Test Info

There will be a final exam in the course, at the time given on the syllabus and in the usual place. You will not be allowed to use dictionaries, grammar aids, or other outside help. The exam will probably consist of two parts:

1. Translation section, English to Spanish. This will include the major grammar points covered in the first half of the semester, such as:
   1. As many verb tenses as possible, both simple (presente, futuro, pretérito, imperfecto, condicional, presente de subj., imperfecto de subj.) and compound (presente perfecto, futuro perfecto, pluscuamperfecto, condicional perfecto, presente perfecto de subj., pluscuamperfecto de subj.).
   2. Command forms, both affirmative and negative, with accompanying object pronouns (direct, indirect, double, position).
   3. Subjunctive (vs. indicative) in noun clauses (i.e., the subjunctive after verbs of volition, emotion, doubt/denial, and the indicative after verbs of reporting and certainty).
   4. Subjunctive (vs. indicative) in adjectival clauses (i.e., the subjunctive in clauses modifying antecedents that are indefinite or negated).
   5. Subjunctive (vs. indicative) in adverbial clauses (i.e., the subjunctive in clauses involving anticipation).
   6. Subjunctive (vs. indicative) in conditions (i.e., the past subjunctives in unreal or hypothetical clauses, usually accompanied by the conditional in the main clause).
   7. Hacer in expressions of time with the appropriate tense of the accompanying verbs (i.e., hace and hacía meaning “for” & “ago”).
   8. Miscellaneous: object pronouns, agreement, accentuation, possesive adjectives, demonstratives, numbers, más que/de, questions, “by - ing” (gerund), etc.
2. An original essay, in Spanish, on one of two or three given topics.

Recommendations:

1. Prepare in advance. Go over the “P's 'n Q's (Odds 'n ends)” and the descuidos pages, and as many of your old assignments as possible, noting errors you made, with a eye to why they needed correction. Refer to the appropriate grammar handout (or other grammar resource) if you see you need work in a certain area. You might also try working on some of the computer exercises in that area. If you have questions about a particular point, contact me either at my office (CM 252, 481-6633) or phone me at home (485-7632).
2. At test time, remain calm and work steadily. You can do it; after all, it's the same material we've been working on for months. Do all the translations/exercises on the test; don't leave anything blank. If you can't remember a particular word or idiom, try expressing the idea another way, using your Spanish to communicate as best you can.