Grammar Rules in Spanish

Grammar is the foundation of any language, and Spanish is no exception. Knowing and mastering the use of grammar rules not only improves the way you communicate in this language but also helps you avoid misunderstandings and express yourself more clearly.

In this article, you will learn the most important grammar rules in Spanish, how to apply them in your daily sentences, and some tips to continually improve your skills.

Let’s get started!

Why are grammar rules important?

One could say that grammar rules are like the instructions for a game: without them, it would be difficult to understand how to play. In the case of Spanish, good grammar allows you to form correct sentences and express ideas clearly.

These rules act as a bridge for others to understand exactly what you want to say, without ambiguity. For example:

• Incorrect: Los niños juega en el parque.
• Correct: Los niños juegan en el parque. (The children play in the park.)

The first example generates confusion, while the second is clear, as it respects the rules of agreement. That is why learning the grammar rules in Spanish will give you more confidence to speak and write correctly in this language.

Difference between grammar rules and spelling rules

Many people still refer to grammar and spelling rules as if they were synonyms. While they are related, it is important to know that they are completely distinct areas of the language.

While grammar focuses on the structure of sentences and how words interact with each other, spelling regulates how words are written, including the correct use of accents, capital letters, and punctuation marks.

Example of a grammatical error:

• Incorrect: El flor es bonita.
• Correct: La flor es bonita. (The flower is pretty.)

Example of a spelling error:

• Mi papa es abogado. (My potato is a lawyer.)
• Mi papá es abogado. (My dad is a lawyer.)

Both areas are fundamental for effective communication. In this article, we will focus on grammar, but we will also see some examples of how small spelling errors can affect the clarity of your message.

Basic grammar rules in Spanish

Spanish has certain fundamental rules that you must know to construct sentences correctly. Let’s see what they are:

The parts of the sentence

In Spanish, a basic sentence includes:

• Subject: This is the one who performs the action or about whom something is said in the sentence. This means that the subject is the main part of the sentence because it is the one who does or receives the action.
• Verb: This is the word that describes the action performed or the state in which the subject is.
• Object: This is the person, thing, or idea that receives the action of the verb. It refers to what the subject affects with its action.

These parts work together to form a complete message. Examples of the parts of the sentence in Spanish:

• Mi abuelo (subject) lee (verb) el periódico (object). (My grandfather reads the newspaper.)
• El perro (subject) duerme (verb). (The dog sleeps.)
• Ella (subject) bebe (verb) café (object). (She drinks coffee.)

Agreement between subject and verb

In every sentence in Spanish, it is crucial that the subject and the verb agree in number (singular/plural) and in person (first, second, or third).

• Incorrect: Nosotros estudias español. 
• Correct: Nosotros estudiamos español. (We study Spanish.)

Correct use of punctuation

The rules of punctuation are like the traffic signs that we can see on a street: they organize the flow of ideas in a sentence. In Spanish, we use signs like periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation marks to provide clarity when writing. Examples:

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) (question)
• ¡Felicidades! (Congratulations!) (exclamation)
• Voy a la farmacia, necesito medicina. (I am going to the pharmacy; I need medicine.) (comma to separate related ideas)

Capital letters

It is important to start all our sentences with capital letters. It is also correct to use them with proper names and in titles. Examples:

• Frida es mi amiga. (Frida is my friend.)
• ¿Dónde está la Plaza Mayor? (Where is the Plaza Mayor?)
• Hoy es martes. (Today is Tuesday.)

Structure of sentences

The basic order of a sentence in Spanish is subject + verb + object, although this can vary to emphasize certain ideas. Examples:

• Mi novia es bailarina. (My girlfriend is a dancer.)
• Carlos juega fútbol. (Carlos plays soccer.)
• Mi compañero llegó tarde. (My classmate arrived late.)

7

The most important grammar rules for writing well in Spanish

Now we will share some extra rules that will undoubtedly help you write correctly and more clearly.

Use the active voice

The active voice is more direct and easier to understand than the passive voice. In the active voice, the subject performs the action, while in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

You will most commonly encounter sentences in the active voice, as the passive voice is more used for formal texts or to emphasize something. Example:

• Active voice: Los estudiantes escribieron el ensayo. (The students wrote the essay.)
• Passive voice: El ensayo fue escrito por los estudiantes. (The essay was written by the students.)

Avoid long and confusing sentences

Long sentences can be difficult to follow. It is better to divide your ideas into shorter sentences to make them more digestible for your readers. Example:

• Long: El niño, que estaba jugando con sus carritos de colores bajo un árbol en el parque mientras su madre leía un libro, corrió rápidamente hacia el columpio, pero luego se tropezó y cayó al suelo. (The boy, who was playing with his colorful toy cars under a tree in the park while his mother read a book, ran quickly to the swing, but then tripped and fell to the ground.)
• Clear: El niño jugaba en el parque.Corrió hacia el columpio, pero se tropezó y cayó. (The boy was playing in the park. He ran to the swing, but he tripped and fell.)

Correct use of pronouns

Make sure to use the correct pronouns in your sentences to avoid confusion. Example:

• Yo le di el libro a Alejandro, ella me dijo que lo necesitaba. (I gave the book to Alejandro; she told me that she needed it.) (“she”, who?)
• Yo le di el libro a Alejandro, él me dijo que lo necesitaba. (I gave the book to Alejandro; he told me that he needed it.) (Alejandro)

Parallel structure

When using lists or similar ideas, it is recommended to maintain the same format. This makes the text clearer and easier to read. Example:

• Incorrect: Ella es amable, cariñosa y trabaja mucho. (She is kind, caring, and works a lot.)
• Correct: Ella es amable, cariñosa y trabajadora. (She is kind, caring, and a hard worker.)

Avoid double negatives

In Spanish, a single negative is sufficient to express a negative idea. Overloading with negatives makes your text confusing, and therefore, your message can get lost. Example:

• Incorrect: No vi nada nunca. (I didn’t see anything ever.)
• Correct: No vi nada. (I didn’t see anything.)

Common grammar mistakes and how to avoid them

Confusing homonyms

Homonyms are words that sound similar, or that may even sound the same, but have very different meanings, which can cause errors. Example:

• Voy haber si me aprueban el examen. (I’m going to have if they approve my exam.) (verb haber, to exist)
• Voy a ver si me aprueban el examen. (I’m going to see if they approve my exam.) (a ver is an expression of observing or checking something)

Incorrect use of commas

Avoid separating the subject from the verb with a comma. Also, avoid overloading with commas in general when they are not necessary. Example:

• Incorrect: El perro, come su comida. (The dog, eats its food.)
• Correct: El perro come su comida. (The dog eats its food.)

Errors with adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It is important to learn the difference between them to use them correctly in our sentences.

• Incorrect: Ella canta muy bueno. (She sings very good.)
• Correct: Ella canta muy bien. (She sings very well.)

Errors with verb tenses

Another very important rule in Spanish is to always use the correct verb tense required by our sentence according to the context. Using the wrong verb tense is not only incorrect, but it can completely change the meaning of our sentence.

• Incorrect: Hoy trabajo mucho, pero mañana descansé. (Today I work a lot, but tomorrow I rested.)
• Correct: Hoy trabajé mucho, pero mañana descansaré. (Today I worked a lot, but tomorrow I will rest.)

Tips to improve your grammar skills

• Read more: Reading texts like books, online articles, and stories will allow you to observe and learn how grammar works correctly.
• Practice writing: Take the time to write sentences and paragraphs frequently to practice how to form sentences correctly, as well as learn to apply spelling and punctuation rules.
• Receive feedback: If possible, ask a teacher or a native speaker for help to guide you in your process.
• Take a course: There are many options available both online and in-person for all types of budgets. The Promova app, for example, gives you access to hundreds of Spanish lessons and other languages, and you can also find the option to take private online classes with a tutor.

Curiosities about grammar rules in Spanish

Spanish is a very rich and fascinating language, full of peculiarities that make it unique among Romance languages. We hope these grammatical curiosities help you understand the language better and appreciate it even more:

• Spanish has a unique subjunctive mood that does not always have an equivalent in other languages. It helps us express wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations.
• Reflexive verbs have a fascinating peculiarity that allows us to express that an action falls upon the subject performing it.
• Written accents can completely change the meaning of a word. This is something unique and fundamental to the language. For example, the word "tú" with an accent is a personal pronoun, while “tu" without an accent is a possessive pronoun.
• The use of articles is specific and necessary. Unlike some languages, Spanish uses definite and indefinite articles for practically everything, even for generalizations.
• The differences in Spanish across different countries: Spanish is spoken in more than 20 countries, and although the basic grammar is the same, there are differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical aspects that reflect the cultural peculiarities of each region, which only enriches the language.

Summary

Learning the grammar rules of Spanish is essential for you to communicate correctly in this language.

We know that seeing so many rules can be overwhelming, but if you practice little by little every day, from the basic rules to the more advanced ones, you will soon notice an improvement in your skills.

Keep it up!