Práctica para el Examen CLEP #3

¡No ______ Ud. por favor!

• me hable

• hábleme

• me habla

• me hables

Answer explanation

The negative formal singular command (Ud.) is required in this sentence. Object pronouns precede negative commands.

Hijos, no ______ mientras estoy hablando.

• os reís

• os riáis

• os reíais

• reíos

Answer explanation

Because the children are being asked not to laugh in this sentence, the negative familiar plural command form is required.

¡Que lo ______ Ud. bien!

• pasar

• pase

• pases

• pasa

Answer explanation

The exclamatory statement ("May it go well for you!") requires the use of the present subjunctive, which in this sample is the same as the formal command "Ud."

Mis padres no deseaban que yo ______ eso.

• hiciera

• hacía

• haría

• haga

Answer explanation

The verb "desear" can express volition, or desire that something happen. With verbs of this type, if there are two different subjects in the two clauses of the sentence, i.e., if someone is bringing his will to bear on someone or something else, then the subjunctive is required.

Le pedí que ______ temprano para acabar temprano.

• venga

• viniera

• venir

• venía

Answer explanation

First you have to decide between the subjunctive and the indicative mood (choice C, an infinitive, is ungrammatical in the context), and once you decide that the correct mood is the subjunctive (because it is governed by a verb - "perdir" - that always required a subjunctive), then you have to opt between (A) and (B), that is the present and the past. Since the main verb is in the past, the subjunctive form to follow must be in the same tense.

Si yo hubiera sabido la respuesta, se la _____.

• diría

• habría dicho

• había dicho

• diga

Answer explanation

An "if" clause containing a compound verb form (the perfect tense) in the past subjunctive requires the use of a compound tense in the other clause, commonly written in the conditional tense.

Esos cocos ______ de Cuba, ¿Verdad?

• están

• estarán

• son

• sean

Answer explanation

The origin of people and things is expressed in the verb ser. The subjunctive form is not needed here.

El padre de Alicia _____ médico.

• está

• es

• estaba

• estará

Answer explanation

The only correct way to translate the verb "to be" when the complement is a noun is by means of "ser" and not "estar"

_____ posible hacer la tarea.

• Serán

• Ha sido

• Está

• Estaría

Answer explanation

Impersonal expressions (the subject of the verb to be is it followed by an adjective) require the third person singular of the verb ser in Spanish.

Muéstreme otro apartamento, no me gusta ______.

• esto

• este

• esté

• éste

Answer explanation

The demonstrative adjective form for "this" is converted into a pronoun by using the orthographic accent.