Making statements in Spanish hinges on choosing the right verb forms and word order to clearly convey who does what and when. This guide walks through the essentials so you can express actions, habits, and facts with confidence.
Basic Sentence Structure
Spanish sentences typically follow a Subject-Verb-Object order, but the subject can be omitted when the verb ending makes it clear. Adverbs and time expressions usually slot in near the verb to add detail.
Subject-Verb-Object
The straightforward sequence place the subject first, followed by the verb and then the object or complement. This order feels natural and is easy to follow for learners.
I eat the apple after lunch.
Omitting the Subject
Because Spanish verb endings signal person and number, you can leave out the subject pronoun when it’s understood. This makes sentences more concise and fluid.
Adverbs and Time Expressions
Adverbs and time phrases usually go after the verb or at the sentence start for emphasis. They tweak the meaning by showing when, how, or how often an action happens.
Expressing Habit
To talk about habitual actions, use the present tense for routines and soler + infinitive to highlight repeated behavior. Time expressions like siempre and a menudo reinforce habit.
Present Tense for Habit
The present tense describes regular actions that happen todos los días, cada semana, etc. It’s the default way to state routines.
Using Soler + Infinitive
Soler in the present or past signals customary behavior and sounds natural when you want to emphasize habit. It’s followed by an infinitive.
Habitual Time Expressions
Words like siempre, a menudo, normalmente and frecuentemente cue habitual actions and can appear at the start or end of the sentence for effect.
Describing Actions: Tenses
Choose tense based on whether you describe a completed action, an ongoing event, or a habitual past. The preterite, imperfect, and present each serve different narrative roles.
Preterite for Completed Actions
Use the preterite to narrate actions that finished at a specific time. It’s for clear, bounded events in the past.
Imperfect for Ongoing or Habitual Past
The imperfect describes past routines, background details, or actions in progress. It sets scene and shows repeated behavior.
Present for Current Actions
Use the present tense to state actions happening now, general truths, or ongoing habits. It grounds sentences in the immediate or habitual.
Useful Verbs
Common verbs like decir, poner, tener, and creer frequently appear in statements and can be followed by clauses, infinitives, or time expressions. Mastering their patterns helps you make clear assertions.
Decir (to tell, to say)
Decir can introduce reported speech or be used with an infinitive when followed by a person and an action. It’s handy for relaying information.
Poner (to put, to set)
Poner appears in literal and figurative statements and can trigger time expressions when describing when something happens. It’s versatile in describing actions and situations.
Tener (to have)
Tener is often used in expressions for possession, obligations, and time. It anchors statements about what someone owns, must do, or experiences.
Creer (to believe)
Creer signals opinions or assumptions and can introduce clauses with que. It’s useful for qualifying statements and showing attitude.
Summary
Making statements in Spanish centers on clear word order, appropriate tense, and useful time expressions to signal habit or timing. Practice structuring sentences with these patterns so you can state actions, routines, and facts smoothly.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025