Happy Holidays

00:55 

¡Felices Fiestas!

To wish a colleague or classmate Happy Holidays before leaving on Christmas vacation, you can say: 

¡Felices Vacaciones!

Merry Christmas

01:25 

¡Feliz Navidad!

Happy New Year

01:36

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! 

I wish you a happy New Year! 

Addressing a friend: 

Te deseo un próspero año nuevo.

Addressing a group of people:

Les deseo un próspero año nuevo. 

Happy 2026!

02:33

¡Feliz dos mil veintiséis!

📚 ¡Gracias por estudiar español médico con nosotros!  

If you like this podcast, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Así podemos llegar a más gente. ¡Gracias!

Table of Contents

Moretones

3:54

Quemaduras

6:21

Cortadas

8:45

Desgarros / Desgarres

10:25

Roturas

13:22

Torceduras

14:55

Cierre

16:20

Vocabulario Dental

2:24

Tooth
El diente

Teeth
Los dientes

Teeth, as in the set of teeth when speaking of their overall condition
La dentadura

You have good teeth. 
Tiene una buena dentadura.

Molar
La muela

Molars
Las muelas

Often ‘las muelas’ refers to teeth in general and not specifically to molars.

Toothache
El dolor de muelas

Wisdom teeth
Las muelas del juicio
Las cordales

Gums
Las encías

The mouth
La boca

The tongue
La lengua

Jaw
La quijada
La mandíbula

To bite
Morder (irregular)

The bite
La mordida

The overbite
La sobremordida

To chew
Masticar

To grind the teeth
Rechinar los dientes

Sensitive
Sensible

Francisco’s school in Guatemala

6:05

Making If-Then Statements

Vocabulary

1:24

la vacuna
vaccine

el núcleo
nucleus

el ADN
DNA

Hypothetical If-Then Statement 

1:54

Además, la vacuna nunca entra en el núcleo donde se encuentra el ADN y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN.

aun si
even if

Y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN.
And even if it did enter the nucleus, it would have no way to change your DNA.

• This is a CONDITIONAL (IF-THEN) STATEMENT, where we use the IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE to present the HYPOTHETICAL condition (“y aun si entrara en el núcleo”) and we use the CONDITIONAL to present the result of that condition (“no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN”).

Hypothetical vs Possible and AUNQUE

3:29

• When making a conditional statement using AUN SI it acts just like SI, where we can use either the IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE (hypothetical possibility) or the INDICATIVE (likely possibility). It canNOT be followed by the PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.
  • Practice conditional statements in Spanish. Quiz #5 – The Subjunctive in Conditional Statements and More (Free lesson). Spanish Grammar members see: Subj15 Conditional Statements and Subj16 Conditional Statements

•  You may recall that you can use AUNQUE + PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE to say, “even if.”
  • Discussion of AUN SI and AUNQUE in Word Reference
  • In this premium lesson we explain AUNQUE + SUBJUNTIVO = “even if”: Quiz # 4 – The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses (Free lesson). Spanish Grammar members see: Subj14 How and Where. AUNQUE, unlike AUN SI, it can be used with either the imperfect or the present subjunctive. 

Practice 

4:05

Y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN.
And even if it did enter the nucleus, it would have no way to change your DNA.

Aunque la vacuna entre en el núcleo, no tendrá manera de cambiar su ADN.
Even if the vaccine enters the nucleus, it will not have a way to change your DNA.

Aun si la vacuna entra en el núcleo no tiene manera de cambiar su ADN.
Even if the vaccine enters the nucleus, it does not have a way to change your DNA. 

Review

5:29

Hypothetical 

AUN SI / SI + IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE > CONDITIONAL

Y aun si entrara en el núcleo, no tendría manera de cambiar su ADN.

Possible 

AUN SI / SI + PRESENT INDICATIVE > PRESENT / FUTURE INDICATIVE 

Aun si la vacuna entra en el núcleo no tiene / tendrá manera de cambiar su ADN.

AUNQUE + PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE > PRESENT / FUTURE INDICATIVE

Aunque la vacuna entre en el núcleo, no tiene / tendrá manera de cambiar su ADN.

• Note: There are other possible combinations (e.g. Si + present indicative > conditional), but these represent the most common ones.

Related Lessons

• How the Covid Vaccines Work in Spanish (Free) and How the Covid Vaccines Work in Spanish – Premium
• Quiz #5 – The Subjunctive in Conditional Statements and More (free) 
• Discussion of AUN SI and AUNQUE in Word Reference
• Quiz # 4 – The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses (Free lesson with Aunque) 
• Subj14 How and Where (Member lesson) 
• Subj15 Conditional Statements (Member lesson) 
• Subj16 Conditional Statements (Member lesson) 

LEVEL – INTERMEDIATE

Explicamos la gramática

0:44

In the module covering Spanish for the Evaluation of Vertigo, we reviewed the following question by the physical therapist:

¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces?
(Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?)

I am guessing that some of you struggled with the following phrase:

cuando le dieron mareos
(when you experienced dizziness -o- when you got dizzy)

Here, we use LE to refer to “you” (used), and the verb DAR acts like the verb GUSTAR, where the subject of the verb in English corresponds to the object of the verb in Spanish.

You got dizzy. >>> Le dieron mareos.

In English, “you” is the subject of the verb. In Spanish, you (usted) is the object of the verb and is expressed by the pronoun “le.”

Let’s look at another example.

I get chills. >>> Me dan escalofríos.

In English, “I” is the subject of the verb. When we interpret this in Spanish, I become the object of the verb, which is expressed by the pronoun “me.”

Ejemplos Interactivos

3:23

¿Te dieron escalofríos?
Did you get chills? 

Me da dolor de estómago después de comer.
I get a stomachache after eating.

¿Cuándo le da dolor en el pecho?
When do you get pain in your chest? (addressing the patient as usted)

Me dan calambres en las piernas por la noche.
I get leg cramps at night.

¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces?
Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?

¿Quieres Practicar Más?

4:43

• Join our membership and unlock access to over 400 interactive lessons across all our courses. Learn Medical Spanish by listening and responding in real-life scenarios to build confidence and fluency quickly.

• Member? Access our modules on Reverse Construction Verbs

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher from Español Sin Límite in Guatemala.

Hola! Me alegra mucho estar de vuelta. I am very happy to be back podcasting about Spanish grammar! My last grammar podcasts were in June, when we covered Spanish verbs with prepositions. In this lesson, we are going to learn why the adjective sometimes goes before the noun in Spanish.

Where have I been all summer?

I also host the Medical Spanish Podcast and with the help of my Spanish teacher from the San Pedro Spanish School, Elizabeth Cortez and my friend and interpreter, Sonja Um-Siri, I have been busy making audio lessons that cover Spanish for prenatal care. We cover a lot of grammar in the medical Spanish lessons and they are made to help us communicate with our patients. Therefore, even non-medical providers understand them and find them useful for learning conversational Spanish.

What motivated me to start podcasting about Spanish grammar again?

I just took part in an incredible course called Deliberate Spanish offered by a guy named Nacho from Spain. He also has a  fantastic YouTube channel: NachoTime Spanish.  As the name implies, the Deliberate Spanish course taught me to be more deliberate when I practice Spanish. For example, instead of just watching Casa de Flores, I often make it into a study session. When I hear a new word or phrase, I write it down to study later.  Then I organize what I learn into mi cuaderno de dudas, and mi cuaderno de dudas has now become the inspiration for the Spanish Grammar Podcast!

Why does the adjective sometimes go before the noun?

2:25

Now let’s talk about adjectives and the where and why of adjective placement. When you are first learning Spanish, you learn that the you must place the adjective after the noun. However, as you advance in your Spanish-speaking ability, you start to notice that the adjective often goes before the noun.  You may even find yourself instinctively placing an adjective before a noun, but when you stop to wonder why, you can’t say. Well, in this lesson, we are going to learn why the adjective sometimes goes before the noun through interactive examples. I hope you find it helpful. Onward!

Inherent Characteristic

3:03

Usually adjectives follow the nouns they describe, but when an adjective describes an inherent or assumed quality it is usually placed before the noun.

The city is covered in WHITE snow.
La ciudad está cubierta de BLANCA nieve.

OJO: Note the use of the preposition DE in this phrase: “cubierta de nieve.”

I want to see the TALL building of New York.
Quiero ver los ALTOS edificios de Nueva York.

Be careful in the STRONG mountain winds.
Ten cuidado con el FUERTE viento de las montañas.

OJO: Note the use of the preposition CON in this phrase: “ten cuidado con….”

We must take advantage of this PRECIOUS life.
Hay que aprovechar esta PRECIOSA vida.

OJO: Note the absence a preposition after APROVECHAR: “aprovechar esta vida”

In all the above examples, the adjective adds unnecessary information. O sea… If you omit the adjective, the meaning of the sentence would not change.

Subjective, Opinion

5:20

Adjectives may also precede the nouns they describe when they reflect a subjective characteristic or opinion about something.

I love these BEAUTIFUL gardens.
Me encantan estos hermosos jardines.

I’m enjoying a WONDERFUL day.
Estoy disfrutando de un MARAVILLOSO día.

It left me with this LONG scar.
Me dejó con esta LARGA cicatriz.

They always have GOOD parties.
Los Hernandez siempre tienen BUENAS fiestas.

I have GOOD news.
Tengo BUENAS noticias.

Qualifying something as the BEST or WORST

It’s the WORST movie of 2008.
Es la PEOR película del 2008.

It’s the BEST coffee in town.
Es el MEJOR café de la ciudad.

Followinng the Exclamation QUÉ

7:20

Often we give our opinion about something in an exclamation preceded by the word “qué.” In this case, the adjective falls before the noun.

What a beautiful country.
¡Qué hermoso país!

What a cute puppy!
¡Qué lindo cachorro!

However, when you throw in an adverb, such as más or tan, the adjective then follows the noun.

What a cute puppy! (más)
¡Qué cachorro más lindo!

What a boring lesson! (tan)
¡Qué lección tan aburrida!

Quantity

8:36

When we use adjectives to describe the quantity of something we place them before the nouns.

We have SOME books.
Tenemos ALGUNOS libros.

The snow covers the ENTIRE city.
La nieve cubre TODA la ciudad.

You have a LOT of patience.
Tienes MUCHA paciencia.

I don’t have ENOUGH time.
No tengo SUFICIENTE tiempo.

As in many of the examples in the earlier sections, you could also place SUFICIENTE after the noun here.

I have LITTLE energy today.
Tengo POCA energía hoy.

I’m looking for ANOTHER opportunity.
(Busco o) Estoy buscando OTRA oportunidad.

Turn right at the FIRST stoplight.
Gire / Doble a la derecha en el PRIMER semáforo.

I’m carrying TOO MANY books.
Llevo DEMASIADOS libros.

I have SEVERAL ideas.
Tengo VARIAS ideas.

Gracias por escuchar y Hasta la próxima.

Si tienes alguna pregunta, no dudes en dejar un comentario.

While studying at the San Pedro Spanish School, my friend Sonja and I interviewed a family practice doctor from San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. Dr. Francisco Méndez tells us about perinatal care in Guatemala and the essential role played by las comadronas (midwives). Without the comadronas, he says, Guatemala’s health care system would collapse.

We interviewed him at his new 10-bed hospital, where he hosts foreign students from Canada and the United States who volunteer through the San Pedro Comprehensive Health Project. During their time at the hospital, volunteers learn about Guatemala’s culture, health care system, and traditional medicine.

Members: Access premium lessons: Reproductive Health – Provider Interviews. 

Not a member yet? Check out all our free lessons covering Culture and Reproductive Health!

LEVEL -INTERMEDIATE

Table of Contents

• 0:51 Learn About Culture and Healthcare in Guatemala
• 4:08 The Essential Role of las Comadronas
• 7:43 Working Collaboratively with las Comadronas

Learn About Culture and Healthcare in Guatemala

0:51

Vocabulary

los estudiantes extranjeros
foreign students

los voluntarios médicos
medical volunteers

los voluntarios no médicos
non-medical volunteers

el sistema de salud
healthcare system

la medicina tradicional
traditional medicine

la comadrona, partera
midwife

el parto
birth, delivery

2:57

Entrevista

Molly

Doctor Francisco, ¿nos podría explicar un poco sobre este programa y cómo trabaja usted con los estudiantes extranjeros interesados en la salud?

Dr Méndez

Nosotros empezamos con una pequeña clínica hace aproximadamente 25 años en esta comunidad. Y en los últimos cinco años empezamos a construir este hospital de aproximadamente 10 días camas… y estamos recibiendo voluntarios médicos y voluntarios no médicos para aprender acerca de la cultura, del sistema de salud de Guatemala, incluyendo el sistema de medicina tradicional que también incluye las comadronas. Y durante este proceso los estudiantes, principalmente de Estados Unidos y Canadá, aprenden también un poco del idioma.

Molly

Wow. Me parece un programa o una experiencia increíble para los estudiantes interesados en la salud y voy a poner un enlace en la página web para los interesados.

Dr Mendez

Perfecto.

The Essential Role of las Comadronas

4:08

Vocabulario

los controles prenatales
prenatal visits or check-ups

colapsar
to collapse

el sistema de salud colapsaría
the healthcare system would collapse

proveedor
provider

las mujeres embarazadas
pregnant women

el cuidado
care

el cuidado de mujeres embarazadas
the care of pregnant women

cubrir
to cover

cubrir el noventa por ciento de los controles prenatales
to cover 90% of prenatal visits

atender
to take care of

atender el parto
to deliver a baby

6:24

Entrevista

Molly

Antes que nada, quiero agradecerle por compartir su experiencia con nosotros. Y ahora, pasando al tema de los controles prenatales…. hemos escuchado, Sonja yo hemos escuchado que muchas mujeres para su cuidado prenatal y ¿qué opina usted sobre el trabajo que ellas realizan?

Dr Méndez

Sin las comadronas, el sistema de salud de Guatemala colapsaría. El trabajo… las comadronas por muchos años han sido los principales proveedores del cuidado de mujeres embarazadas en las comunidades del área rural de Guatemala. Entonces, ellas hacen un gran trabajo. Probablemente en este momento. Ellas están cubriendo tal vez el 90% de los controles prenatales de embarazos normales y probablemente al menos un 70% de los partos son atendidos por comadronas. Y yo personalmente nací con la ayuda de una comadrona.

Molly

¿Y su mamá es comadrona?

Dr Méndez

Y mi mamá es comadrona. Así es.

Working Collaboratively with las Comadronas

7:43

Vocabulario

colaborar
to collaborate

el conocimiento
knowledge

efectivo
effective

la episiotomía
episiotomy

de forma colaborativa
in a collaborative manner

el respeto
respect

el personal
staff, personnel

9:19

Entrevista

Molly

Entonces ¿cómo colabora usted con las comadronas? Por ejemplo, hay mujeres que usan los dos servicios, los servicios médicos y los servicios de comedrona.

Dr Méndez

Es una buena pregunta, porque en realidad no es que… digamos, es… sea como que nosotros colaboremos con…. es, sino que más bien nosotros aprendemos de ellas. O sea ellas tienen un conocimiento de muchos años…. basado en condiciones de evidencia médica que es muchas veces más efectivo que, que lo que algunas veces aprendemos nosotros en las universidades. Un ejemplo sencillo de esto que yo aprendí de ellas es de que cuando yo salí de la de la universidad hace muchos años, me enseñaron a hacer episiotomía para mujeres que tienen su primer bebé. Pero después de observar y trabajar colaborativamente con las comadronas, yo ahora yo no hago episiotomía. Entonces, este… esto es algo como conocimiento basado en la evidencia del buen trabajo de las comadronas. Entonces, yo lo tomo las comadronas como que ellas me enseñen a mí, no tanto yo a ellas. Entonces esa posición nos ha ayudado a que ellas sientan mucho respeto cuando vienen aquí a nuestro hospital. De hecho, una persona del personal de este hospital es comadrona. ¿Verdad? Entonces, atendemos los partos de forma colaborativa con una comadrona. Es lo que hacemos aquí en este hospital.

Molly

Ah. Qué lindo. Necesitamos más doctores como usted.

Dr Méndez

Gracias.

¡Gracias por escuchar!

As you heard, las comadronas play an essential role in the healthcare system of Guatemala and Dr. Méndez has great respect for the work they do. To learn more about the work of a comadrona, check out the interview with la comadrona Ester.

Listen to more interviews from Guatemala and Mexico under CULTURE. 

¡Hasta pronto!

The lessons offered at docmolly.com are a fun way to practice medical Spanish. They are not intended to teach medicine or provide medical advice. These lessons are intended to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients, but they are not intended to substitute for a qualified medical interpreter.

Verbo + A

1:24

ACOSTUMBRARSE A

ENSEÑAR A, APRENDER A (To teach / learn)

ATREVERSE A

AYUDAR A

EMPEZAR A, COMENZAR A, ECHARSE A, PONERSE A (To begin)

DISPONERSE A.

DECIDIRSE A

INVITAR A

OBLIGAR A

NEGARSE A

RESOLVERSE A

LIMITARSE A

VOLVER A

Verbo + CON

3:40

AMENAZAR CON

CONTAR CON

SOÑAR CON

CONTENTARSE CON

Verbo + DE

4:59

ACABAR DE

ACORDARSE DE, OLVIDARSE DE

ARREPENTIRSE DE

CANSARSE DE

DEJAR DE, PARAR DE (To stop doing something)

ENCARGARSE DE, OCUPARSE DE (To take charge of something)

TRATAR DE

OJO: TRATAR DE is also used to say “to be about.”

Learn the difference between TRATAR DE y TRATARSE DE and why it is probably wrong to say, “El libro se trata de su vida,” at least according to strict grammarians. ;)

Verbo + EN

6:35

DUDAR EN

CONSENTIR EN, CONVENIR EN, QUEDAR EN (To agree to do something)

EMPEÑARSE EN

INSISTIR EN

ESFORZARSE EN

TARDAR EN

Rellenemos los Huecos

This audio quiz is part of the premium lesson: Spanish Verbs with Prepositions. I read a short story about our cat Schnookies.  As I read, I leave pauses for you to fill in the blanks with the correct preposition. 

Nuestro gato siempre insiste __ salir. Se niega __ quedarse en casa más de cuatro horas por vez. Y si tardamos __ llegar a la puerta para dejarlo salir, se pone __ llorar. ¿Y por qué se empeña __ salir? Porque sueña __ cazar conejitos y pajaritos. Justo después de salir por la puerta se echa __ correr al bosque para cazar. Mi marido, a quien le encantan los pajaritos, se cansa __ ver a nuestro gato cazándolos. Por eso, se esfuerza __ enseñar a nuestro Schnookies __ no cazar los pajaritos. Cuando ve a Schnookies persiguiendo a un pajarito, comienza __ gritar, “¡No! ¡No!” Y amenaza  __ mojarlo con un balde de agua. ¿Qué opinas? ¿Schnookies va a dejar __ cazar pajaritos? ¡Lo dudo mucho!; Schnookies es muy listo pero es un gato, No puedes entrenar a un gato.

¡Gradias por Escuchar!

If you have any questions about this lesson, please leave a comment below.

In this audio lesson, we practice when to use the Spanish verbs TRAER and LLEVAR.  TRAER is used to say “to bring,” and LLEVAR is used to say “to bring” or “to take.” Unlike their English counterparts, the Spanish verbs TRAER and LLEVAR imply a certain direction of movement. This can be a bit confusing for non-native Spanish speakers. Pero no pasa nada. After listening to this audio Spanish lesson packed with examples, you’ll know exactly when to use TRAER and when to use LLEVAR.

But wait! There’s more! After we pin down when to use TRAER vs. LLEVAR, we’ll focus on the reflexive verb LLEVARSE and then practice conjugating the irregular verb TRAER in the present and preterite tenses.

Sample Dialogue

0:55

Molly (M) está en la sala de estar y Aaron (A) está en la cocina.

M: ¿Me traes una cerveza?
A: Cómo no. Te la llevo.

(Aaron va a la sala de estar y ahora está con Molly en la sala de estar.)

A: Aquí tiene. ¿Te traigo algo más?
M: Gracias mi amor. ¿Me traes un sandwich?

(Aaron regresa a la cocina.)

A: Te lo llevo enseguida.

Direction Implied with Llevar and Traer

2:27 

LLEVAR
Llevar is used when you are taking something from your current location to another location. Llevar often translates as “to take” in English.

If I’m in the cocina and my husband is in the sala de estar, how would I say, “I’ll bring it to you”?

Te lo llevo.

TRAER
Traer is used when you are bringing something to your current location. In English, it usually translates as “to bring.”

If I’m in the living room with my husband, how would I say, “I’ll bring it to your”?

Te lo traigo.

Situation 1 – Bring Your Books to Class

3:48 

(En clase)

Profesora: Por favor, traigan sus libros a clase mañana.

(En casa)

Estudiante: Llevo mi libro a clase hoy.

Situation 2 – I Brought the Dog to the Vet

4:28 

A husband is talking to his wife. They are both at home.

Llevé al perro al veterinario ayer.
Y cuando llegué, vi que nuestro vecino había traído a su perro también.

Situation 3 – Bring Me the Report

5:10 

(En la oficina) Two colleagues are at work. Colleague A goes up to the desk of Colleague B and asks…

A: ¿Tienes el informe que te traje ayer?
B: No. Lo llevé a casa.
A: ¿Me lo traes mañana?

(Colega B en casa) Colleague B says to her husband…

B: Tengo que llevar este informe al trabajo mañana.

6:19

OJO: When you could use “take” instead of “bring,” use LLEVAR.

The Reflexive Verb LLEVARSE

6:40 

LLEVARSE – to take away, to take with you.

When you notice your purse (cartera) is missing….

Alguien se la llevó.

More examples:

Llévate a tu hermano.

Puedes llevarte las sobras a casa.

Conjugate the Irregular Verb TRAER

8:16 

Present
Traigo
Traes
Trae
Traemos
Traéis
Traen

Preterite
Traje
Trajiste
Trajo
Trajimos
Trajisteis
Trajeron

¡Gracias por escuchar!

Want to learn more?

10:02 

Listen to more lessons covering common Spanish verbs:

• ACABAR
• QUEDAR vs QUEDARSE 

Become a member! We cover the subjunctive in depth with a series of 20 premium audio lessons.  Instead of sitting in front of a grammar book or computer, you can be on a walk as you interact with the audio lessons, speak Spanish, and master tricky grammatical concepts.

Member?

Access our Spanish Grammar module covering VERBS.

Leave a comment!

If you have questions or feedback, leave a comment or send me an email at molly@docmolly.com. Gracias por escuchar y hasta la próxima!

The best way to learn the subjunctive is to practice using the subjunctive out loud. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback about my series of 20 interactive audio lessons covering the subjunctive, so I decided I would feature a premium lesson from the subjunctive series in my blog.  This will give you a taste of the premium lessons in my Spanish Grammar Subscription. Today I will feature a premium lesson: “Subj05 – Influence, Emotion, & Judgment.”

Influence, Emotion, and Judgement Triggers the Subjunctive

This lesson covers the use of the subjunctive following a main clause that expresses one of the following attitudes:

• influence
• emotion
• judgment

Subordinate Noun Clause

0:26

In this premium lesson, you will hear me refer to the subordinate noun clause. You don’t need to understand the term subordinate noun clause to understand this lesson, but if you’re curious, check out this quiz on the subjunctive in subordinate noun clauses.

When the main clause exerts influence over the subordinate clause,  the subjunctive is triggered. Compare the use of the indicative vs the subjunctive in the following examples:

1. Es cierto que voy mañana. (It’s true that I go tomorrow.)
   • I am simply reporting reality, and thus the indicative is used.
2. Es urgente que vaya mañana. (It’s urgent that I go tomorrow.) 
   • Here, I am trying to influence the outcome of the action in the subordinate noun clause, and thus the subjunctive is used.

What is an Impersonal Expression?

1:33

“Es urgente” is an example of an impersonal expression. It is called an impersonal expression because no personal subject is expressed.

Verbs and impersonal expressions exert influence over the outcome of the action/event that follows when they express desire, need, hope, urgency, advice, or a request/command. 

Additionally, when the main clause expresses an emotional reaction or value judgment, the subjunctive is triggered.

Don’t worry if you are a little overwhelmed. The best learning comes from doing. After we go through the examples below, you’ll have it down.

Now, SPEAK SOME SPANISH!

Impersonal Expressions of Influence

2:18

Es urgente que termines rápido.
(It’s urgent that you finish quickly.)

OJO: If NO SUBJECT IS SPECIFIED, the impersonal expression is followed by the INFINITIVE.

Es urgente terminar rápido.
(It’s urgent to finish quickly.)

Es importante que sigamos las reglas.
(It’s important that we follow the rules.)

Es importante seguir las reglas.
(It’s important to follow the rules.)

Era obligatorio asistir a clase.
(It was mandatory to attend class.)

Era obligatorio que nosotros asistiéramos / asistiésemos a clase.
(It was mandatory that we attended class.)

Fue preciso hablar con ellos.
(It was necessary to speak to them.)

Fue preciso que Monica hablara / hablase con ellos.
(It was necessary that Monica spoke with them.)

No hace falta que lo digan.
(They do not need to say it.)

No hace falta decirlo.
(There’s no need to say it.)

Urge que pongamos manos a la obra.
(It’s urgent that we get to work.)

Urge poner manos a la obra.
(It’s urgent to get to work.)

Expressing Emotion or Judgement

6:06

When the main clause expresses an emotional reaction or value judgment, with regards to the verb in the subordinate noun clause, the subjunctive is used. When there is no change in the subject, an infinitive follows.

Me alegro de estar aquí.
(I’m glad to be here.)

Me alegro de que hayas venido.
(I’m glad you have come.)

OJO: This could also be translated as, “I’m glad you came.” We use the present perfect subjunctive to describe past events that are relevant to the present moment.

Siento que tengas que irte.
(I’m sorry you have to go.)

Siento tener que irme.
(I’m sorry I have to go.

Siento que no me escuchas.
(I feel like you aren’t listening to me.)

OJO: When we use SENTIR to express our perceived reality, we follow it with the indicative.

Lamento no haber respondido antes.
(I’m sorry for not responding sooner.)

Lamento que no hayamos respondido antes.
(I’m sorry we have not responded sooner.)

OJO: Just like above, this could also be translated as, “I’m sorry we did not respond sooner. We use the PRESENT PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE to describe past events relevant to the present moment.

Le sorprendió que ya hubiera / hubiese pasado un año.
(It surprised her that a year had already gone by.)

Nos enfadó que no hubiera / hubiese cumplido el contracto.
(It angered us that he had not fulfilled the contract.)

Nos gustó que bailaras / bailases en la boda.
(We liked that you sang at the wedding.)

Me gustó bailar en la boda.
(I liked dancing at the wedding.)

No aguanto mentir.
(I can’t stand lying.)

No aguanto que nos mienta.
(I can’t stand that he lies to us.)

Tienen miedo de hacerlo.
(They’re afraid to do it.)

Tienen miedo de que lo hagas.
(They’re afraid that you will do it.)

Tememos que se entere de la verdad.
(We fear that he will find out the truth.)

OJO: Temerse, to acknowledge a regrettable fact, is followed by the indicative.

Me temo que no podemos ir.
(I’m afraid we can’t go.)

Impersonal Expressions of Emotion or Judgement

12:10

Es una lástima desecharlo.
(It’s a shame to throw it out.)

Es una lástima que lo deseches.
(It’s a shame that you are throwing it out.)

Fue bueno dormir un rato.
(It was good to get some sleep.)

Fue bueno que durmieras / durmiesen en casa.)
(It was good that you got some sleep.)

No está bien estar aquí solo.
(It’s not okay to be here alone.)

No está bien que hayas estado aquí sola.
(It’s not okay that you have been here alone.)

Es malo no obedecerla.
(It’s bad not to obey her.)

Es malo que no la obedezcan.
(It’s bad they don’t obey her.)

Estuvo mal reaccionar así.
(It was bad to react that way.)

Estuvo mal que reaccionara / reaccionase así.
(It was bad that she reacted like that.)

OJO: We use the adjectives MALO y BUENO after SER and the adverbs MAL and BIEN after the verb ESTAR.

Más vale llegar a tiempo.
(It’s better to arrive on time.)

Más vale que llegues a tiempo.
(You better arrive on time.)

Vocabulary

Perdone
Excuse me.

La cafeteria
Cafeteria

El sótano
Basement

Baje al sótano.
Go down to the basement.

El pasillo, el corredor
Hall(way)

Siga el pasillo.
Follow the hall.

A la derecha / izquierda
To the right / left

El ascensor
Elevator

Al salir del ascensor
As you leave the elevator

Doble/gire a la derecha/izquierda
Turn right/left

A mano derecha/izquierda
On the right-hand/left-hand side

Asking for and Giving Directions

Perdone, ¿Dónde está la cafetería?
Excuse me. Where is the cafeteria?

Está en el sótano.
It’s in the basement.

¿Cómo se va / se llega allí?
How do you get there?

Siga (por) este pasillo y usted verá el ascensor a la derecha.
Follow this hallway and you’ll see the elevator to your right.

Baje al sótano.
Go down basement.

Al salir del ascensor, doble/gire a la izquierda.
As you exit the elevator, turn left.

Verá la cafeteria a mano derecha.
You will see the cafeteria on the right-hand side.

Want to learn more?

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Member? Access the Directions in Spanish module. 

Do you know when to use POR vs PARA?

Today’s podcast is a quiz on the Spanish prepositions POR y PARA. It kicks off a series of audio lessons that will cover these two prepositions at docmolly.com.

Grammar Points from the Interview

“Fíjese que para ser curandero uno no aprende, no le enseñan.”

Fijarse

Fíjate que son muy caros.
Look, they are very expensive.

Fíjese que para ser curandero uno no aprende.
You see, to be a curandero one doesn’t learn.

The Third Person Plural to Express a Passive Action in Spanish

“No le enseñan.”
One is not taught.

Me ingresaron en el hospital.
I was admitted to the hospital.

Le enseñaron a respetar a los mayores.
She was taught to respect her elders.

Sino Que

“No le enseñan, sino que lo trae desde el vientre de la madre.”
One isn’t taught, rather one gets it from the womb of the mother.

No me riñeron, sino que me animaron.
They did not scold me, instead, they encouraged me.

Want to learn more?

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Listen to the Part 1 of the interview with a folk healer, Francisco Chavajay.

Member? Access the…

• The premium grammar episode
• The premium Folk Medicine series

I highly recommend San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala. My niece and I had an amazing experience living with a host family and studying at the school. Listen to this podcast to hear more about our experience.

Practice the confusing difference between quedar and quedarse with this interactive quiz. Whether you are using it to say “to stay,” “to meet up,” or “to run out of,” mastering these two forms is essential for natural Spanish.

Below are several common examples to test your knowledge. For a deep dive into the grammar, check out our essential guide to Quedarse here.

Staying and meeting up

Me quedé en casa de un amigo.

(I stayed at a friend’s house.)

Se quedó pensativa un largo rato.

(She stayed lost in thought for a long time.)

Quedamos a las siete en la plaza.

(We’re meeting at seven at the plaza.)

La escuela queda a tres millas de aquí.

(The school is 3 miles from here.)

Agreements & Impressions

(Ellos) Quedaron en ir hoy.

(They decided/agreed to go today.)

Él siempre queda bien con las chicas.

(He always makes a good impression with the girls.)

Esa corbata queda bien con tus ojos.

(That tie goes well with your eyes.)

Remaining & Running Out

Nos quedan tres invitaciones por escribir.

(We have three invitations left to write.)

Quedan cinco días para Navidad.

(There are five days left until Christmas.)

Aún queda comida.

(There’s still food left.)

¿Te quedaste sin dinero?

(Did you run out of money?)

No nos queda más remedio que operar.

(We have no choice.) 

¡Siempre se me quedan los guantes en casa!

(I always leave my gloves at home.)

Ready to dive deeper? If you want to master the grammar behind these examples, check out our comprehensive guide: Mastering the Spanish Verb Quedarse.

Unlock the Audio Lessons: Members get access to two full interactive audio lessons covering every nuance of Quedar and Quedarse. Become a member here to start practicing with our audio flashcards today!

Are you ready to take on some advanced Spanish grammar? This audio quiz reviews the material covered in the following premium audio lessons.

Subjunctive 15 – Conditional (If… then… ) Statements About the Present
Subjunctive 16 – Conditional Statements About the Past
Subjunctive 17 – The Subjunctive Following “Como Si”
Subjunctive 18 – The Subjunctive Following “Ojalá”
Subjunctive 19 – “No Matter How Much” in Spanish
Subjunctive 20 – La Forma Reduplicativa

This audio lesson is a quiz on the use of the subjunctive in adverbial clauses. It reviews the material covered in the following premium lessons.

• Subjunctive 10 and 11 – Conjunctions that Require the Subjunctive (e.g., a menos que, con tal que)
• Subjunctive 12 and 13 – Adverbial Clauses of Time
• Subjunctive 14 – Adverbial Clauses that Describe How or Where

Conjunctions that Require the Subjunctive

LLOVER
I will bring my umbrella IN CASE it rains.
Llevaré mi paraguas EN CASO DE QUE llueva.

ACOMPAÑAR
I will help you AS LONG AS you come with me to the theatre tonight.
Te ayudaré CON TAL (DE) QUE me acompañes al teatro esta noche.

CREER
I am going to show it to Miguel SO THAT he believes me.
Voy a enseñárselo a Miguel PARA QUE me crea.

TENER
They created this group SO THAT we would have a safe place to talk.
Ellos crearon este grupo A FIN DE QUE tuviéramos / tuviésemos un lugar seguro para hablar.

TEMBLAR
I can not do it WITHOUT my hands trembling.
No puedo hacerlo SIN QUE me tiemblen las manos.

No Change in Subjunctive – Use the Infinitive

When the subject does not change, most of these conjunctions can be followed by an infinitive. In this case, QUE is omitted. QUE is required only before a conjugated verb. A MENOS DE QUE is an exception. It is almost always followed by a verb conjugated in the subjunctive mood.

I am on a diet to lose weight.
Estoy a dieta PARA bajar de peso.

We will all have to make sacrifices in order to reach an agreement.
Todos tendremos que hacer sacrificios A FIN DE llegar a un acuerdo.

The Exception – A Menos Que

However, A MENOS QUE (UNLESS) is usually followed by the subjunctive, even when the subject remains the same.

You can not participate UNLESS you follow the rules.
No puedes participar A MENOS QUE sigas las reglas.

Adverbial Clauses of Time

Now you will have to choose when to use the subjunctive or the indicative.

LLEGAR
I prepared the meal before they arrived.
Preparé la comida ANTES DE QUE llegaran / llegasen.
* subjunctive

ESTAR
Call me when you’re ready. (addressing a girlfriend)
Llámame CUANDO estés lista.
* subjunctive

LADRAR
The baby always cries when the dog cries.
El niño siempre llora CUANDO el perro ladra.
* indicative

SONAR
Get up as soon as the alarm clock goes off. (addressing more than one person)
Ustedes levántense EN CUANTO suene la alarma.
* subjunctive

TENER
I visit her whenever I have the chance.
La visito SIEMPRE QUE tengo la oportunidad.
* indicative

SALIR
Put on sunscreen every time you go out in the sun.
Ponte bloqueador SIEMPRE QUE salgas al sol.
* subjunctive

Adverbial Clauses That Describe How and Where

Aunque tiene el dinero, no va a comprar la casa.
Although she has the money, she’s not going to buy the house.

Even if she had the money, she couldn’t buy the house.
Aunque tuviera / tuviese el dinero, no podría comprar la casa.

Let’s go where you want to go.
Vamos donde tú quieres.

Let’s go wherever you want to go.
Vamos donde tú quieras.

Want to learn more?

Check out our other quizzes on the subjunctive! 

• Quiz # 1 – Choose the Correct Tense of the Subjunctive
• Quiz #2 – The Subjunctive in Noun Clauses
• Quiz # 3 – The Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses
• Quiz # 4 – The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses

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Become a member with access to all our Grammar and Medical Spanish lessons. We discuss grammar extensively in all our lessons, so you do not have to work in healthcare to benefit. 

This lesson is a quiz that reviews the use of the subjunctive in adjective clauses covered in the last two lessons.

A subordinate adjective clause describes a noun or pronoun in the main clause of a sentence. When it describes something KNOWN AND SPECIFIC, we use the INDICATIVE. When the subordinate adjective clause describes something NOT YET IDENTIFIED, which may or may not exist, we use the SUBJUNCTIVE.

Continue Reading

What is a Noun Clause?

A subordinate noun clause is introduced by the conjunction QUE. It contains a subject and a conjugated verb and takes the role of a noun within the sentence. Just like a noun, it can act as the subject or the direct object of the verb in the main clause. It answers the question, “What?”

1:45

Identify the subordinate noun clause:

1. Deseo que me acompañes al baile.
¿Qué deseas? … que me acompañes al baile.

2. Es cierto que te voy a acompañar.
¿Cuál es cierto? …. que te voy a acompañar.

3. Me sorprende que Francisco vaya a clase todos los días.
¿Qué te sorprende? … que Francisco vaya a clases todos los días.

When do we use the subjunctive in the subordinate noun clause?

3:07

1. When the main clause expresses INFLUENCE over the action expressed in the subordinate noun clause. For example, when you want, hope, or need something to occur, you express that action or event in the subjunctive.
Ej: Necesito que asistas a clase.

2. When the main clause expresses an EMOTIONAL RESPONSE OR VALUE JUDGEMENT regarding the action or event expressed in the subordinate noun clause.
Ej: Me enfada que ellos fumen en case.

3. When the main clause expresses DENIAL, DOUBT OR UNCERTAINTY regarding the action or event expressed in the subordinate noun clause.
Ej: No estoy segura que puedan ir.

We otherwise use the indicative to simply state our perceived reality.

QUIZ

6:27

Es probable
It will likely rain this afternoon.
Es probable que llueva esta tarde.

Necesito
I need you to come with me.
Necesito que me acompañes.

Deseo
I want to live in Italy.
Deseo vivir en Italia.
I want you to visit me in Italy.
Deseo que me visites en Italia.

Es cierto
It’s true that I work here.
Es cierto que trabajo aqui.

Es importante
It’s importante to keep still.
Es importante quedarse quieto.

It’s important that you keep still.
Es importante que te quedes quieto/a.

No era posible
It wasn’t possible for her to continue working.
No era posible que siguiera / siguiese trabajando.

Me molestó
It bothered me that they hadn’t study for the test.
Me molestó que no hubieran / hubiesen estudiado para el examen.

Te ruego
I beg you to stop.
Te ruego que pares.

Tengo miedo
I’m afraid that they can hear us.
Tengo miedo que nos puedan oír.

Me temo
I’m afraid there are no rooms available.
Me temo que no hay habitaciones disponibles.

Más vale
It’s better to tell the truth.
Más vale decir la verdad.

You better tell the truth.
Más vale que digas la verdad.

Dudaba
I doubted that we could do it.
Dudaba que pudiéramos hacerlo.

EXTRA CREDIT: (Not included in the podcast, as not to cause confusion.)

I doubted that I could do it.
Dudaba que pudiera hacerlo.*
-OR-
Dudaba poder hacerlo.

*Unlike in the examples above involving verbs and expressions of influence, the subjunctive sometimes follow verbs of emotion and doubt even when the subject remains the same.

Want to master the subjunctive in Spanish?

Listen to more free audio lessons covering the subjunctive.
Premium subscribers: Listen to the 20 premium audio lessons covering the subjunctive.
Subscribe to the premium Spanish Grammar Subscription at docmolly.com.

Learn the different uses of the Spanish verb ACABAR. In this audio lesson we practice using the verb ACABAR in different grammatical constructs to mean different things.

ACABAR + DE + INFINITIVE = to have just done something

Acabo de hablar con mamá.
(I just spoke to mom.)

Acabamos de comer.
(We have just eaten.)

Acaba de sacar a pasear al perro.
(He just took the dog for a walk.)

Acaban de regresar.
(They just got back.)

ACABAR + NOUN = to finish something

Acabé mi tarea.
(I finished my homework.)

Acabamos el proyecto.
(We finished the project.)

¿Acabaste el libro?
(Did you finish the book?)

ACABARSE = Something has run out or has been used up

Se acabaron los fondos.
(The funds have been used up.)

Se acabó la batería de mi móvil.
(The battery has run out on my cellphone.)

ACABARSE + pronombre de objeto indirect (TE, ME, LE , NOS) = Someone has run out of something

Se nos acabó la comida.
(We’ve run out of food.)

Se me acabaron las ideas.
(I have run out of ideas.)

Algún día se le va acabar la suerte.
(Someday he is going to run out of luck.)

ACABAR CON = to do away with or put an end to

Quiere acabar con las regulaciones innecesarias.
(She wants to do away with unnecessary regulations.)

La lesión acabó con su carrera deportiva.
(The injury put an end to his careers in sports.)

Acabamos con el odio.
(We put an end to the hatred.)

ACABAR POR + INFINITIVO = to end up doing something

¿Acabaste por volver a pie?
(Did you end up walking back?)

Acabé por no ir a la reunión.
(I ended up not going to the meeting.)

Acabaron por hablar de sus familias.
(They ended up talking about their families.)

ACABAR + GERUNDIO = to end up dong something

Siempre acabamos hablando de trabajo.
(We always end up talking about work.)

Acabaste cantando en el coro.
(You ended up singing in the chorus.)

Acabó enseñando inglés en Ecuador.
(He ended up teaching English in Ecuador. )

¿Acabaste llorando?
(Did you end up crying?)

No, acabé riéndome.
(No, I ended up laughing.)

Want to learn more?

Check out the following free lessons covering Spanish verbs:

• Traer vs Llevar
• Quedar vs Quedarse Quiz
• Spanish Verbs with Prepositions

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🎧 Interactive audio exercises

📄 Downloadable PDF lesson notes

✅ A test to reinforce what you’ve learned.

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Gracias por escuchar. Thanks for listening.

In this audio lesson we practice phrases describing body language in Spanish. While reading in Spanish recently, I took note of several phrases describing gestures or body language, so I decided to make a podcast out of them. First, we’ll practice naming the gestures in Spanish and then we’ll use them in sentences.

Expressing the Duration of an Ongoing Event

In English, we use the present perfect tense, “I have been…,” followed by a gerund (e.g., studying).

In Spanish, we usually use the simple present tense. Three common variations express an action that started in the past and continues into the present.

Hace… que… 

Hace + período de tiempo + que + verbo en el presente.
Hace años que estudio español.

¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que + verbo en el presente?
¿Hace cuánto (tiempo) que + verbo en el presente? (otra opción)
¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que estudias español?

(How long have you been studying Spanish?)

Desde

Verbo en el presente + desde hace + período de tiempo.
Estudio español desde hace años.

And making this into a question using “desde:”
¿Desde cuándo + verbo en el presente?
¿Desde cuándo estudias español?

Llevar

Levar + gerundio + período de tiempo.
Llevo años estudiando español.

OJO: The period of time can go BEFORE OR AFTER the gerund. Also, as we will see in the examples below, the gerund can be replaced by an adjective, an adverb, or a prepositional phrase.  

¿Cuánto tiempo + llevar + gerundio?
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas estudiando español?

We can also use llevar, followed by a location or description, to describe a state that started in the past and continues into the present.

¿Cuánto tiempo llevas en este país?
(How long have you been in this country?)

Ya llevo unos cuantos días.
(I’ve now been here for a few days.)

Hace que 

¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que eres vegetariana?
(How long have you been a vegetarian?)

Hace ocho años que soy vegetariana.
(I have been a vegetarian for eight years.)

¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que vives aquí?
(How long has he been living here?)

Hace tres años que vivo aquí.
(I’ve been living here for 3 years.)

¿Cuánto tiempo hace que tiene problemas con la bebida?
(How long has she had a drinking problem?)

Hace años que tiene problemas con la bebida.
(She’s had a drinking problem for years.)

Hace mucho tiempo que no nos vemos.
(We haven’t seen each other for a long time.)

Hace años que no hablamos.
(We haven’t spoken for years.)

¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que te sientes así?
(How long have you felt this way?)

Hace unos cuantos meses que me siento así.
(I’ve been feeling this way for a few months.)

Desde

¿Desde cuándo trabajas para esa empresa?
(How long have you been working for that company?)

Trabajo para esa empresa desde hace tres años.
(I have been working for that company for three years?)

¿Desde cuándo esperan?
(How long have they been waiting?)

Esperamos desde hace más de una hora.
(We’ve been waiting for more than an hour.)

¿Desde cuándo vive en ese departamento?
(How long has she lived in that apartment?)

Vive en ese departamento desde hace menos de un año.
(She’s lived in that apartment for less than a year.)

¿Desde cuándo entrenas al equipo de fútbol?
(How long have you been coaching the soccer team?)

Entreno al equipo de fútbol desde hace un año.
(I’ve been couching the soccer team for a year.)

¿Desde cuándo tiene estos síntomas?
(How long have you had these symptoms?)

Tengo estos síntomas desde hace una semana.
(I’ve had these symptoms for a week.)

¿Desde cuándo tocas la guitarra?
(How long have you played the guitar?)

Toco la guitarra desde que tenía 11 años.
(I’ve played the guitar since I was 11 years old.)

Llevar

¿Cuánto tiempo llevas entrenándote para el maratón?
(How long have they been training for the marathon?)

Llevo cinco meses entrenándome para el maratón.
(I have been training for the marathon for five months.)

¿Cuánto tiempo lleva comportándose así?
(How long has he been behaving like this?)

Lleva más de un mes comportándose así.
(He’s been acting this way for over a month.)

¿Cuánto tiempo lleva en la cárcel?
(How long has she been in prison?)

Lleva dos semanas en la cárcel.
(She’s been in prison for two weeks.)

¿Cuánto tiempo llevamos aquí?
(How long have we been here?)

Llevamos una semana aquí.
(We’ve been here for a week.)

¿Cuánto tiempo llevas con esta llaga?
(How long have you had this sore?)

Llevo por lo menos un mes con esta llaga.
(I’ve had this sore for at least a month.)

¿Cuánto tiempo llevan casados?
(How long have you been married?)

Llevamos cincuenta y dos años casados.
(We have been married for 52 years.)

¿Cuánto meses llevas de embarazo?
(How many months pregnant are you?)

Llevo seis meses de embarazo.
(I am 6 months pregnant.)

Want to learn more?

Listen to more free Spanish Grammar lessons. 

Become a member! In the premium lessons, we practice using these time expressions to describe actions and events that occurred in the past.

Member? Listen to the premium module: Time Expressions.

Do you know when to use SER vs ESTAR?

Some of you may remember my original Spanish Grammar Review podcast, which I started in 2007. I took a break to focus on the Medical Spanish Podcast and resumed podcasting about Spanish grammar in June 2012. In this first podcast of the “new” Spanish Grammar Review, we take an audio quiz covering when to use SER and when to use ESTAR. I hope you enjoy it.

El concierto ____ en Minneapolis.
(The concert is in Minneapolis.)

¡El pescado ___ rico!
(The fish is delicious!)

Mi casa ____ a 10 kilómetros del centro.
(My house is 10 kilometers from downtown.)

___ yo.
(It’s me.)

El trabajo ____ hecho.
(The work is done.)

Ya ___ tarde.
(It’s already too late.)

¿Cómo ___ el dolor?
(What is the pain like?)

Lo más importante ___ los niños.
(The most important thing is the children.

El cielo ___ azul.
(The sky is blue.)

¡El cielo ___ anaranjado!
(The sky is orange!)

Want to learn more?

Listen to more free Spanish Grammar lessons. 
Members: Access the Ser y Estar module in our Spanish Grammar course!

Practice ways to describe the direction and location of movement.