Appendix 1
Glossary of Grammar Terms
Adjective A word that describes a noun or pronoun.
La chica es inteligente. The young lady is smart.
Article A determiner that sets off a noun.
el libro the book
Definite article An article that indicates a specific noun.
el bolígrafo the pen
Indefinite article An article that indicates an unspecified noun.
un carro a car
Infinitive The form of a verb that has not been conjugated into a tense, person or mood.
Jaime va a comprar una manzana.
Jaime is going to buy an apple.
Noun A word that denotes a person, place, thing, or idea.
maestro, universidad, mesa, Juan
teacher, university, table, Juan
Number
Cardinal number A number that indicates an amount.
dos libros, cuatro estudiantes
two books, four students
Ordinal number A number that indicates position in a series.
la primera estudiante, la tercera silla
the first student, the third chair
Person The form of a pronoun or verb that indicates the person involved in an action.
1st person singular I yo
2nd person singular you tú
3rd person singular he, she, it, usted/él/ella
1st person plural we nosotros
3rd person plural they ustedes/ellos/as
Preposition A word or phrase that specifies the relationship of one word (usually a noun or pronoun) to another.
cerca de la cafetería near the cafetería
antes de la clase before class
Present Participle The verb form that ends in -ing in English and with the verb estar in Spanish to form the progressive.
hablando talking
comiendo eating
escribiendo writing
Progressive The verb that expresses continuing or developing action.
Carmen está caminando. Carmen is walking.
Juan y Julio están estudiando. Juan and Julio are studying.
Nosotros estamos durmiendo. We are sleeping.
Pronouns A word that refers to a person (I, you, we, etc.) or that is used in place of one or more nouns.
Interrogative A pronoun used to ask a question.
¿Quién es el maestro? Who is the teacher?
Reflexive A pronoun that represents the same person as the subject of the verb.
Me miro en el espejo. I look at myself in the mirror.
Tense The form of a verb indicating time: present, past or future.
Gisela era, es y siempre será mi hermana.
Gisela was, is, and always will be my sister.
Verb A word that reports an action or state.
Juan escucha música. Juan listens to music.
Reflexive verb A verb whose subject and object are the same.
Alba se peina. Alba brushes her hair (herself).
