio lessons covering the 
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.
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.
Practice ways to describe the direction and location of movement.
