Comprehensive Guide to Spanish Grammar: Clauses, Verbs, and More
Subordinate Clauses
Substantive Clauses
1. That: I want you to tell me soon, I would love for you to have that detail.
2. If: Used in hesitant sentences (e.g., I do not know if I will come tomorrow) or doubtfully questioning sentences (e.g., Tell me if you will come tomorrow).
3. Relative Pronouns and Interrogative Adverbs: These include words like what, where, when, how, who. When a substantive clause is an indirect interrogative (an interrogative sentence acting as a direct object), it can take almost any pronoun as links, determiners, or adverbs. For example: I do not know what time it is / when it will arrive / how you did it / who is here, etc.
Clauses Without a Link:
1. Infinitive Verb: When the subject of the main verb is the same as the subject of the subordinate verb, the subordinate verb is placed in the infinitive and does not have a link:
I want you to do it – * I want me to do it -> I want to do it
2. Indirect Speech: For example: Manuel said: “Tomorrow I will be here at eight.”
Adjectival Subordinate Clauses
Adjectival subordinate clauses can be included in a sentence using a relative pronoun (who, whom, which), a relative determiner (whose), and a relative adverb (where, how, when). These elements have a dual role:
– They serve as the nexus of the clause.
– They play a role within the clause. To determine their role, it’s helpful to substitute the antecedent (the word or phrase the subordinate clause refers to).
Adjectival subordinate clauses can be constructed with a participle. In this case, there is no relative link.
I left the roads built for fast and disinterested travel and went by the other, the local news.
The main function of the subordinate clause is to act as an adjective within a noun phrase. The antecedent is the nucleus: The houses that receive much sun are bright. The houses are bright sunshine.
Adverbial Subordinate Clauses:
- Time: Nexus: where, before, after, while, if, as soon as. Example: I came out [before you called me].
- Manner: Nexus: as, like, as if, depending on. Example: He did [as directed].
- Place: Nexus: where, wherever, from where, as far as. Example: The book is [where you left it].
- Reason: Nexus: since, because, of course. Example: I came [because I needed to talk to you].
- Consecutive: Nexus: so that, to the point that, while, such that. Example: He speaks [so that everyone can hear him].
- Conditional: Nexus: yes, but, provided that. Example: [If I knew] I would tell you.
- Final: Nexus: so that, in order that, with a view to. Example: Call me [so that we can talk].
- Comparative: Nexus: how, more than, less than, equal to, as well as, better than, worse than. Example: It is as good [as (it was with) Rockefeller].
- Concessive: Nexus: although, even though. Example: [Although it is sad] he does not show it.
Other Subordinate Constructions:
- Gerund constructions: Example: Diego came to the tenth floor [with his heart in his mouth].
- Comparative constructions: Example: They know [more than you think].
- Participle constructions: Example: Finished with the exams, he went to party.
- + To Infinitive constructions: Example: When looking for the keys, I discovered the theft.
Personal and Impersonal Verbs
Impersonal verbs are not compatible with a lexical subject and are categorized as proper (also called “one-person”) or improper.
Proper impersonal verbs inherently exist only in the 3rd person singular. This category includes “meteorological verbs” like rain, snow, etc. These verbs are intransitive.
Improper impersonal verbs have normal conjugation in some contexts but can also be used impersonally. For example, the verb “make” can be used in sentences like:
“Spartacus does his homework.”
or phrases like
“It’s hot.”
In the second example, “make” is used impersonally. Other examples of improper impersonal verbs include:
– Haber: “There are things to do.”
– Hacer: “It’s very hot.”
– Bastar (meaning “sufficient”): “Enough talk.”
– Ser: “It is night.”
– Ir: “I did well on the exam” or “I did well in the tennis match.”
Verbal Periphrasis
Verbal periphrasis involves using two or more verbs to express a single verbal idea. Here are some classes of verbal periphrasis:
Classes Related to Output:
- Obligation: have to + infinitive, to have to + infinitive, having to + infinitive
- Ability: can + infinitive, must + infinitive, having to + infinitive
Classes Related to Verbal Action:
- Perfective: Refers to the completion of an action. Examples: complete the + infinitive, fail to + infinitive, having + past participle, getting to + infinitive
- Inchoative: Refers to the beginning of an action. Examples: go to + infinitive, be about to + infinitive, start + infinitive, begin + infinitive, throw + infinitive
- Iterative: Indicates the repetition of an action. Examples: use to + infinitive, return to + infinitive
- Progressive-Durative: Shows an action in progress. Examples: be + gerund, go + gerund, follow + gerund, continue + gerund, bring + gerund
Verbal Phrase vs. Verbal Periphrasis
A verbal phrase is a group of words, including at least one verb, that functions as a single predicate. Some verbal phrases consist of two verbs, with the second verb in a non-personal form.
Reasons not to confuse verbal phrases with verbal periphrasis:
1. Verbal phrases typically convey a single idea that can be expressed with a single verb. Example: give side → marginalize
2. In verbal phrases, there are no main or auxiliary verbs; the entire phrase selects subjects and complements.
Types of SE
- Impersonal SE: The subject is never overt. Example: Life is good in Spain.
- Passive SE: Used with a patient subject and a verb in the passive voice. Example: Footsteps are heard.
- Variant of LE SE: The indirect object functions as a direct object. Example: I told you.
- Reflexive SE: Functions as both a direct and indirect object and is used with reflexive verbs. Example: John washes himself.
- Reciprocal SE: Functions as both a direct and indirect object. Example: They greet each other.
- SE with Pronominal Verbs: Has no grammatical function. Example: To get married.
- Reflexive SE that can be eliminated: Example: She ate the cake / She ate the cake herself.
- SE with Semantic Value: Example: She left the umbrella / She forgot her umbrella.
- False Reflexive SE: Example: To eat.