Spanish tenses
What each tense expresses, when to use it, and how to form it. See also verb conjugations.
Type the forms, check them instantly, and see which tenses and irregularities need work.
Indicative
- Present (presente)
Assertive statements about actions in the present
- Imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)
Assertive statements about actions in the past that are ongoing or habitual
- Preterite (pretérito perfecto simple)
Assertive statements about actions in the past that are completed
- Present perfect (pretérito perfecto compuesto)
Assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of the present (actions already completed in the present)
- Past perfect (pretérito pluscuamperfecto)
Assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of the past (actions already completed in the past)
- Future (futuro simple)
Assertive statements about actions in the future
- Future perfect (futuro compuesto)
Assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of the future (actions already completed in the future)
- Conditional (condicional simple)
Assertive statements about actions in the future from the perspective of the past (hypothetical actions)
- Conditional perfect (condicional compuesto)
Assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of a hypothetical (counterfactual actions)
Subjunctive
- Present subjunctive (presente de subjuntivo)
Non-assertive statements about actions in the present
- Imperfect subjunctive (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)
Non-assertive statements about actions in the past
- Present perfect subjunctive (pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)
Non-assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of the present (actions already completed in the present)
- Pluperfect subjunctive (pretérito pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
Non-assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of the past (actions already completed in the past)
Literary and archaic
- Past anterior (pretérito anterior)
Assertive statements about actions in the immediate past from the perspective of the past (actions just completed in the past)
- Future subjunctive (futuro simple de subjuntivo)
Non-assertive statements about actions in the future
- Future perfect subjunctive (futuro compuesto de subjuntivo)
Non-assertive statements about actions in the past from the perspective of the future (actions already completed in the future)