Español Intensivo - Intensive Spanish Course for Beginners

In this section our subject will be Spanish spelling and pronunciation. At first we’ll learn the Spanish alphabet, then we’ll learn how to pronounce Spanish consonants and vowels. Finally we’ll discuss the stress rules and Spanish accents.

In this lecture we’ll learn the Spanish alphabet so that you know how to spell words. Visually it’s very much like the English one, but the names of the letters differ dramatically.

In this lecture we’ll talk about Spanish consonants. Most of them are easy to learn because of their similarities to English ones, but some of them are pronounced in a totally different way.

And now it’s time to learn the Spanish vowels. These are pronounced in a different way than their English counterparts. 

Spanish stress rules are pretty easy. This is the subject of this lecture.

Probably you’ve noticed that some Spanish letters have accents. In this lecture we’ll discuss the rules concerning the accents and you’ll see that it’s not difficult at all.

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this section we’ll get up and running. We’ll do some of this and some of that. Our topics in this section include the basics of articles, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns and verbs. We’ll also learn some occupations in Spanish and we’ll learn how to introduce ourselves and other people.

In this lecture we’ll learn how to ask about things. The question we’re about to learn is What is this? – a question most courses usually start with. We’ll see how to introduce things. In this lecture we’ll have a look at the definite and indefinite articles. Fortunately, there are only two genders in Spanish and only two articles in singular and two in plural. We’ll see how to use the articles with nouns. Finally we´ll discuss typical masculine and feminine noun endings.

In this lecture we’ll ask about the appearance of things and people. The question we’re going to use is What’s it like? We’ll also use adjectives to describe things. We’ll learn some common adjectives which we can use to describe color, size, age, quality, etc. We´ll also cover the gender of adjectives.

Now that we can talk about things, it’s time we learned how to talk about people. Introducing people is the subject of this lecture. We’ll also see how to ask: Who is this? Finally, we’ll learn the Spanish counterparts of Mr., Mrs. and Miss.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to introduce ourselves. We´ll also learn some basic expressions used in everyday conversations, like hello, goodbye, please, how are you, etc.

In this lecture we’ll explore the world of Spanish personal pronouns. There are a few more pronouns than in English because there are separate masculine and feminine forms in some cases. There are also more ways to say you. These pronouns can be then used along with the verbs that we are going to conjugate.

In this lecture we´ll also see how to conjugate the verb to be. We’ll see how to distinguish between formal and informal forms of pronouns. Unlike in English, we usually omit personal pronouns if the meaning is clear from the context. It’s possible because there are distinct personal endings in Spanish. In this lecture we’ll see how it works.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to ask for personal information like someone´s name or occupation. We´ll also learn how to answer such questions. In this lecture we´ll also learn some jobs in Spanish.

Most infinitives in Spanish end in –ar. Some of them also end in –er or –ir. In this lecture we´ll see how the predominant conjugation pattern looks and what all the personal forms look like.

In this lecture we’ll learn cardinal numbers. There’s quite a lot of stuff to memorize in this lecture if you have never learned Spanish numbers, but you can come back to this lecture from time to time and revise.

In this lecture we’ll see how most plural forms of nouns are made. It’s very easy and very much like in English. Unlike in English, Spanish adjectives also take plural forms. Fortunately, these forms are practically the same as those of nouns so there is hardly anything new to learn.

In this lecture we’ll see how to ask about quantity and how to say how much of something there is or how many elements there are. We´ll be using words like much, many, a lot of, few and little.

The subject of this lecture are possessive adjectives. These are words like my, your, our, etc. They frequently accompany nouns to determine who something belongs to or part of what something is.

This lecture is about demonstrative pronouns, so words like this, that, these and those. There are two kinds of demonstrative pronouns in Spanish: those which always accompany a noun and those which stand on their own. In this lecture we’ll talk about both.

Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs and other adverbs. In Spanish some adverbs are formed from adjectives, but there are also loads of adverbs which are not derived from adjectives. In this lecture we’ll have a look at some common adverbs.

Throughout the whole of Section 3 we’ve come across lots of new words. Why not practice them a bit again? This way you will remember them better.

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this lecture we´ll have a look at what’s in this section. This section focuses on the three verbs used in Spanish as the counterparts of the English verb to be.

In this lecture we’ll describe location of things and people. There’s a special verb for that in Spanish. We’ll learn how to ask: Where is it? and how to answer that question.

Just like with ser, let’s learn the full conjugation of the verb estar. This is the topic of this lecture.

In this lecture we’ll discover yet another verb that conveys the meaning of to be. This one is used in constructions like the English there is and there are.

We now have three verbs that mean to be in Spanish. In this lecture we’ll recapitulate on how to use them correctly.

In Section 4 there´s been much less new vocabulary than in Section 3. Anyway, let´s go through it again to revise. 

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this section our subject will be conjugation patterns of Spanish verbs. There are three conjugation patterns and we’ll discuss them all in detail in the lectures that follow. We will also talk about irregular verbs. There are so many of them.

Time for the first conjugation pattern. We already talked about it in Section 3, so let´s just revise. Most infinitives in Spanish end in –ar. This conjugation pattern is predominant. In this lecture we’ll see again what all the personal forms look like.

In this lecture we’ll discuss another conjugation pattern. Quite a few verbs end in –er in their infinitive forms. Let’s see how they are conjugated.

And one more conjugation pattern. Some verbs end in –ir in their infinitive forms. Let’s have a look at some examples and see how they are conjugated.

Some Spanish verbs change their stems in a systematic way. Apart from that they may be regular in all or at least some tenses. In this lecture we´ll talk about verbs that change their stems but are otherwise regular in the present tense.

Reflexive verbs in English are not very common. In Spanish it´s a totally different story. There are lots of reflexive verbs. In this lecture we´ll see how they are formed and we´ll have a look at some examples.

One of the most important verbs in any language is the verb to have. This verb is also used in multiple contexts where it´s not translated literally into English. We´ll touch upon this topic, too, in this lecture.

In this lecture we’ll see how to use the irregular verb to go. This verb is totally irregular, so you have to memorize all the forms. It´s also used in many expressions where it´s not literally translated into English.

There are really lots of irregular verbs in Spanish. To make it a bit easier, let´s try and categorize them somehow so that they´re easier to handle. In this lecture we´ll have a look at the two verbs used for senses: ver and oír, which mean to see and to hear respectively.

In this lecture we´ll learn some irregular verbs that correspond to the English modal verbs can and may. We´ll also learn the verb decir, which means to say, and we´ll revise the verb querer, to want / to love.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to use the verbs venir and salir, which mean to come and to leave respectively.

In this lecture we´ll learn some more irregular verbs and that will be it for now. It doesn´t mean there are no more irregular verbs, actually there are many more, but we´ll be learning them as need arises in the future lectures.

Throughout the whole of Section 5 we’ve come across lots of new words. Let´s practice them again. This way you will remember them better.

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this section we’ll learn how to ask questions, how to answer questions, how to make negative statements and how to use imperatives.

General questions in Spanish are extremely easy to make. In most cases hardly anything changes in written language (except for the question marks). In spoken language the intonation is different. In this lecture we´ll see how to make general questions.

In this lecture we´ll see how to ask specific questions. We´ll recap on the question words we already know and we´ll learn some new ones.

In this lecture we´ll talk about negative sentences. You´ve already come across examples of negative sentences, but in this lecture we´ll try to systematize it.

In this lecture we´ll talk about imperatives. As for now, we´ll be talking only about affirmative ones because negative imperatives (the don´ts) are formed in a different way and we’ll talk about them in one of the next lectures. Now, we’ll concentrate on the formal and informal imperative forms of regular and slightly irregular verbs.

In this lecture we’ll continue our discussion on imperatives. This time we’ll have a look at some common irregular verbs and again, we’ll stick to affirmative imperative forms for now.

In this lecture we will have a look at the imperative forms of reflexive verbs. This is quite easy, all you have to remember is how to use the reflexive pronouns. Just have a go and see how easy it is.

As promised, in this lecture we´ll be talking about negative imperatives of regular and slightly irregular verbs. The bad news is there are new endings to learn. The good news is they are repetitive.

In this lecture we will be talking about negative imperatives of irregular verbs. There are some new forms to learn, I´m afraid, but don´t worry: all the forms of negative imperatives will come in very handy later on when we discuss the subjunctive mood. As you know, these are the subjunctive forms.

In this lecture we will be talking about negative imperatives of reflexive verbs.

In Section 6 we’ve come across some new vocabulary, maybe not as much as in the previous sections. Anyway, let´s practice the new words.

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this section we´ll be talking about direct and indirect objects. We´ll see how nouns and pronouns function in this role. 

Although there is no case system in Spanish like in some other languages (German for example), there are ways to express the meaning of different cases like nominative or objective. In this lecture we’ll see how this is done.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to use personal pronouns as direct and indirect objects. We will also have a look at the word order, which differs from that in English. 

In this lecture we’ll discuss some of the most common Spanish prepositions. Prepositions tend to be used differently in different languages, which is why there is no one-to-one correspondence between English and Spanish prepositions, but let’s have a look at how they are most typically used.

After some prepositions personal pronouns remain unchanged. After others they sometimes differ in form. In this lecture we´ll be talking about personal pronouns used with prepositions.

We already know how to use personal pronouns as direct objects or indirect objects. But what if we need both in one sentence? In this lecture we´ll see how to cope with that.

Personal pronouns stand on their own or are attached to the verbs. In this lecture we’ll see how they behave when the verb form is an infinitive or imperative.

As usual, let’s practice the new vocabulary we’ve been using in this section.

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this section we’ll be talking about one of the past tenses commonly used in Spanish, the Preterite Tense. We’ll start by having a brief glance at the past tenses used in Spanish.

In this lecture we´ll have an overview of all the Spanish moods, tenses and other verb forms. This is just for reference, there´s no point learning all the forms now because we´ll be discussing them one by one later in the course.

In this lecture we’ll have a look at the past forms of the verb to be (ser). This verb is totally irregular and we have to memorize all the forms.

In this lecture we´ll see how to make the past forms of regular verbs. There are two sets of endings, one for the -ar verbs and another for the –er and –ir verbs.

You probably remember the verbs we discussed earlier where the stem changes in declension, like dormir, pensar, pedir and others. Well, here they come again. It turns out that there are some more changes in the Preterite tense. This will be the subject of this lecture.

There are quite a few verbs in Spanish that form their present and/or past forms in an irregular way. We´ll first revise the present irregular forms and then we´ll have a look at the past ones.

In this lecture we´ll have another look at the vocabulary we´ve learned in this section. 

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.

In this section our subject is the verb. This time we´ll learn some commonly used verbal constructions.

Sometimes it doesn´t matter who does something. What matters is the action itself. In such cases you use constructions like one says, they do or you know in English. In this lecture we’ll see how to make such impersonal constructions in Spanish.

Gerunds, which are the subject of this lecture, are widely used in Spanish. They correspond to the English present participles ending in –ing. We´ll see how to make the regular forms of gerunds and learn a few irregular ones.

In Spanish we can use progressive forms to emphasize that something is being done at the moment or is being done over and over again. We use gerunds in such constructions. In this lecture we´ll see how it works.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to say that we are still doing something, that we keep doing something or go on doing something.

Infinitives are used in a couple of ways in Spanish. In this lecture we´ll see how they are used after prepositions and as nouns.

Infinitives can be used as objects after some verbs of senses. In this lecture we´ll see how to do it. We´ll also talk about the word order in such sentences according to whether the nominal object is a noun or a pronoun.

In this lecture we´ll talk about a common and useful construction with the verb volver, which is used to say that we do something again.

In this lecture we´ll talk about a construction that corresponds to the English to be going to and, just like in English, is used to talk about plans and intentions, but also about predictions based on current circumstances.

In this lecture we´ll discuss yet another common constructions that can be translated into English in a couple of ways. This construction makes use of the verb estar.

Infinitives in Spanish are also used as imperatives and in instructions. This is the subject of this lecture.

One of the most typical Spanish constructions with an infinitive is that with the word al at the beginning. It refers to the time something happens. In this lecture we´ll see how to use it.

We already know present participles. In this lecture we´ll talk about the other type of participles, the past participles, which we will in a later section use to construct compound tenses. Here we´ll start with regular ones.

A couple of verbs have irregular past participle forms. In this lecture we´ll have a look at them.

In this lecture we´ll discuss some constructions with past participles. These constructions are usually translated into English either by means of analogous English constructions or by full clauses.

In this short lecture we´ll have a look at one more verbal construction. This one is used to justify your reasons and is quite popular in everyday language.

In this lecture we´ll have another look at the vocabulary we´ve learned in this section.

In this lecture we’ll recapitulate on the vocabulary we’ve learned in this section.

In Section 10 we’ll be talking about a couple of words and constructions that are used to describe and specify other words. These include possessive pronouns, adverbs of intensity and relative pronouns among others.

Possessive pronouns may be used on their own or with a noun. They are used in a bit different way than in English. Sometimes they are accompanied by an article, sometimes not. In this lecture we’ll discuss it in detail.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to say that one thing is the same as another. The Spanish word we´ll be using a lot in this lecture is mismo and we´ll also have a look at a couple of other uses of this word.

In this lecture we´ll learn how to describe degree and intensity. We will learn words that can be used to say that something is very big, so big, not very big, quite big, etc. 

Relative pronouns are used to introduce clauses that modify nouns. There are a couple of them like which, who, whose, where or when. We will discuss them one by one in this lecture.

It´s been quite a short section. Still, there is some vocabulary to revise and that´s what we´re about to do in this lecture.

In this lecture we’ll summarize what we’ve learned in this section.