The Present Tense of Ser
In order to understand the verb ser=to be in English, we
first must understand some basic parts of speech. Here are some terms I will be
using to get you to understand this grammar lesson.
-conjugate
-conjugation -conjugates
-infinitive -subject/personal
pronoun
This will help you to make connections of the English way
to use verbs to the Spanish way to use verbs. This lesson is color-coded so
when you take notes and/or study, the different parts will stand out and you
can see the English and Spanish.
Blue
= Subject Pronouns
Red=
verb
to be verb
singular plural
I am we are
you are
he/she is they are
Subject Pronouns
ser = to be verb
singular plural
yo soy nostros/as somos
tú eres
*vosotros/as (we do not use this
one)
él/ella/usted es ellos/ellas/ustedes son
*Vosotros/as is commonly used in Spain, church, and few parts of
Colombia.
Ustedes
is used when:
1.
speakiníg to a group of elders (formal plural)
2.
persons in authority (formal plural)
3. (loosely
means “y’all”) when you are speaking directly to a group of your peers.
(informal)
Proper Nouns in Spanish
Margarita Estefán
María Alexandro(a)
Estefanía Xavier
Paula Magaly
Elena Jorge
Pablo Dolores
Juan
Pedro
Guillermo
Mercedes
Enrique
Milagros
Katrina Alma
Esperanza
Daniel
Carlos
Santiago
¿Qué
hora es?
In
Spanish, you tell time by saying, “Son las…” for the hours of 2-12.
In
Spanish, you tell time by saying, “Es la…” for the hour of 1. NOTE: Es la
is used from 12:31- 1:30
¿Qué
hora es?
1:08 Es la
una y ocho.
1:20 Es la
una y veinte.
When telling time in Spanish, you say the
minutes as is, from 1-14, and as is from 16-29.
¿Qué hora es?
2:03 Son las dos y tres.
3:11 Son las tres y once.
4:24 Son las cuatro y veinticuatro.
19:13 Son las siete y trece. (hint:19-12=7)
In Spanish we say the hour and then we say
“y cuarto” for :15
ONLY FOR 15 MINUTES PAST THE HOUR.
¿Qué hora es?
2:15 Son las dos y cuarto.
¿Qué hora es?
1:15 Es la una y cuarto.
When telling time in Spanish, you say “y
media” for :30 minutes into the hour. Media means half.
¿Qué hora es?
7:30 Son las siete y media.
1:30 Es la una y media.
When telling time in
Spanish, you say “menos cuarto” for :45 minutes into the hour. Or :15
minutes to the next hour.
¿Qué hora es?
2:45 Son las TRES menos cuarto.
1:45 Son las DOS menos cuarto.
12:45 Es la una menos cuarto.
When telling time in Spanish, you say “menos”
for :31 -:59 minutes to the next hour. Subtract from :60.
¿Qué hora es?
8:31 Son las nueve menos veintinueve.
5:55 Son las seis menos cinco.
Notes on special times:
En punto. (sharp) 
…de la mañana. (a.m.) 
…de la tarde. (p.m.) 
…de la noche. (p.m.) 
Es el mediodía. It’s noon. 
Es la medianoche. It’s midnight.
¿A qué hora es…? At what time is…? 
A las….
