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 let you know that verbs are one of many tougher elements of the language to grasp, 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 must know no less than a number of of them to carry primary Spanish conversations.

On Rosetta Stone, you will get comfy utilizing verb tenses and making use of them in real-world conversations with enjoyable classes—and also you’ll by no means need to 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, use them in a sentence, 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 passed off: up 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 details.
• Subjunctive, used for expressing feelings, needs, and potentialities.
• Crucial, used for giving instructions.

You will see that that some Spanish tenses are equally named however help totally 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 whenever you would use every tense, checklist some instance sentences, and present you conjugate common verbs utilized in that tense. For irregular verbs, which don’t observe regular Spanish conjugation guidelines, you possibly can look them up in a dependable conjugation dictionary, akin to SpanishDict.

Indicative tenses

The indicative tenses are used to speak about actions, states, and occasions which might be true (or no less than believed to be true). While you make an announcement 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 most likely be indicative ones. They embrace:

Current (Presente)

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

• 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 likely one of the tenses used to speak in regards to the previous in Spanish. You employ this tense to speak about previous actions usually, with no particular length. This consists of previous ordinary actions, in addition to actions that weren’t accomplished up to now.

Right here’s a tip: should you might use the phrase “used to” in English to explain an motion, there’s an excellent probability 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 quick and had freckles when she was younger.

Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Pretérito indefinido is one other tense used to speak in regards to the previous. You may consider it as a companion of the imperfect tense, because it covers previous actions that aren’t ordinary. Pretérito indefinido is used to speak about actions that passed off at a particular time up to now, in addition to accomplished actions that began and completed up 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 can or could happen sooner or later. If in English you’ll use the phrase “will” earlier than a verb, akin to, “I’ll clear my home,” you’ll use futuro easy to say that very same phrase in Spanish. You can even use futuro easy to speak about potentialities within the current. 

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

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

• Los niños tendrán hambre. = The youngsters could 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 take a look at the verb comer (“to eat”) for example. Utilizing comer within the current tense to say “I eat” can 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” can be conjugated as comeré, with the ending -é going on the finish of the verb’s infinitive kind.

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 cross 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 excellent (Pretérito perfecto)

This tense has the proper side, which suggests it covers actions which might be completed or accomplished. All excellent tenses use the auxiliary verb haber with a previous participle. The previous participle of normal 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 excellent side tenses will present you conjugate the suitable tense of haber.

You’ll use the pretérito perfecto when speaking about an motion that has completed within the current previous, or an motion that began up to now and continues 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 excellent 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 excellent (Pretérito anterior)

This tense is usually utilized in formal speech or in literature, so that you most likely gained’t encounter it usually in daily life. It describes an motion up to now that occurred instantly earlier than one other motion up to now. 

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

Future excellent (Futuro perfecto)

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

• Usted habrá estudiado español por tres años para este mayo. = You may 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 excellent (Condicional compuesto)

The condicional compuesto tense could be difficult. It’s used to speak about actions that will have occurred, however didn’t on account of one other occasion. You can even use it to speak about actions that most likely occurred or had been probably true.

• Él habría leído el libro, pero el teléfono sonó. = He would have learn the e book, however the cellphone 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 precise most issues that aren’t details, like hopes, emotions, and proposals. One strategy 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 embrace:

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 depart.

• 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 as we speak.

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.

While you conjugate imperfecto de subjuntivo verbs, there are two totally different endings you need to use. Each are appropriate, although totally different Spanish-speaking cultures could favor one ending or the opposite. Ending 2 is sometimes present in Spain, however ending 1 is extra widespread total.

• 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’d paint extra usually if I had extra time.

Imperfecto de subjuntivo conjugation is exclusive. Endings will not be 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. Consequently, 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 trendy Spanish, and its makes use of are largely lined by the current subjunctive. You may nonetheless discover the futuro de subjuntivo in authorized paperwork, literature, and proverbs, so superior Spanish audio system could have a purpose 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 excellent subjunctive (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

The pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo is much like the current subjunctive, besides that it covers previous actions which might be related to the current, in addition to actions that can have occurred at a sure level sooner or later. 

As a reminder, tenses with the proper side use the auxiliary verb haber with a verb participle, so the proper 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 excellent, or pluperfect, subjunctive (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

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

• Si hubiera/hubiese sabido, habría venido. = If I had identified, I’d have come.

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

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

Future excellent subjunctive (Futuro perfecto de subjuntivo)

Just like the futuro de subjuntivo, trendy Spanish audio system hardly ever use the futuro perfecto de subjuntivo, and it’s principally present in authorized paperwork and literature. You’ll use it to speak about actions that can have occurred at a particular level sooner or later, however folks often use the previous excellent subjunctive tense for this as an alternative.

• Los asuntos que se hubiere acordado tramitar por el procedimiento de urgencia tendrán prioridad. = Precedence will probably be given to these issues that fall underneath 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 embrace conjugations for the private pronouns tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros and nosotros, since they’re simply used to present 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 a few of the most frequent affirmative instructions in Spanish, akin to ser, ir, and hacer, are irregular verbs that don’t observe the conventional conjugation guidelines specified by this desk.

Unfavourable crucial (Imperativo negativo)

The imperativo negativo is the alternative 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.

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

Loosen up when you’re studying tenses with Rosetta Stone

Spanish tenses could also be difficult, however there’s no want to worry. You may be taught to talk Spanish rapidly and confidently with Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methodology will put together you for talking Spanish in on a regular basis life utilizing photographs and audio from native audio system. This versatile program matches into your life with bite-sized classes you could entry on-line, or obtain and take with you utilizing the Rosetta Stone app. Go to rosettastone.com to begin working towards as we speak!