21 Spanish Mistakes GCSE Students Are Taught
And Why They’re Wrong
Most students don’t struggle with Spanish because it’s difficult. They struggle because they’ve been taught rules that are either incomplete, misleading — or simply wrong.
All the examples below come from real GCSE students. These are things their teachers told them in class. Every single one of them is wrong.
If you feel your Spanish isn’t improving despite your efforts, you’re not alone. I help students who feel stuck finally make real progress with clear explanations and a structured approach. You can book your first lesson here: laura@spanishforlondon.com. Your first consultation is free — no commitment.
❌ 1. “You must always put adjectives after the noun”
This is one of the most common things students are told — and it’s simply not true.
Yes, in many cases adjectives come after the noun in Spanish. But this is not a rule you can apply blindly.
In reality, you need to understand three things:
- some adjectives go after the noun
- some go before
- some can go in both positions — and sometimes even change meaning
Comí una rica manzana.
Comí una manzana rica.
Both mean: “I ate a tasty apple”.
❌ 2. “You must always use an article before a noun”
Spanish and English do not use articles in the same way.
I am a teacher → Soy profesora.
I like chicken → Me gusta el pollo.
Hoy es el 4 de marzo. ❌
Hoy es 4 de marzo. ✔
❌ 3. “Qué” means “what” and “cuál” means “which”
¿Qué es esto? → What is this?
¿Cuál es tu nombre? → What is your name?
❌ 4. “If one verb follows another, the second must be in the infinitive”
Continúo encontrando errores todo el tiempo.
❌ 5. “Words ending in -ma are always masculine”
el problema, el sistema, el clima
la cama, la forma, la suma
❌ 6. “Ser is for permanent situations and estar for temporary ones”
María es estudiante (no permanente).
Madrid está en España (permanente).
Preparing for your GCSE Spanish exam — or simply trying to improve your Spanish? If you feel that things don’t fully make sense yet, this is exactly what we work on. I help students who feel stuck finally gain clarity, confidence and real control of the language, based on over 30 years of teaching experience. You can book your first lesson here: laura@spanishforlondon.com.
❌ 7. “Tener means ‘to have’”
Tengo un perro → I have a dog.
He comprado un perro → I have bought a dog.
Tengo hambre → I am hungry.
Tengo frío → I am cold.
❌ 8. “All verbs with me, te, se, nos, os, se are reflexive”
Me baño (reflexivo).
Me olvidé de comprar pan (no reflexivo).
❌ 9. “Por and para mean for”
Por supuesto → Of course.
Esto fue hecho por mí → This was made by me.
❌ 10. “If English uses a preposition, Spanish must use one too”
Esperé el autobús → I waited for the bus.
Caminé una hora → I walked for one hour.
❌ 11. “The ‘boot verbs’ explain irregularity”
siete → setenta
nueve → noventa
You can see the same pattern in the whole language, not only in verbs.
❌ 12. “Vocabulary lists are reliable”
Many words in textbooks are translated incorrectly.
❌ 13. “You can translate word by word when speaking”
Voy a preguntar a Carmen. ❌
Voy a preguntarle a Carmen. ✔
❌ 14. “Memorise sentences and you will speak”
Without grammar, you can only repeat mechanically.
❌ 15. “Use Preterite for one-time actions, Imperfect for repeated actions”
Fue todos los días…
Iba todos los días…
Both are totally correct and both refer to repeated actions.
❌ 16. “Use Preterite with time markers like ‘ayer’”
Time markers don’t affect or explain the use of the Preterite or the Imperfect.
Ayer fue a la piscina. ✔
Ayer iba a la piscina. ✔
❌ 17. “Imperfect = ‘was doing’ or ‘used to’”
Estaba haciendo eso.
Estuve haciendo eso.
Both are translated as “I was doing that”.
❌ 18. “Use Subjunctive whenever you are in doubt”
No estoy segura.
Tengo una duda.
Both sentences express doubt, but we do not use the subjunctive.
Here are two videos made by me explaining what’s wrong with GCSE textbooks:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZLGfCEaBqQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwqpwUiBmWQ
❌ 19. “Remember WEIRDO to use the Subjunctive”
This rule is largely incorrect.
❌ 20. “Use the article for dates”
Hoy es lunes.
El lunes iré al cine.
❌ 21. “The -ing form is always ‘ando / iendo’”
Está sonriendo → He is smiling.
Es un niño sonriente → He is a smiling boy.
Sonreír es un buen hábito → Smiling is a good habit.
FINAL THOUGHT
If you feel confused after learning Spanish for years, this is often the reason. You were not taught how the language actually works.
If you want to learn Spanish properly — not just memorise rules, but finally understand how the language really works — I offer personalised lessons tailored to your level and goals.
I’m a Spanish and Literature teacher with over 30 years’ experience, holding a degree in Spanish Language Teaching and a degree in Literature (University of Buenos Aires), with a strong background in linguistics, and author of Los premios Nobel de literatura. Una lectura crítica (University of Seville).
In our classes, we work on speaking, listening, reading and writing, using carefully designed materials with clear explanations and no confusion — so you can actually feel the difference in how you understand and use Spanish.
You can book your first lesson here: laura@spanishforlondon.com.
