Sentence completion and short-sentence tasks test your ability to build accurate Spanish phrases using correct grammar, tenses, and vocabulary. These skills help you complete gaps and write short, accurate sentences on everyday topics.
Sentence Tasks and Practice
Read the complete sentence first to understand its overall meaning.
Word-Bank Completion
Identify whether the gap requires an action, person, place, or reason. Cross off box options as you use them.
Situational Practice
Turn the prompt into a simple Spanish sentence, matching the verb and tense to the cue.
Keep your sentence short and clear, without adding risky extra details.
Infinitive Triggers and Action Patterns
An infinitive is an unconjugated verb ending in -ar, -er, or -ir:
- Tengo que + infinitive: obligation (Tengo que estudiar).
- Voy a + infinitive: future plan (Voy a jugar).
- Quiero + infinitive: desire (Quiero comprar).
- Para + infinitive: purpose (Salgo para comer).
Never repeat a preposition from the stem: after Voy a..., write nadar, not a nadar.
Time Markers, Tenses, and Word Order
Time words in a prompt indicate which verb tense creates a logical sentence:
| Time marker | Useful tense choice | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Ayer / El sábado pasado | Preterite (completed past) | Ayer fui al parque con mis amigos. |
| Normalmente / Todos los días | Present (routine) | Normalmente como un bocadillo. |
| Mañana / Este fin de semana | Near future (ir a + infinitive) | Mañana voy a visitar a mis abuelos. |
Spanish descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun and must match its gender and number: una casa blanca, dos casas blancas.
Connectors, Contractions, and Gustar
A connector joins ideas and determines the information that must follow:
- porque (because): gives a reason with a verb (porque es fácil).
- pero (but): shows contrast (pero no voy).
- y (and) / o (or): joins ideas or alternatives.
Mandatory contractions with el:
- a + el = al (Voy al parque).
- de + el = del (Cerca del colegio).
Use me gusta with infinitives and singular nouns (me gusta el tenis), and me gustan with plurals (me gustan los deportes).
Key terms
- Sentence stem
- The opening words before the gap.
- Infinitivo (Infinitive)
- Basic verb form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir.
- Conector (Connector)
- A linking word such as y, pero or porque.
- Preposición (Preposition)
- A word such as a, en or para.
- Contracción (Contraction)
- Combining a or de with el (al, del).
- Concordancia (Agreement)
- Matching gender, number and verb endings.
Check yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct verb form: Quiero ___ música. (escuchar / escucho)
escuchar
Which tense best describes a completed action that happened 'el sábado pasado'?
Preterite tense (e.g. 'Fui al cine').
What is the single contracted word formed by combining 'de' and 'el'?
del
Complete the phrase logically: Me llevo muy bien con ___.
mis amigos (or any person or group).
Fill the internal gap with the correct infinitive: Tengo que ___ la mesa antes de cenar. (poner)
poner