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Spanish Grammar Bank

SPANISH SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Sentences are the smallest phrasal construction in a language that expresses a complete idea or an assertion.

In Spanish grammar, these constructions link a subject with a predicate. The subject is typically composed of a noun phrase (The dogs…) and the predicate is typically composed of a verb phrase (… are barking loud).

BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE

In Spanish, the basic structure of a sentence is: Subject + Predicate

What is a subject? A subject (sujeto) is the person or thing performing or experiencing the action, usually a noun, a pronoun or a noun phrase.

What is a predicate? A predicate (predicado) is the part of the sentence that includes both the verb and all other additional information on the action or the state related to the subject. So the basic structure of a predicate is usually: verb + complement.

PATTERN

Subject + Predicate

Did you know that in Spanish, as well as in many of the Romance languages (except for French and some variations of Portuguese), the subject can often be omitted if it is clear from the context of the verb? Hence, the verb becomes the sentence itself.

Marta anda cada día.

Marta walks every day

Pedro conduce un coche.

Pedro drives a car
View More Examples:
Las niñas cantan en clase.The girls sing in class.
El perro corre en el parque.The dog runs in the park.

Variations where the subject is omitted:

Bailo. (which is the same as Yo Bailo.)I dance.
Iremos. (which is the same as Nosotros iremos.)We will go.

Although Spanish frequently omits the subject if it can be clearly derived from the context, for the sake of clarity, early learners are better off incorporating the subject pronoun into the sentence.

Expanding the Predicate

The predicate not only includes the verb but can also contain any complements that provide additional information on the action or state related to the subject, in particular, these elements:

A direct object (complemento directo), receives the action directly.

An indirect object (complemento indirecto), is indirectly affected by the action.

Adverbial phrases (complementos circunstanciales), provide additional information such as time, place, manner, etc.

If we further break down the subject + predicate format in Spanish, then the basic structure of a sentence would look like this:

PATTERN

Subject + Verb + Complement

More Grammar Terms

What is a verb (verbo)? A verb is the action or state that the subject performs and must agree in person and number with the subject.

What is a complement (complemento)? A complement is the object or additional information that completes the meaning of the sentence.

Direct object (Complemento directo):

Carolina come pan.Carolina eats bread.
Carolina (subject) + come (verb) + pan (direct object)

Indirect object (Complemento indirecto):

Pablo compra el pan para Carolina.Pablo buys the bread for Carolina.
Pablo (subject) + compra (verb) + el pan (direct object) + para Carolina (indirect object)

Adverbial phrases (Complementos circunstanciales):

Pablo compra el pan para Carolina en la panadería.Pablo buys the bread for Carolina in the bakery.
Pablo (subject) + compra (verb) + el pan (direct object) + para Carolina (indirect object) + en la panadería (adverbial phrase)

DECLARATIVE SENTENCES

Declarative sentences (declarativas) are used to affirm something that has occurred or state facts or express opinions. These sentences can either be in the affirmative or negative sense.

If the declarative sentence is in the affirmative sense, the structure would be like so:

PATTERN

Subject + Predicate

Él (subject) + lee (verb) + un libro (direct object).

If the declarative sentence is in the form of a negation, the structure would be like so:

PATTERN

Subject + No + Predicate

For declarative in the affirmative sense:

Está lloviendo.It’s raining.
Él lee un libro.He reads a book.

For declarative in the negative sense:

No está lloviendo.It’s not raining.
Él no lee un libro.He does not read a book.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

Interrogative sentences (interrogativas) are used to ask questions or when information needs to be confirmed. 

They can either be yes/no questions or ones that start with interrogative words such as quién, qué, dónde, cuándo, por qué, etc. (who, what, where, when, why, etc.).

If the interrogative sentence is a yes/no type, the structure would be like so:

PATTERN

Verb + Subject + Complement
(or the simplified Verb + Complement)

If the interrogative sentence starts with an interrogative word, the structure would usually be like so:

PATTERN

Interrogative Word + Verb + Subject + Complement
(or the simplified Interrogative word + Verb + Complement)

For yes/no type interrogative sentence:

¿Tienes un bolígrafo de sobras?Do you have an extra ballpen?
¿Tú vas al cine? or ¿Vas al cine?Are you going to the movies?
¿Tú (subject) + vas (verb) + al cine (direct object)?

For interrogative sentences that start with interrogative words:

¿Dónde vives tú? or ¿Dónde vives?Where do you live?
¿Cuándo llega tu hermana a España?When does your sister arrive in Spain?
¿Cuándo (interrogative word) + llega (verb) + tu hermana (subject) + a España (complement)?

EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES

Exclamatory sentences (exclamativas) are used to express an emotional reaction, such as joy, surprise, anger, indignation, etc.

Sentences using exclamatory words are marked with exclamation points (at the beginning and the end of a sentence) and often start with an exclamatory word, such as qué, cómo, cuánto, menudo/a, vaya, ah, etc.

¡Qué día más bonito!What a beautiful day!
¡Cómo me gusta el queso!How much I like cheese!
¡Cuánto tiempo!It’s been so long!
View More Examples:
Menudo mes llevamos!What a month we’re having!
¡Vaya suerte tienes!What luck you have!
¡Ah, ahora lo entiendo!Ah, now I understand it!

IMPERATIVE SENTENCES

Imperative sentences (Imperativas) are used to give commands, make requests, give instructions or offer advice. In these types of sentences, the subject is more often than not implied rather than explicitly stated.

The structure of an imperative sentence will vary depending on whether they are affirmative or negative.

If used in an affirmative sense, the structure would be like so:

PATTERN

Verb (Imperative Form) + Complement (or simplified with just the Verb)

If used in a negative sense, the structure would be like so:

PATTERN

No + Verb (Subjunctive Form) + Complement (or simplified with just the Verb)

Affirmative imperative sentences:

Come.Eat.
Come tu comida.Eat your food
Come (verb) + tu comida (direct object)

Negative imperative sentences:

No comas.Don’t eat.
No comas tu comida.Don’t eat your food.
No + comas (verb in the subjunctive form) + tu comida (direct object)

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FAQs

What is the sentence structure in Spanish?

The basic structure of a sentence in Spanish is: Subject + Predicate

The predicate not only includes the verb but can also contain any complements that provide additional information on the action or state related to the subject, in particular, these elements:

A direct object (complemento directo), receives the action directly.

An indirect object (complemento indirecto), is indirectly affected by the action.

Adverbial phrases (complementos circunstanciales), provide additional information such as time, place, manner, etc.

The Spanish sentence structure is SVO:

Marta anda cada día. = Marta walks every day.

Pedro conduce un coche. = Pedro drives a car.

Did you know that in Spanish, as well as in many of the Romance languages (except for French and some variations of Portuguese), the subject can often be omitted if it is clear from the context of the verb? Hence, the verb becomes the sentence itself.

How to make a question in Spanish?

If the interrogative sentence is a yes/no type, the structure would be like so:

Verb + Subject + Complement
(or the simplified Verb + Complement)

¿Tienes un bolígrafo de sobras? Do you have an extra ballpen?

If the interrogative sentence starts with an interrogative word, the structure would usually be like so:

Interrogative Word + Verb + Subject + Complement
(or the simplified Interrogative word + Verb + Complement)

¿Dónde vives tú? or ¿Dónde vives? Where do you live?

How to make an exclamatory phrase?

Sentences using exclamatory words are marked with exclamation points (at the beginning and the end of a sentence) and often start with an exclamatory word, such as quécómocuántomenudo/avayaah, etc.

¡Qué día más bonito! What a beautiful day!

¡Cómo me gusta el queso! How much I like cheese!

What is an indirect object in grammar?

An indirect object (complemento indirecto), is indirectly affected by the action.

Pablo compra el pan para Carolina.
Pablo buys the bread for Carolina.

Pablo (subject) + compra (verb) + el pan (direct object) + para Carolina (indirect object)

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