Subject-Verb Agreement in Spanish: A Simple Explanation
Just like in English, subject-verb agreement in Spanish means that the verb in a sentence must match the subject in number and person. This means that:
* Singular subjects take singular verbs.
* Plural subjects take plural verbs.
* First-person subjects (yo, nosotros/nosotras) use first-person verb forms.
* Second-person subjects (tú, vosotros/vosotras) use second-person verb forms.
* Third-person subjects (él/ella/usted, ellos/ellas/ustedes) use third-person verb forms.
Here's an example:
* Subject: Yo (singular, first person)
* Verb: hablo (singular, first person)
* Sentence: Yo hablo (I speak)
Another example:
* Subject: Los gatos (plural, third person)
* Verb: comen (plural, third person)
* Sentence: Los gatos comen (The cats eat)
Key points to remember:
* Regular verbs: In general, Spanish verb endings clearly indicate the subject.
* Irregular verbs: Some verbs have irregular forms, so it's important to learn their conjugations.
* "Ser" and "Estar": These two verbs have different meanings and different conjugations. It's essential to use the correct one for the situation.
Example of "ser" and "estar":
* Yo soy (I am)
* Yo estoy (I am, in a certain state or location)
Remember, mastering subject-verb agreement is key to speaking and writing correct Spanish.