SAT II Spanish : Spanish Verbs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Spanish

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Me __________ ir al concerto contigo, pero no tengo dinero. 

Possible Answers:

gustaría

gustan

gusto

gustó

gustaba

Correct answer:

gustaría

Explanation:

The correct answer is "gustaría," the conditional tense. When translated the sentence means "I would like to go to the concert but I don't have money."

"Gusto" is the wrong tense and person. "Gustaba" and "gustó" are the wrong tense, and "gustan" is the wrong tense and number.

Example Question #7 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Please fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Lo digo que en Oslo __________ frío en el invierno. 

Possible Answers:

es

está

sea

hace

haga

Correct answer:

hace

Explanation:

The correct answer is "hace." First the correct verb must be chosen. With expressions of weather in Spanish, the verb "hacer" is used. Then we are left with "hace" and "haga." Even though there is a "que" introducing a new clause in the sentence, the indicative is used, because there is no emotion or doubt expressed in the first clause; therefore, "hace" must be used. 

Example Question #8 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

What is grammatically incorrect about this sentence?

No creo que ellas pueden resolver los problemas. 

Possible Answers:

The third verb shouldn't be an infinitive. 

There is an "a" missing. 

The second verb is in the incorrect form.

The tense of the first verb is incorrect

The definite article in the sentence is incorrect.

Correct answer:

The second verb is in the incorrect form.

Explanation:

The correct answer is that the second verb in the sentence "pueden" is incorrect. Since the sentence is expressing a doubt, the subjunctive mood must be used. Instead of "pueden," "puedan" is used. 

Example Question #10 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Fill in the blank with the correct answer. 

Nosotros __________ allí por ocho años. 

Possible Answers:

estábamos

vivíamos

vivimos 

éramos

íbamos

Correct answer:

vivimos 

Explanation:

The correct answer is vivimos. Even though the example given "por ocho años" was an action that occurred over a long period of time, since a definitive beginning and ending period is given in the sentence, the only viable verb is "vivimos," as all of the other verbs are in the imperfect tense. 

Example Question #1 : Imperfect / El Imperfecto

Fill in the blank with the correct answer. 

Cuando era joven, yo __________ cada día. 

Possible Answers:

caminaba

caminé

he caminado

caminaría

había caminado

Correct answer:

caminaba

Explanation:

The correct answer is "caminaba." Since the action happened repeatedly in the past, the tense that is needed is the imperfect. The other tenses cannot work, since they do not express the continuous action of the imperfect. 

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