Your Full Information to All 18 Spanish Verb Tenses (With Examples)

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Spanish tends to be one of many simpler languages for English audio system to be taught, however it nonetheless has its challenges. Anybody who’s tried studying Spanish can inform you that verbs are one of many tougher elements of the language to know, and that extends to how verb tenses work. Tenses are an element that have an effect on verb conjugation in Spanish, so that you’ll have to know at the least just a few of them to carry fundamental Spanish conversations.

On Rosetta Stone, you will get snug utilizing verb tenses and making use of them in real-world conversations with enjoyable classes—and also you’ll by no means must depend on rote memorization. On this publish, you possibly can preview a number of of the tenses you’ll be taught utilizing Rosetta Stone Spanish. 

Let’s check out all 18 Spanish verb tenses, together with how they work, tips on how to use them in a sentence, tips on how to conjugate them, and the three moods they’re categorized into.

Desk of contents

What are verb tenses and moods?

Verb tenses are variations of verbs that categorical at what time an motion came about: prior to now, current, or future. A verb’s tense impacts its conjugation, and subsequently its ending.

Spanish verb kinds are additionally divided into grammatical moods. Moods assist specify the speaker’s intention. In Spanish, there are three verb moods:

• Indicative, used for goal statements and information.
• Subjunctive, used for expressing feelings, needs, and prospects.
• Crucial, used for giving instructions.

One can find that some Spanish tenses are equally named however assist completely different moods. For instance, the indicative current tense and the subjunctive current tense serve distinct functions, and every has its personal verb conjugations.

Listing of Spanish verb tenses

There are 18 verb tenses in Spanish. Beneath, we’ll cowl once you would use every tense, record some instance sentences, and present you tips on how to conjugate common verbs utilized in that tense. For irregular verbs, which don’t comply with regular Spanish conjugation guidelines, you possibly can look them up in a dependable conjugation dictionary, comparable to SpanishDict.

Indicative tenses

The indicative tenses are used to speak about actions, states, and occasions which are true (or at the least believed to be true). Once you make a press release about actuality or describe one thing, you’ll use an indicative tense. For newbie Spanish audio system, the primary tenses you be taught to make use of will in all probability be indicative ones. They embody:

Current (Presente)

Like the current tense in English, presente in Spanish is used to speak about information, present realities, and observable traits. It’s additionally used to speak about actions which are ongoing or routine.

• Limpia la cocina. = He cleans the kitchen.

• ¿Cómo estás? = How are you doing?

• Me levanto a las seis y media cada mañana. = I rise up at half previous six each morning.

Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Pretérito imperfecto is among the tenses used to speak concerning the previous in Spanish. You utilize this tense to speak about previous actions usually, with no particular length. This contains previous routine actions, in addition to actions that weren’t accomplished prior to now.

Right here’s a tip: if you happen to might use the phrase “used to” in English to explain an motion, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll use pretérito imperfecto for it in Spanish.

• Ibas a la piscina todos los domingos. = You went to the pool each Sunday.

• Period baja y tenía pecas cuando period joven. = She was brief and had freckles when she was younger.

Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Pretérito indefinido is one other tense used to speak concerning the previous. You possibly can consider it as a companion of the imperfect tense, because it covers previous actions that aren’t routine. Pretérito indefinido is used to speak about actions that came about at a particular time prior to now, in addition to accomplished actions that began and completed prior to now.

• Compraron un coche nuevo. = They purchased a brand new automotive.

• Leíste este libro el mes pasado. = You learn this e book final month.

Future (Futuro easy)

Futuro easy is used to speak about actions that may or might happen sooner or later. If in English you’ll use the phrase “will” earlier than a verb, comparable to, “I’ll clear my home,” you’ll use futuro easy to say that very same phrase in Spanish. You may as well use futuro easy to speak about prospects within the current. 

• Hablaré con mi padre esta noche. = I will speak to my father tonight.

• Encontrará un trabajo bueno. = He will discover an excellent job.

• Los niños tendrán hambre. = The youngsters is likely to be hungry.

The endings for normal futuro easy verbs go on the tip of the infinitive type of the verb, quite than the tip of the verb’s stem. Let’s have a look at the verb comer (“to eat”) for example. Utilizing comer within the current tense to say “I eat” could be conjugated as como. The ending -o goes on the finish of comer’s stem. Utilizing comer in futuro easy to say “I’ll eat” could be conjugated as comeré, with the ending -é going on the finish of the verb’s infinitive type.

Conditional (Condicional easy)

The condicional easy is used to speak about hypothetical conditions and make requests.

• Sacaríamos la basura por ti. = We would take out the trash for you.

• ¿Podrías pasar el agua? = Would you go the water?

Like the long run tense above, condicional easy’s endings go on the finish of the infinitive type of the verb and never the stem.

Current good (Pretérito perfecto)

This tense has the right facet, which suggests it covers actions which are completed or accomplished. All good tenses use the auxiliary verb haber with a previous participle. The previous participle of standard verbs is fashioned by eradicating the ending of the infinitive and including -ado for -AR verbs or -ido for -ER and -IR verbs. Due to this, our conjugation tables for good facet tenses will present you tips on how to conjugate the suitable tense of haber.

You’d use the pretérito perfecto when speaking about an motion that has completed within the latest previous, or an motion that began prior to now and remains to be ongoing.

• Hemos vuelto para comprar la leche. = We have returned to purchase milk.

• Ellas han oído la verdad. = They have heard the reality.

Previous good or pluperfect (Pretérito pluscuamperfecto)

Pretérito pluscuamperfecto is used to speak about an motion that occurred earlier than one other motion.

• Ella había comido antes de ir al cine. = She had eaten earlier than going to the flicks.

• Había visto ya a mi primo. = I had already seen my cousin.

Preterite good (Pretérito anterior)

This tense is generally utilized in formal speech or in literature, so that you in all probability received’t encounter it usually in daily life. It describes an motion prior to now that occurred instantly earlier than one other motion prior to now. 

• Después de que hubimos comido, sirvió el postre. = After we had eaten, he served dessert.

Future good (Futuro perfecto)

You utilize the futuro perfecto to speak about actions that may have been accomplished in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later. You may as well use it to speak about conjecture — what might need or might have occurred.

• Usted habrá estudiado español por tres años para este mayo. = You could have studied three years of Spanish by this Could.

• Ellas habrán ido a otro café. = They will need to have gone to a different cafe.

Conditional good (Condicional compuesto)

The condicional compuesto tense could be tough. It’s used to speak about actions that will have occurred, however didn’t resulting from one other occasion. You may as well use it to speak about actions that in all probability occurred or have been probably true.

• Él habría leído el libro, pero el teléfono sonó. = He would have learn the e book, however the telephone rang.

• Habrían sido las ocho cuando llegamos. = It would have been eight o’clock once we arrived.

Subjunctive tenses

The subjunctive temper is used to specific most issues that aren’t information, like hopes, emotions, and proposals. One method to memorize what the subjunctive covers is to make use of the acronym WEIRDO:

• Wishes
• Emotions
• Impersonal expressions
• Recommendations
• Doubts/denials
• Ojalá (“Hopefully/I want”)

Subjunctive verbs are nearly all the time discovered inside a subordinate clause, which has a topic and verb however can’t stand alone as a sentence.

Tenses that fall within the subjunctive temper embody:

Current subjunctive (Presente de subjuntivo)

The presente de subjuntivo covers WEIRDO verbs within the current tense.

• Lamento que tengan que irse. = I’m sorry that they have to go away.

• Él duda que falles tu prueba. = He doubts that you just’ll fail your check.

• Ojalá no llueva hoy. = I want that it wouldn’t rain at the moment.

Conjugating a verb within the presente de subjuntivo requires figuring out what the yo type of the verb is within the current tense. Verb endings go on the finish of the primary particular person singular of the current tense, quite than on the finish of a verb’s stem.

Imperfect subjunctive (Imperfecto de subjuntivo)

The imperfecto de subjuntivo is used to speak about emotions associated to previous occasions, in addition to hypothetical conditions.

Once you conjugate imperfecto de subjuntivo verbs, there are two completely different endings you need to use. Each are appropriate, although completely different Spanish-speaking cultures might favor one ending or the opposite. Ending 2 is often present in Spain, however ending 1 is extra widespread general.

• Quería que vinieras/vinieses a mi fiesta. = I needed you to come to my get together.

• Pintaría más seguido si tuviera/tuviese más tiempo. = I might paint extra usually if I had extra time.

Imperfecto de subjuntivo conjugation is exclusive. Endings should not added to verb stems or infinitive kinds. As a substitute, they’re added to the third particular person plural (ellos/ellas and ustedes) types of the preterite tense, minus the -ron. Because of this, it helps to be very conversant in the preterite earlier than utilizing the imperfecto de subjuntivo.

Future subjunctive (Futuro de subjuntivo)

The futuro de subjuntivo isn’t present in fashionable Spanish, and its makes use of are largely coated by the current subjunctive. You possibly can nonetheless discover the futuro de subjuntivo in authorized paperwork, literature, and proverbs, so superior Spanish audio system might have a motive to be taught it.

• Sea lo que fuere el origen de los productos, serán gravados. = Regardless of the origin of the merchandise could also be, they are going to be topic to taxation.

• Adonde fueres, haz lo que vieres. = Wherever you go, do what you see.

Current good subjunctive (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

The pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo is just like the current subjunctive, besides that it covers previous actions which are linked to the current, in addition to actions that may have occurred at a sure level sooner or later. 

As a reminder, tenses with the right facet use the auxiliary verb haber with a verb participle, so the right subjunctive tenses will present conjugations for haber. 

• Mi profesor duda que yo haya leído el libro. = My instructor doubts that I have learn the e book.

• Es posible que ustedes hayan regresado para junio. = It’s potential that you’ll have returned by June.

Previous good, or pluperfect, subjunctive (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

You utilize the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo to explain hypothetical conditions prior to now, conditional conditions prior to now, and previous actions that preceded different actions. Just like the imperfect subjunctive, it has two completely different endings you need to use throughout conjugation.

• Si hubiera/hubiese sabido, habría venido. = If I had recognized, I might have come.

• ¿Y si el psíquico hubiera/hubiese tenido razón sobre el futuro? = What if the psychic had been proper concerning the future?

• Mamá no creyó que hubieras/hubieses limpiado las sábanas. = Mother didn’t consider that you just had cleaned the sheets.

Future good subjunctive (Futuro perfecto de subjuntivo)

Just like the futuro de subjuntivo, fashionable Spanish audio system not often use the futuro perfecto de subjuntivo, and it’s largely present in authorized paperwork and literature. You’d use it to speak about actions that may have occurred at a particular level sooner or later, however folks normally use the previous good subjunctive tense for this as an alternative.

• Los asuntos que se hubiere acordado tramitar por el procedimiento de urgencia tendrán prioridad. = Precedence might be given to these issues that fall below the emergency procedures provision.

Crucial tenses

Tenses within the crucial temper are used to speak direct instructions. Watch out utilizing the crucial temper, as it will possibly come throughout as blunt and even rude.

There are solely two tenses on this temper. Additionally, the crucial tenses solely embody conjugations for the non-public pronouns tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros and nosotros, since they’re simply used to provide others directions.

The tenses included within the crucial temper are:

Affirmative crucial (Imperativo positivo)

In comparison with the subjunctive tenses, the imperativo positivo is refreshingly simple: it’s used to inform folks what to do.

• Comed más verduras. = Eat extra greens.

• Vive tu vida. = Stay your life.

It’s vital to say that among the most frequent affirmative instructions in Spanish, comparable to ser, ir, and hacer, are irregular verbs that don’t comply with the conventional conjugation guidelines specified by this desk.

Detrimental crucial (Imperativo negativo)

The imperativo negativo is the other of the imperativo positivo — you employ it to inform folks what not to do.

• Por favor, no llores. = Please don’t cry.

• No hagáis eso. = Don’t do that.

When you’ve mastered conjugation for the current subjunctive tense, that pays off right here. The imperativo negativo makes use of the identical kinds. Simply be sure you put a unfavourable phrase in entrance of the verb, comparable to no or nunca (“by no means”).

Loosen up whilst you’re studying tenses with Rosetta Stone

Spanish tenses could also be tough, however there’s no want to worry. You possibly can be taught to talk Spanish shortly and confidently with Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion technique will put together you for talking Spanish in on a regular basis life utilizing pictures and audio from native audio system. This versatile program suits into your life with bite-sized classes that you would be able to entry on-line, or obtain and take with you utilizing the Rosetta Stone app. Go to rosettastone.com to start out training at the moment!