Overview
Spanish tenses at a glance
Model verbs: the yo form in every tense
| Form | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present (presente) | hablo | como | vivo |
| Preterite (pretérito perfecto simple) | hablé | comí | viví |
| Imperfect (pretérito imperfecto) | hablaba | comía | vivía |
| Future (futuro simple) | hablaré | comeré | viviré |
| Present perfect (pretérito perfecto compuesto) | he hablado | he comido | he vivido |
| Pluperfect (pretérito pluscuamperfecto) | había hablado | había comido | había vivido |
| Future perfect (futuro compuesto) | habré hablado | habré comido | habré vivido |
| Conditional (condicional simple) | hablaría | comería | viviría |
| Conditional perfect (condicional compuesto) | habría hablado | habría comido | habría vivido |
| Present subjunctive (presente de subjuntivo) | hable | coma | viva |
| Imperfect subjunctive, -ra (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo) | hablara | comiera | viviera |
| Imperfect subjunctive, -se (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo) | hablase | comiese | viviese |
| Perfect subjunctive (pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo) | haya hablado | haya comido | haya vivido |
| Pluperfect subjunctive (pretérito pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) | hubiera hablado | hubiera comido | hubiera vivido |
| Imperative (imperativo) | habla | come | vive |
Regular verbs follow these three models: -ar (hablar), -er (comer) and -ir (vivir).
When to use each tense
- Present (presente)What happens now or usually; also near-future plans.
- Preterite (pretérito perfecto simple)Completed actions at a specific time in the past.
- Imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)Background, habits and descriptions in the past.
- Future (futuro simple)Future actions and guesses about the present.
- Present perfect (pretérito perfecto compuesto)Past actions connected to the present; in Spain also for today's events.
- Pluperfect (pretérito pluscuamperfecto)An action completed before another past action.
- Future perfect (futuro compuesto)Actions completed by a future time; guesses about the recent past.
- Conditional (condicional simple)What would happen; polite requests; guesses about the past.
- Conditional perfect (condicional compuesto)What would have happened.
- Present subjunctive (presente de subjuntivo)Wishes, doubt, emotion and requests in subordinate clauses (quiero que vengas).
- Imperfect subjunctive, -ra (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)The subjunctive after a past or conditional main verb; unreal conditions (si tuviera).
- Imperfect subjunctive, -se (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)Same uses as the -ra form; more common in writing and in Spain.
- Perfect subjunctive (pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)The subjunctive for completed actions (espero que hayas llegado).
- Pluperfect subjunctive (pretérito pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)Unreal past conditions (si hubiera sabido).
- Imperative (imperativo)Commands and requests.
Forms checked: 45. Method: cells copied from the verified verb pages; pronouns checked against their Wiktionary entries.