This cheat sheet provides a detailed overview of Spanish verb tenses across past, present, future, and conditional moods. It includes conjugation patterns, usage explanations, and practical examples for each tense. It's perfect for learners who want to master when and how to use each tense effectively.
Present Tense (Presente)
Usage
Used for actions happening now or general truths.
Regular Conjugation
- AR: hablar → hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan
- ER: comer → como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen
- IR: vivir → vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven
Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido)
Usage
Used for actions completed at a definite time in the past.
Regular Conjugation
- AR: hablar → hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron
- ER/IR: comer → comí, comiste, comió, comimos, comisteis, comieron
Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto)
Usage
Used for habitual past actions or descriptions.
Regular Conjugation
- AR: hablar → hablaba, hablabas, hablaba, hablábamos, hablabais, hablaban
- ER/IR: comer → comía, comías, comía, comíamos, comíais, comían
Future Tense (Futuro Simple)
Usage
Used for actions that will happen in the future.
Regular Conjugation
Infinitive + endings: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án
Example: hablar → hablaré, hablarás, hablará, hablaremos, hablaréis, hablarán
Conditional Tense (Condicional Simple)
Usage
Used to express hypothetical actions or polite requests.
Regular Conjugation
Infinitive + endings: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían
Example: comer → comería, comerías, comería, comeríamos, comeríais, comerían
Present Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto)
Usage
Used for actions completed recently or that have relevance now.
Structure
haber (present) + past participle
Example: he hablado, has comido, ha vivido
Past Perfect (Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto)
Usage
Used for actions that had been completed before another past event.
Structure
haber (imperfect) + past participle
Example: había hablado, habías comido
Future Perfect (Futuro Perfecto)
Usage
Used for actions that will have been completed in the future.
Structure
haber (future) + past participle
Example: habré hablado, habrás comido
Conditional Perfect (Condicional Compuesto)
Usage
Used for hypothetical actions that would have occurred.
Structure
haber (conditional) + past participle
Example: habría hablado, habrías comido
Subjunctive Mood (Presente Subjuntivo)
Usage
Used to express desires, doubts, the unknown, or hypotheticals.
Regular Conjugation
- AR: hablar → hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen
- ER/IR: comer → coma, comas, coma, comamos, comáis, coman
Imperfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Usage
Used in hypothetical or contrary-to-fact past situations.
Conjugation (starting from 3rd person plural of preterite)
- hablar → hablara, hablaras, hablara, habláramos, hablarais, hablaran
- comer → comiera, comieras, comiera, comiéramos, comierais, comieran
Present Progressive (Presente Progresivo)
Usage
Used for actions in progress right now.
Structure
estar (present) + gerund (-ando/-iendo)
Example: estoy hablando, estás comiendo
Past Progressive (Pretérito Imperfecto Progresivo)
Usage
Used for ongoing past actions.
Structure
estar (imperfect) + gerund
Example: estaba hablando, estabas comiendo
Tips and Sources
Useful Tips
- Memorize irregular verbs like ser, ir, tener, and hacer across all tenses.
- Practice with sentence building exercises to understand context-based usage.
- Use flashcards to drill endings and stem changes.