LoginAuxiliary Verbs For Intermediate learners
What Are Auxiliary Verbs?
Spanish auxiliary verbs (verbos auxiliares) are verbs used with the main verbs to form compound tenses. They carry grammatical information (tense, aspect, mood) while the main verb carries lexical meaning (the action itself).
Spanish Auxiliary Verbs
There are three main auxiliary verbs in Spanish which combine with participle forms of main verbs to make compound tenses:
haber
estar
ser
Haber
"Haber" is used with the past participle of the main verb to form the perfect tenses. In these structures, "haber" conjugates for person, number, and tense. For example:
He leído el libro.
I have read the book.
(present perfect tense: present conjugation of "haber" + past participle of main verb "leer")
Habías llegado tarde.
You had arrived late.
(past perfect tense: imperfect conjugation of "haber" + past participle of main verb "llegar")
Habré terminado para mañana.
I will have finished by tomorrow.
(future perfect tense: future conjugation of "haber" + past participle of main verb "terminar")
Estar
"Estar" is used with the present participle of the main verb to form the progressive tenses. In these compound tense forms, "estar" conjugates for person, number, and tense. For example:
Estoy trabajando.
I am working.
(present progressive: present conjugation "estar" + present participle of the main verb "trabajar")
Estaba leyendo.
I was reading.
(imperfect progressive: imperfect conjugation of "estar" + present participle of the main verb "leer")
Ser
"Ser" is used with the past participle of the main verb to form the passive voice. In these structures, "ser" is conjugated to reflect person, number, and tense. Here are some examples:
El edificio es construido por obreros.
The building is built by workers.
(present passive: present conjugation of "ser" + past participle of the main verb "construir")
La carta fue escrita ayer.
The letter was written yesterday.
(past passive: past conjugation of "ser" + past participle of the main verb "escribir")
La decisión será tomada mañana.
The decision will be made tomorrow.
(future passive: future conjugation of "ser" + past participle of the main verb "tomar")
Negation
To negate a verb phrase that includes an auxiliary verb, the negative marker "no" comes before the auxiliary verb.
Estaba leyendo. → No estaba leyendo.
I was reading. → I was not reading.
He leído el libro. → No he leído el libro.
I have read the book. → I have not read the book.
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