Blog
Short guides to the parts of Spanish verbs that trip people up.
Ser vs estar: how to choose, with 30 examples
Both mean "to be", but they're not interchangeable. A simple way to pick between ser and estar, the common traps, and 30 example sentences.
Preterite vs imperfect: one question that settles it
Compare two common Spanish past tenses, the preterite and imperfect. Learn when to use each, with side-by-side examples and common mistakes.
The 10 most irregular Spanish verbs, and their patterns
Ser, ir, tener, hacer and six more: the most irregular Spanish verbs, grouped by the patterns they share so they're easier to remember.
Stem-changing verbs (e→ie, o→ue, e→i) explained
Why pensar becomes pienso and dormir becomes duermo: the three stem changes, the "boot" rule for which forms change, and how they behave in other tenses.
When to use the Spanish subjunctive: the WEIRDO triggers
The subjunctive follows wishes, emotions, doubt and more. Use the WEIRDO memory aid to spot when you need it, with examples for each trigger.
Reflexive verbs: what the "se" really does
Levantarse, llamarse, acostarse: how Spanish reflexive verbs work, where the pronoun goes, and how the meaning changes when you add se.