Stem-changing preterit verbs

        Please try to get in the habit of using the computer to type accent marks and do it as you type. All word processors are capable of doing proper accent marks in Spanish.  Below are some instructions that might help.

1) For all PCs

There are several key combinations you can use to insert single characters into your text on a PC. The first is for newer computers using the Control key and may only work in Microsoft Office.

In Office for Windows: For accented vowels: Press Ctrl + ‘, then the vowel (ctrl + ' + a = á)

For Ñ: Press Ctrl + ~, then the letter n (ctrl + ~ + n = ñ)

The second way is using the ASCII code. Each character in your computer has a code made up of pressing the ALT key then a three-digit number, all of which are listed below.

á = Alt + 0225

é = Alt + 0233

í = Alt + 0237

ó = Alt + 0243

ú = Alt + 0250

ñ = Alt + 0241

ü = Alt + 0252

¡ = Alt + 0161

¿ = Alt + 0191

To type the numbers, you must use the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the number keys on the top row.

2) For all Macs

To get accented vowels on a Mac, hold down the Option key, and while holding it down, type the letter e; then release those keys and type the letter that you want the accent to appear on:

Opt + e, then a = á

Opt + e, then e = é

Opt + e, then i = í

Opt + e, then o = ó

Opt + e, then u = ú

For the ñ, hold down the Option key while you type the n, then type n again.

Opt + n, then n = ñ

To type an umlaut over the u, hold down the Option key while pressing the u key then type u again.

Opt + u, then u = ü

*To type the upside-down punctuation marks press the following keys all at once.

Opt + 1 = ¡

Opt + shift + ? = ¿

3) Full Keyboard Configuration

For those using Spanish letters and punctuation on a regular basis, I recommend going into your Control Panel/System Preferences and add the Spanish keyboard configuration. This will mean you need to learn the new key placements, but it is very easy once you get used to it.

For Windows Vista

• Go to your Control Panel
• Click on "Clock, Language, Region
• Click on "Change Keyboards"
• Click "Add" and Select "Spanish-International Sort"

For Windows XP:

• Go to your Control Panel
• Click on "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options"
• Click on "Regional and Language Options"
• Select the "Languages" tab at the top
• Click on "Details" near the bottom
• Click "Add" and choose "Spanish-Traditional Sort"
• Go back to the "Languages" tab and choose the option to "switch languages" by pressing "left alt-shift" at the same time. This way, you can switch to and from the Spanish and regular keyboard whenever you want.

For Macs

• Go to your System Preferences
• Click on "International"
• Select the "Input Menu" tab
• Scroll down to select "Spanish - ISO"
• Note the keystrokes necessary to switch between languages OR Select "Show input menu in menu bar" to be able to click-select which keyboard you want to use.

Spanish-International Sort Keyboard Layout

Spanish-International Sort Keyboard Key Strokes

' + a = á

' + e = é

' + i = í

' + o = ó

' + u = ú

" + u = ü

Once you have installed your Spanish keyboard, it will react slightly differently than you are used to. First, you will notice that when you type an apostrophe ( ' ), nothing happens. This is because if you type a vowel immediately after, you will get an accented vowel (á, é, í, ó, ú). To get an apostrophe, push the key for the hyphen, next to the number 0. You can see several other changes in the picture below.

The quotes ( " ) key behaves the same way as the apostrophe key in that it gives you the umlaut ( ¨ ) rather than quotes for the letter (ü) in words like "lingüística". To type in regular quotes, simply press shift then the number 2.

The semicolon ( ; ) key has also been replaced by the ñ. To type a regular semicolon, simply press shift then the comma key.