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How To Score Well On The Spanish Language Portion Of The Border Patrol Exam

Use this guide only if you speak Spanish. If you don't, review for the Artificial Language Test instead.

Today, more than ever before, the ability to speak a second language is in demand. Modern technology has enabled people anywhere on Earth to communicate with each other quickly and easily. For many millions of people, this communication takes place in the Spanish language. Someone who speaks Spanish can function more productively in the modern workplace both at home and abroad. Also, if you know the language, you will have a much richer experience when traveling to Spanish­-­speaking ­countries. As a Border Patrol Agent, you'll find that speaking Spanish well will be an invaluable aid in doing your job. First, the probability of miscommunication is greatly reduced when both parties speak the same language. Second, speaking in another person's native language demonstrates your goodwill and a basic respect for that person. Every Border Patrol Agent is required to know Spanish, so you're ahead of the game if you already have a working knowledge of the ­language.
This guide assumes you have that working knowledge. It will give you some tips on how to review your Spanish, if necessary. It reviews some of the essential grammar rules you may have forgotten- this section could be essential if you are a native speaker of Spanish who never really had to learn the rules. 

Some Helpful Hints for Reviewing Spanish
Learning or reviewing Spanish effectively is mostly a matter of establishing a set of good habits and then practicing, practicing, practicing. Here are some useful hints to help you get ­started.
- Schedule study time in small units. If you need to do a lot of studying, study for a half-hour, then do something else, then study for another half-hour, and so ­on.
- If you know a native Spanish-speaker who speaks the language well, see if you can arrange practice sessions with that person. If that is not possible, the next best thing is to listen to a reading by someone who speaks Spanish ­well.
- Study out loud. It is important to hear yourself speaking Spanish. Doing this will enable you to speak more comfortably and easily. If possible, try to study with a friend. That way, you can check each other's pronunciation and grammar. You will find that this will enable you to learn the material more quickly, and the learning process will be more ­interesting.
- Spend extra time memorizing vocabulary. This is very important. There are a number of books available in bookstores and libraries that have vocabulary lists.
- Spend extra time on pronunciation. Be sure to get it right. This is essential, because, as in English, many Spanish words have different meanings when pronounced differently; for example, paso (I am passing by) is very different from pasó (he/she/you passed by). Correct pronunciation will help you choose the correct written word on the ­test.
- Always think of the meaning. When practicing, as you repeat basic sentences, think about their meanings and try to speak with feeling; that is, try to make your expression match the meaning. This will reinforce your learning, and practice won't become mere mechanical ­repetition.
- Continually review earlier material as you progress through the lessons. When you go back and review earlier, easier lessons, you will reinforce what you have already ­memorized.
- Use what is called the pattern sentence technique. This is a good way to systematically learn or review material. Pattern sentences can be used to practice verb conjugations, pronoun usage, and adjective endings. When practicing, alone or with a friend, try using this technique. Here's how it ­works:
- Take a correct sentence that uses a regular -ar, -er, or -ir verb form; then change the subject and repeat the new sentence aloud. For instance, if you say ¿Habla Ud. con él? (Do you speak with him?), you or another person could respond Sí, hablo con él (Yes, I speak with ­him).
- Practice correct pronoun and adjective usage this way, too. If you asked the person ¿Ud. le dio el libro a mi hermano? (Did you give the book to my brother?), the person could answer Sí, se lo di (Yes, I gave it to ­him).

Some Essential Spanish Grammar Rules
Following is a list of grammatical rules you'll need to know. Supplement the information here by finding a good Spanish grammar book and studying it to be sure you understand the terms. A solid understanding of these rules of correct usage is the key to doing well on the Spanish Language portion of the Border Patrol ­Exam.

Nouns and ­Gender
A noun is a word that denotes a person, place, or thing. All nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine in ­gender.
- Nouns ending in -o are usually masculine, but an important exception is la mano ­(hand). Many nouns ending in consonants are masculine as well.
- Nouns ending in -e may be masculine or feminine.
- Feminine nouns require a feminine article, la (the) or una (a or an). Feminine nouns usually end in -a, -ción, -umbre, -dad, -tad, or -tud.
- Always memorize the noun together with its masculine or feminine article: el padre, la madre. This is essential. It will also make learning the irregular ones easier. For instance, el mapa (the map) is an example of an irregular ­noun.

Types of ­Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a ­noun.

Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns take the place of the subject of the sentence. The subject pronouns are yo, tú, usted, él, ella, nosotros, nosotras, ustedes, ellos, and ­ellas. Vosotros is another plural form of you, used in Spain, but we will not discuss it here.
- Subject pronouns may be omitted when the form of the verb identifies the subject. An example is yo voy. Voy can only mean I go, so yo can be ­omitted.
- However, subject pronouns may be added for greater clarity, emphasis, or contrast, as in the sentence Ella va, no él (she is going, not him).
- In the polite form of address, usted and ustedes (abbreviated Ud. or Vd. and Uds. or Vds.) are often kept to avoid confusion with él, ella, ellos, ellas. That's why usted and ustedes are repeated so ­often.

Direct Object Pronoun
A direct object pronoun takes the place of a person or thing that directly receives the action of the verb. The direct object pronouns are me, te, nos, la, las, lo, and los. An example is los veo (I see ­them).

Indirect Object Pronoun
The indirect object pronoun takes the place of a person to whom, or for whom, an action is performed. It is the ultimate receiver of the action of a verb. The indirect object pronouns are me, te, nos, le, and les. An example is les habla (he speaks to ­them).

Prepositional Pronoun
Prepositional pronouns are pronouns that come after a preposition. Prepositional pronouns are the same as regular pronouns, except for me, which becomes mí, and te, which becomes ti: for example, para ti (for you). When the preposition con appears before mí or ti, the two words are contracted and become conmigo and contigo.

Reflexive Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns
Reflexive direct and indirect objects are used when the subject performs the action to, or on, itself. The reflexive direct and indirect object pronouns are me, te, se, nos, and se. An example is él se sienta (he sits down, or more literally, he sits himself ­down).

Correct Position of Object Pronouns
Object pronouns come before conjugated verb forms. They should be placed in the following order: reflexive pronoun first, followed by the indirect object pronoun, then the direct object pronoun, and finally the verb. There is a device that will help you remember this correct order- it goes like ­this:

Indirect before direct, reflexive first of all.
Although it is quite common to have an indirect object pronoun followed by a direct object pronoun, it is rare to encounter a reflexive, a direct object, and an indirect object pronoun all together. When it does happen, though, this device will help you remember the right order.
Object pronouns are placed after, and attached to, both infinitives and affirmative commands, making all one word. An example is mándamelo (order it for ­me).

Adjectives
Adjectives modify or give specific information about nouns in a sentence. They tell qualities such as size, weight, color, and so forth. Some examples are la casa es blanca (the house is white) and los muchachos son simpáticos (the boys are nice). Adjectives must agree in number and gender with the nouns they ­modify.

Verbs
Verbs are words that tell action or state of being in a sentence. For example, ellos llegan mañana (they arrive tomorrow) is an example of a verb that tells action, whereas es su hermano (he is your brother) tells state of ­being.
- Spanish verbs have three regular conjugations ending in: -ar (e.g., cantar), -er (e.g., vender), or -ir (e.g., recibir).
- Usually, verbs are formed by dropping the last two letters of the infinitive and adding the endings in their place. However, there are a number of quite common irregular verbs that must be ­memorized.
- The future and conditional tenses are formed by adding the endings to the entire ­infinitive.
- Two of the most frequently encountered verbs are ser (to be) and estar (to be). It will be easier to know which one to use if you remember this:
- Ser is used for a characteristic or essence of ­something.
- Estar is used for a location or ­condition.

Adverbs
An adverb is a word that gives additional information about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It tells how, when, or where the action or state is taking ­place.
- Adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine form (ending in a) of the adjective. An example is when rápido becomes rapidamente ­(quickly).
- For adjectives ending in e or a consonant, just add -mente without changing it to an a. An example is when gentil becomes gentilmente ­(elegantly).

Conjunctions
Conjunctions are joining words. They link words, or groups of words, into more complex sentences. A few examples are y (and), pero (but), and sin embargo (although). Que (that) is a common connecting word that links ­clauses.

Personal a
In Spanish, an a must be used after a verb when the direct object is a person. An example would be conozco a su hermano (I know your ­brother).
- The personal a may be used when referring to pets that one is especially fond of. Quiero a Spot (I love Spot) is an example. But it is mostly used only when people are the direct object of the ­verb.
- The only verb that the personal a is not used after is tener. Never use the personal a after tener: Tengo un hermano mayor.

Practice Questions with Tips
The practice questions that follow are like those in the practice exam in this book- and like those in the real exam. There are four different kinds of questions. Study each sample carefully and use the information provided to answer them.

Part ­I
The best way to prepare for the vocabulary part of the test is to memorize, memorize, memorize. Using flash cards or a book of vocabulary lists, spend time every day drilling your vocabulary. This is an effective way to increase your Spanish comprehension and reinforce what you have already ­learned.
The surest way to do well on the test is to study your vocabulary as much as possible. However, even then, you may run across a key word or a choice you don't know. How do you proceed? A useful tip is to look not only for the meaning of the word but also for its part of speech. For example, is the word a noun, a pronoun, or a verb? Often, several choices can be eliminated just by observing that they are the wrong number and gender for the noun, the wrong pronoun, or the wrong form of the verb. In the first example that follows, three of the choices are the wrong verb forms to match the sentence. This leaves only two possibilities. Now you can make an educated guess about the right one. However, the best approach is to know your vocabulary.

Read the sentence and then choose the most appropriate synonym for the italicized word or phrase.

1. Deseamos oír todo la ­historia. a. Vienen b. Le dijo c. Robaremos d. Queremos e. Habló
The correct choice is d, Queremos (we want), because it is closer in meaning to Deseamos (we wish) than the other choices—Vienen (they come), Le dijo (he said), Robaremos (we will steal), and Habló (he spoke)—and because it has the correct verb ­form.

2. El director de la organización es ­nuevo. a. El jefe b. Los hermanos c. La secretaria d. Los curas e. La madre
The correct choice is a, El jefe (the boss), because it is closest in meaning to El director (the director). In this case, the word in question is a noun. You will observe that incorrect number or gender combinations rule out all possibilities except choice a.
In the vocabulary section, if you already know the meaning of the word in question, look at it from a grammatical point of view only to check your ­work.

3. La mujer del presidente es ­gorda. a. Los muebles b. El mono c. La señora d. Las hijas e. La jira
Choice c is the one that is closest in meaning and has the correct number and ­gender.

Part II, Section I
For this part of the test, the important thing to focus on is the grammar. Look for the combination of words that not only has an appropriate meaning, but also matches grammatically. Look for obvious errors such as choices using the wrong number and gender or an incorrect verb ­form.
When evaluating verbs, begin by looking for the one with a form that matches the subject, which may be either a noun or a pronoun. Then look for one that uses the appropriate tense. This will quickly eliminate several possibilities. As in the following examples, it may not even be necessary to know the meaning of the verb to be able to choose the correct answer using this technique.

Read each sentence carefully. Select the appropriate word or phrase to fill each blank space.

1. Ellos _____ en el jardín cuando _____ la ­música. a. está, oyo b. estaban, oyeron c. estarán, vienen d. han estado, oían e. estuvieron, oí
Choice b is the correct use of the imperfect and the preterite verb tenses. The other choices use a wrong verb ­form.

2. Las _____ fueron completamente _____ por la ­bomba. a. está, destruida b. cartas, encontrados c. casas, destruidas d. días, perdidos e. ventana, nueva
Choice c uses the correct verb form. The other possibilities are wrong because of incorrect verb form or gender agreement—not to mention that some of them, such as choice e, would simply make no sense in this context no matter what their ­forms.

3. Mi amigo no _______ el libro de _______ hermano. a. quiero a, ni b. va, al c. habido, nos d. tiene, su e. ve, que
Choice d is correct because the verb form agrees with the subject, and su makes sense before hermano. The other verb choices are ungrammatical, and many of the choices for the second word make no sense at all.

Part II, Section II
This section requires you to put it all together. It tests your ability to recognize various language elements and incorporate them into a complete picture, the correct sentence. To do well on this portion of the Spanish Language exam, look for errors of grammar, sentence structure, or incorrect word ­usage.
Read each sentence carefully. Select the one sentence that is correct.


1. a. El señor García nos enviamos los ­papeles. b. Eso no valen la pena. c. Hay muchas flores en el jardín. d. Hay un gato dormiendo en la ventana.
Choice c is the only choice that does not have mistakes in verb ­form.

2. a. Más tarde la señora Smith y yo van a tomar café en el ­restaurante. b. Ella estaba llorando sin saber por qué. c. Me gusto el pollo frito. d. Juan nos invité a tomar algo.
The only correct sentence is choice b. The other possibilities use incorrect verb forms.

3. a. 

Es aburrido la ­examen?
The correct answer is b. It is the only choice that does not have an error in verb form or gender agreement.

Part II, Section III
This section also tests your overall comprehension. It requires you to decide whether or not a selection is correct. If it is incorrect, you will need to choose an alternative to the italicized ­word.
First, decide if the italicized word is used correctly in the sentence. Having a strong vocabulary will help you here! If the word seems to have an appropriate meaning, then look for the right grammatical structure. If the italicized word is a noun, look for matching number and gender; if it is a verb, look for correct form and tense. This is where the time you spend studying Spanish grammar will pay off! If the italicized word passes both of these tests, choice e is the right one- the sentence does not need any ­correction.
What if you spot an error, as in the first example? In this case, proceed as you would in the earlier sections and evaluate the choices according to meaning, grammatical correctness, and complete sentence ­structure.

Read each sentence carefully. Select the correct word or phrase to replace the italicized portion of the sentence. In those cases in which the sentence needs no correction, select choice e.

1. El fútbol y el béisbol son dos ejemplos de montañas. a. alfombras b. escuelas c. maderas d. deportes e. No es necesario hacer ninguna ­corrección.
Choice d, deportes (sports), is correct. The italicized word, montañas (mountains), is an example of wrong usage and incorrect matching of gender. The other choices have no relationship to the subjects of the sentence, el fútbol y el béisbol, so choice d is the only correct ­one.

2. Comprendo por qué él establecen de los ­gatos. a. tiene miedo b. entiendo c. niegan d. establecemos e. No es necesario hacer ninguna corrección.
The correct choice is a because it is the only one that will make a grammatically correct sentence. The other options use incorrect verb ­forms.

3. Esta flor es para mi ­abuela. a. regalos b. melón c. numero d. moscas e. No es necesario hacer ninguna corrección.
The right answer is e because the sentence is correct. The other choices use the wrong number or gender ­agreement.

Conclusion
Spanish, like any language, is nothing more than a code or set of symbols with a definite organization of meanings. All you have to do is learn the code in order to open up a whole new world of ­opportunity.
Learning and speaking Spanish is a rewarding experience. When you can speak Spanish fluently, you are better able to understand the culture and perspective of its native speakers. Improved understanding will make your job as a Border Patrol Agent easier and more rewarding. In fact, such understanding can lead to greater cooperation not only between individuals, but also between ­nations.
Making use of the tips and methods presented in this chapter, along with diligent study and practice, ensures that you will do well on the Spanish Language portion of the Border Patrol ­Exam.

Resources
There are many resources for you if you want to learn or brush up on the Spanish language. The traditional methods of using a textbook and conversational practice are today augmented by a range of new methods. The widespread use of the computer has created many new opportunities for learning. It is now possible to learn Spanish on­­line, and interactive compact disks (CDs), some of which will even correct your pronunciation, are also available.
What follow are just some of the many widely available resources that will help you to prepare confidently for the Spanish Language portion of the Border Patrol ­Exam.

­Conversation
Most of the following books come with an audio CD or download that provides essential practice in the sounds and pronunciation of Spanish words and phrases. Check online or at your local bookstore for more ­information.
Living Language Spanish (Living Language, 2011)
Merriam-Webster's Easy Learning Spanish Conversation (Merriam-Webster, 2011)
Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation by Jean Yates (McGraw-Hill Education, 2011)
Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish All-in-One (McGraw-Hill Education, 2013)
Read and Think Spanish (McGraw-Hill Education, 2012)

Grammar
A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish by John Butt and Carmen Benjamin (Routledge, 2011)
English Grammar for Students of Spanish by Emily Spinelli (Olivia & Hill Press, 2012)
Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar by Jean Yates (McGraw-Hill Education, 2011)
Schaum's Outline of Spanish Grammar (McGraw-Hill Education, 2013)
Spanish Grammar (Barron's Educational Series, 2011)