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### Campus Life and the Abstract "Lo"

To talk about "the good thing" or "the bad thing" about university life, use the neuter article **lo** followed by a masculine singular adjective. Combine this with **de** to say "the [adjective] thing about [something]".

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When navigating the university, you will often visit **el campus** (the campus), **la facultad** (the faculty or department), and **la residencia** (the residence hall).

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### Degrees and Enrollment

When you start your university career, you will first pursue a bachelor's degree (**el grado**). To officially sign up for your studies, use the reflexive verb **matricularse** (to enroll). This verb is typically followed by the preposition **en**.

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If you are enrolling for a specific purpose, you might use the conjunction **para que** (so that / in order that). Because this expresses a desired outcome or intention rather than a stated reality, **para que** always triggers the subjunctive mood.

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### Postgraduate Studies and "Como si"

After a bachelor's degree, students might pursue a postgraduate degree (**el posgrado**) or a doctorate (**el doctorado**).

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When discussing these advanced degrees hypothetically, you can use the phrase **como si** (as if). Because **como si** sets up a situation that isn't actually real or happening, it is always followed by the past subjunctive (such as *estudiara* or *diera*).

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### Professors and Seminars

A full university professor is called **el catedrático** or **la catedrática**. They often lead a specialized seminar (**el seminario**), which might be mandatory or elective (**optativo**).

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These earlier structures—such as **lo** + adjective and **para que** + subjunctive—reappear naturally when discussing course topics and schedules:

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University Life and Studies

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular subjects and 'ser' (yo soy, esto es)

Plural nouns and definite articles (los, las)

Plural pronouns and 'ser' (somos, sois, son)

Adjective agreement (-o, -a, -os, -as)

Indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas)

Simple negation (no)

Yes/no questions

Regular '-ar' verbs (-o, -as, -a...)

Regular '-er' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Regular '-ir' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Locative adverbs (aquí, allí)

Question words (quién, cómo)

The verb estar (estoy, estás)

The preposition en (en)

Ser vs. estar

The verb tener (tengo, tienes)

Possessive determiners (mi, tu, su)

Origin and possession (de, del)

The verb ir (voy, vas)

Destination (a, al)

The personal 'a' (a)

Stem-changing verbs: e to ie

Stem-changing verbs: o to ue

Irregular first-person verbs

Reflexive verbs (me, te, se)

Numbers 1 to 10 (uno, dos, tres)

Numbers 11 to 20 (once, doce, trece)

Counting by tens to 100 (treinta, cuarenta, cien)

Compound numbers up to 99 (veintiuno, treinta y uno)

Days of the week (el lunes, el martes)

The family and the personal 'a' (a mi tío, a mi prima)

Months of the year

Telling time (es la, son las)

Verbs of liking (me gusta)

Plural agreement with verbs of liking (gustan)

Degree modifiers (muy, mucho)

Formal address (usted, ustedes)

Direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

The near future (ir a)

Obligation (tener que)

Present continuous (-ando, -iendo)

Affirmative commands (tú, vosotros)

Basic Food and Drink

The Human Body: Head and Arms

The Human Body: Legs and Health

Wardrobe Essentials

Fresh Produce

Meals and Proteins

Public Transport

Hello and goodbye (hola, ¿qué tal?)

Thank you, sorry, OK (gracias, vale)

There is, there are (hay)

My building (la escalera, el ascensor)

Describing people (moreno, rubio, tímido)

Land and sea (el mar, el río, el norte)

Sightseeing (la plaza, la catedral)

Asking the way (cerca, a la derecha, todo recto)

In class (¿puedes repetir?)

Verb + infinitive (quiero comer, sé leer)

What's your name? (me llamo, encantado)

Phone, computer and email

Hundreds and thousands (doscientos, mil)

What do you do? (¿a qué te dedicas?)

Personal details (la edad, la fecha de nacimiento)

Me neither (también, tampoco, ni)

How much is it? (el precio, la vuelta)

What's the weather like? (hace sol, nieva)

Free time (el concierto, el tenis)

At the bar (¿qué vas a tomar?)

The Natural World

Demonstratives (este, ese, aquel)

Prepositions of place (encima de, debajo de)

Prepositional pronouns (para mí, contigo)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (primero to décimo)

Adverbs of frequency (a veces, nunca)

Exclamations (¡qué...!)

Indefinite pronouns (algo, alguien)

Indefinite determiners (algún, ningún)

Indirect object pronouns (le, les)

Double object pronouns (me lo, te la)

Double object pronouns (se lo, se la)

Verbs of preference (encantar, interesar)

Impersonal obligation (hay que)

Starting and finishing actions (empezar a, terminar de)

Adjective comparatives (más que, menos que)

Comparatives of equality (tan como)

Noun comparatives (tanto como)

Question	Answer
the campus	el campus
The good thing about this university is the campus.	Lo bueno de esta universidad es el campus.
the residence hall	la residencia
The residence hall of the campus is open.	La residencia del campus está abierta.
the faculty	la facultad
I live in the faculty's residence hall.	Vivo en la residencia de la facultad.
The science faculty is closed.	La facultad de ciencias está cerrada.
to enroll	matricularse
I am enrolling today so that my father is happy.	Me matriculo hoy para que mi padre esté contento.
the bachelor's degree	el grado
Did you enroll in the history degree last year?	¿Te matriculaste en el grado de historia el año pasado?
The bad thing about the bachelor's degree is the schedule.	Lo malo del grado es el horario.
the postgraduate degree	el posgrado
She acts as if she were studying a postgraduate degree.	Actúa como si estudiara un posgrado.
the doctorate	el doctorado
He speaks as if he taught in the doctorate program.	Habla como si diera clases en el doctorado.
The doctorate lasts three years.	El doctorado dura tres años.
the university professor	el catedrático
The university professor gave us a great class.	La catedrática nos dio una clase estupenda.
The university professor's exam is prepared.	El examen del catedrático está preparado.
the seminar	el seminario
Yesterday I attended the university professor's seminar.	Ayer asistí al seminario de la catedrática.
The interesting thing about the seminar is the topic.	Lo interesante del seminario es el tema.
elective	optativo
The elective seminar starts tomorrow.	El seminario optativo empieza mañana.
I am enrolling in the elective subject so that you help me.	Me matriculo en la asignatura optativa para que me ayudes.
The university professor recommends this postgraduate degree.	El catedrático recomienda este posgrado.
the essay	el ensayo
I have to hand in a ten-page essay.	Tengo que entregar un ensayo de diez páginas.
The professor has asked us for an essay on modern art.	El catedrático nos ha pedido un ensayo sobre arte moderno.
philosophy	la filosofía
My sister studies philosophy at the university.	Mi hermana estudia Filosofía en la universidad.
Philosophy is an elective subject.	La filosofía es una asignatura optativa.
to practice (a profession), to work as	ejercer
My aunt is a lawyer, but she no longer practices.	Mi tía es abogada, pero ya no ejerce.
When I finish the degree, I want to practice as a psychologist.	Cuando termine el grado, quiero ejercer de psicóloga.
to draw conclusions	sacar conclusiones
After the seminar, we have to draw conclusions.	Después del seminario, tenemos que sacar conclusiones.
Don't draw conclusions before reading the whole report.	No saques conclusiones antes de leer todo el informe.
vocational training	la formación profesional
My brother didn't go to university: he did vocational training.	Mi hermano no fue a la universidad: hizo formación profesional.
Vocational training is a good alternative to a degree.	La formación profesional es una buena alternativa al grado.

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