Spanish: Writing Skills & Composition Flashcards

Which sentence correctly uses the subjunctive mood in a formal essay?

Answer: Espero que el autor tenga razón.

The subjunctive 'tenga' is required after 'espero que' to express hope or desire.

In an AP Spanish persuasive essay, which transition best introduces a counterargument?

Answer: Sin embargo

'Sin embargo' (however) is the standard adversative conjunction used to introduce a contrasting or opposing idea.

Which option correctly forms the past perfect (pluscuamperfecto) in Spanish?

Answer: Había escrito el ensayo.

'Había escrito' is correct because 'escribir' has the irregular past participle 'escrito'.

When citing a source in an AP Spanish essay, the phrase 'Según el artículo...' is best used to:

Answer: Attribute information to a source

'Según' means 'according to' and is the standard way to attribute information to an outside source.

Which phrase is most appropriate to begin the conclusion of a formal Spanish essay?

Answer: En conclusión

'En conclusión' signals the closing paragraph and is the most conventional formal concluding phrase.

A student writes: 'Los estudiantes deben de estudiar más.' What is the issue with this sentence in formal writing?

Answer: 'Deber de' expresses supposition, not obligation; 'deben estudiar' is correct.

'Deber de' indicates supposition ('must be'), while 'deber' alone expresses obligation ('should/must').

Which is an example of correct noun-adjective agreement in Spanish?

Answer: El problema grave

'Problema' is a masculine noun despite ending in -a, so it takes the masculine article 'el' and masculine adjective form 'grave'.