This page attempts to summarise the main Spanish verb forms (conjugations), with, for each one,

– the common Spanish name, along with some English names

– typical (but not all) uses

– example for a regular verb (hablar)

– link to more information and examples (not always recently reviewed).

See also compound verb forms for more.

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presente  (present, simple indicative, present indicative)

• The presente is used to talk about something real that is usually true or is a current action (as in English):

  las rosas son rojas – the roses are red

  limpio la cocina – I’m cleaning the kitchen (I clean the kitchen)

• also to talk about current real projects or plans that may not actually be happening now, and for other time expressions (unlike in English):

  mañana voy a Londres – I’m going to London tomorrow (tomorrow I go to London)

  Juan vive aquí desde 1999 – Juan has lived here since 1999 (Juan lives here since 1999).

hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan

See also Present tenses.

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pretérito indefinido  (past, simple past, preterite, past indicative)

• The pretérito indefinido is used to talk about specific real actions at some time in the past:

  te llamé dos veces – I called you twice

hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron

See also Past tenses.

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pretérito imperfecto  (imperfect, past imperfect, imperfect indicative)

• The pretérito imperfecto is used to talk about any repeated or habitual past real action (“used to...”) – maybe still continuing, also about time/ages in the past (“was/were...”), and about descriptions/backgrounds (of people, places):

  usualmente él llegaba temprano – he usually arrived early (and maybe still does)

  María tenía ocho años – María was eight years old  (when...)

  la ciudad era vieja y sucia – the city was old and dirty

hablaba, hablabas, hablaba, hablábamos, hablabais, hablaban

See also Past tenses.

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futuro  (future, future indicative)

• The futuro is used to talk about a real action that will happen or be true in the future (i.e., that has not yet happened):

  hablaré con ella – I’ll speak to her

  si estoy en Bilbao comeré pinchos – if I am in Bilbao I will eat pinchos

hablaré, hablarás, hablará, hablaremos, hablaréis, hablarán

See also Future tenses.

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presente de subjuntivo  (subjunctive, present subjunctive)

• The subjuntivo is used to talk about some action that is doubtful, uncertain, or unreal (such as emotions) when the first/other part of the sentence is in the present, future, or imperative:

  no creo que el viva aquí – I don’t think that he lives here

  cuando tenga más dinero iré a México – when I have more money I’ll go to Mexico

  quizás ella me llame esta noche – perhaps she’ll call me tonight

  deseamos que Juan sea feliz – we want Juan to be happy (we want that Juan be happy)

• also used for imperatives:

  quiero que laves los platos – I want you to wash the dishes (I want that you wash the dishes)

hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen

See also Present subjunctive.

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imperfecto de subjuntivo  (imperfect subjunctive)

• The imperfecto de subjuntivo is used to talk about some action that is doubtful, uncertain, or unreal (such as emotions) when the first/other part of the sentence is in the conditional or a past tense:

Si yo fuera tú, no lo haría – If I were you, I wouldn’t do it

No conocía a nadie que viviera en Madrid – I didn’t know anyone who lived in Madrid

Era bueno que Juan me leyera el libro – It was good that Juan read the book to me

hablara, hablaras, hablara, habláramos, hablarais, hablaran

See also Imperfect subjunctive.

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imperativo  (imperative, present imperative)

• The imperativo is used for commanding or encouraging immediate action.  Only the tú and vosotros forms for positive commands are different from the subjunctive:

  Espera aquí – (you, fam.) wait here

  ¡Mirad la cuenta! – look (you, fam pl.) at the bill!

[hable], habla/hables, hable, hablemos, hablad/habéis, hablen

See also Imperative.

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condicional  (conditional mood)

• The condicional is used to talk about hypothetical situations and actions that depend on something else. It is also used to make polite requests (‘would ...’).  The endings are the same as the Imperfect for -er and -ir verbs

  Si tuviera suficiente dinero, iría a España – If I had enough money, I would go to Spain

  Queríamos un coche – We would like a car

hablaría, hablarías, hablaría, hablaríamos, hablaríais, hablarían

See also Conditional.

 

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Note: strictly, verb forms (conjugations) have both a tense (time-related sense – present, future, etc.) and a mood (what it’s used for – indicative [fact], subjunctive [hypothetical], imperative [command], etc.).