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C1

Spanish C1: Proficient

At C1 the question is no longer whether something is correct but what it does. Whether a piece of advice lands as an instruction or as an offer is not a matter of grammar any more: both sentences are correct, and only the tone separates them.

Then come the structures you can dodge in conversation and meet everywhere on the page: inversion, participle clauses, nouns built out of verbs, the whole frame of written language.

Verbs: ser, estar, subjunctive4

The subjunctive

2

C1Sequence of tenses in the subjunctiveThe main clause decides which subjunctive follows — with exceptions that carry meaning.C1Subjunctive: where the mood changes the meaningQue llueva no me importa, el hecho de que, and decir and sentir with two meanings.

Conditional sentences

2

C1Mixed conditionalsThe condition is in the past, the consequence is now.C1Conditions without sia menos que, con tal de que, siempre que, en caso de que — and every one of them with the subjunctive.

Nouns, articles and adjectives1

Adjectives

1

C1The more … the more: cuanto más, cada vez másThe more, the better — and cada vez más for «more and more».

Sentence structure2

Subordinate clauses

2

C1Concessions: aunque, por más que, si bienaunque with the indicative is «although», with the subjunctive «even if» — and there are finer ways still.C1Relative clauses: el cual, quien, cuantoAfter prepositions, with no antecedent and referring to a whole sentence — the relative words beyond que.

Style and fine points3

Fine points and style

3

C1Emphasis: Fue Ana quien lo dijoWhat English can stress with the voice, Spanish prefers to stress with the build of the sentence.C1Perfect infinitive, perfect gerund, absolute participlede haberlo sabido, habiendo terminado, terminada la reunión — whole clauses in three words.C1Questions of usage: dequeísmo, laísmo, habíanWhat you often hear and the norm does not accept — recognise it without copying it.

Word lists at level C1

Lists: 83 · words: 4148

All word lists →

Reading texts at level C1

Sentences from this level’s topics

Cuanto más lo conozco, más me gusta.The better I get to know him, the more I like him.

Es importante que lo sepas.It is important that you know it.

Que estés aquí me alegra mucho.I am very glad that you are here.

Si hubiera estudiado más, hoy tendría mejor trabajo.If I had studied more, I would have a better job today.

Practise level C1 only