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April 2, 2025

Mastering Spanish Conditional Sentences: First, Second, and Third Conditionals Explained with Examples

Spanish Lessons

Conditional sentences are an essential part of Spanish grammar, allowing us to express possibilities, hypothetical situations, and cause-and-effect relationships. Whether you’re making simple statements, dreaming about the future, or imagining alternate realities, mastering first, second, and third conditional sentences will help you communicate fluently and accurately in Spanish.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What conditional sentences are and how they work.
The different types: Type 1 (real conditions), Type 2 (hypothetical situations), and Type 3 (past hypotheticals).
How to form and use conditionals correctly in various situations.
Common mistakes and tricky exceptions to watch out for.
Practical examples and exercises to reinforce your learning.

By the end of this post, you’ll be able to form conditional sentences effortlessly and understand their nuances. Let’s dive in!

Common Expressions in Spanish Conditional Sentences

When using conditional sentences in Spanish, certain words and phrases commonly appear. These expressions help introduce conditions and indicate possible outcomes. Here are some of the most frequently used ones:

1. Common Words Used in Conditional Sentences

Si – If
Cuando – When (in some conditional cases)
Siempre que – As long as / Provided that
A menos que – Unless
En caso de que – In case
Con tal de que – As long as / Provided that
De no ser por – If it weren’t for
De haber sabido – If I had known

2. Common Sentence Starters for Conditionals

Here are some typical ways conditional sentences start:

✅ Si + present tense, then future tense

Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)

✅ Si + past subjunctive, then conditional tense

Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel the world.)

✅ Si + past perfect subjunctive, then conditional perfect

Si hubieras llegado temprano, habríamos visto la película juntos. (If you had arrived early, we would have watched the movie together.)

3. Fixed Conditional Expressions in Spanish

Some Spanish conditional sentences follow set expressions that you will often hear in conversations:

Si Dios quiere… (If God wills it…)
Si yo fuera tú… (If I were you…)
Si mal no recuerdo… (If I remember correctly…)
Si no me equivoco… (If I’m not mistaken…)
Si no fuera por… (If it weren’t for…)
Si todo sale bien… (If everything goes well…)

These phrases are widely used in daily speech and can help you sound more natural when speaking Spanish.

Usage of Conditional Sentences in Spanish

Conditional sentences in Spanish are used to express different levels of possibility, probability, or hypothetical situations. The type of conditional used depends on whether the condition is real, unlikely, or impossible. Let’s break down the three main types of conditional sentences and when to use them.

1. First Conditional (Real Conditions in the Present or Future)

The first conditional is used when there is a real and possible situation in the present or future. It describes what will happen if a certain condition is met.

When to Use the First Conditional:

✅ To express possible future outcomes based on a condition:

Si estudias, aprobarás el examen.
(If you study, you will pass the exam.)

✅ To give warnings or advice:

Si no llevas abrigo, tendrás frío.
(If you don’t wear a coat, you will be cold.)

✅ To talk about rules or natural consequences:

Si calientas el agua a 100 grados, hierve.
(If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.)

2. Second Conditional (Hypothetical or Unreal Situations in the Present or Future)

The second conditional is used to talk about situations that are unlikely or purely hypothetical. It often expresses dreams, wishes, or hypothetical advice.

When to Use the Second Conditional:

✅ To describe imaginary or unlikely events:

Si tuviera más dinero, compraría una casa grande.
(If I had more money, I would buy a big house.)

✅ To give polite suggestions or advice:

Si yo fuera tú, hablaría con el profesor.
(If I were you, I would talk to the teacher.)

✅ To express desires or regrets:

Si pudiera viajar en el tiempo, iría al pasado.
(If I could travel in time, I would go to the past.)

3. Third Conditional (Unreal Past Situations & Regrets)

The third conditional is used to talk about past situations that did not happen and their imaginary consequences. It expresses regret or missed opportunities.

When to Use the Third Conditional:

✅ To talk about things that could have happened differently in the past:

Si hubieras estudiado más, habrías aprobado el examen.
(If you had studied more, you would have passed the exam.)

✅ To express regrets about past choices:

Si hubiera sabido la verdad, no habría dicho eso.
(If I had known the truth, I wouldn’t have said that.)

✅ To describe how things could have been different:

Si no hubiera llovido, habríamos ido a la playa.
(If it hadn’t rained, we would have gone to the beach.)

These three types of conditional sentences allow us to express different levels of possibility, probability, and hypothetical thinking in Spanish.

Conjugation Rules for Conditional Sentences in Spanish

Understanding how to conjugate verbs correctly is crucial when forming first, second, and third conditional sentences in Spanish. Each type follows a specific structure and verb tense. Let’s break them down step by step.

1. First Conditional: Present + Future

The first conditional uses the present indicative in the “if” clause and the future simple in the result clause.

Formula:

✅ Si + present indicative, then future simple

Conjugation Example (Hablar – To Speak):

Person	Si clause (Present Indicative)	Result clause (Future Simple)
Yo	Si hablo… (If I speak…)	hablaré… (I will speak…)
Tú	Si hablas… (If you speak…)	hablarás… (You will speak…)
Él/Ella/Usted	Si habla… (If he/she speaks…)	hablará… (He/she will speak…)
Nosotros	Si hablamos… (If we speak…)	hablaremos… (We will speak…)
Vosotros	Si habláis… (If you all speak…)	hablaréis… (You all will speak…)
Ellos/Ustedes	Si hablan… (If they speak…)	hablarán… (They will speak…)

Example Sentences:

Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)
Si llueve, no iremos a la playa. (If it rains, we won’t go to the beach.)

2. Second Conditional: Past Subjunctive + Conditional

The second conditional requires the past subjunctive in the “if” clause and the conditional tense in the result clause.

Formula:

✅ Si + past subjunctive, then conditional

Conjugation Example (Tener – To Have):

Person	Si clause (Past Subjunctive)	Result clause (Conditional)
Yo	Si tuviera… (If I had…)	tendría… (I would have…)
Tú	Si tuvieras… (If you had…)	tendrías… (You would have…)
Él/Ella/Usted	Si tuviera… (If he/she had…)	tendría… (He/she would have…)
Nosotros	Si tuviéramos… (If we had…)	tendríamos… (We would have…)
Vosotros	Si tuvierais… (If you all had…)	tendríais… (You all would have…)
Ellos/Ustedes	Si tuvieran… (If they had…)	tendrían… (They would have…)

Example Sentences:

Si tuviera dinero, viajaría a España. (If I had money, I would travel to Spain.)
Si fueras más paciente, aprenderías mejor. (If you were more patient, you would learn better.)

3. Third Conditional: Past Perfect Subjunctive + Conditional Perfect

The third conditional is formed with the past perfect subjunctive in the “if” clause and the conditional perfect in the result clause.

Formula:

✅ Si + past perfect subjunctive, then conditional perfect

Conjugation Example (Ser – To Be):

Person	Si clause (Past Perfect Subjunctive)	Result clause (Conditional Perfect)
Yo	Si hubiera sido… (If I had been…)	habría sido… (I would have been…)
Tú	Si hubieras sido… (If you had been…)	habrías sido… (You would have been…)
Él/Ella/Usted	Si hubiera sido… (If he/she had been…)	habría sido… (He/she would have been…)
Nosotros	Si hubiéramos sido… (If we had been…)	habríamos sido… (We would have been…)
Vosotros	Si hubierais sido… (If you all had been…)	habríais sido… (You all would have been…)
Ellos/Ustedes	Si hubieran sido… (If they had been…)	habrían sido… (They would have been…)

Example Sentences:

Si hubieras estudiado más, habrías aprobado el examen. (If you had studied more, you would have passed the exam.)
Si me hubieras llamado, habría venido antes. (If you had called me, I would have come earlier.)

Now that we’ve covered conjugation rules, the next section will explain grammar rules in detail to ensure you use these conditionals correctly.

Grammar Rules for Conditional Sentences in Spanish

Understanding the structure of conditional sentences is essential to using them correctly. While we’ve already covered conjugation, let’s now dive into important grammar rules that govern how conditional sentences work in Spanish.

1. Structure of Conditional Sentences

Each conditional sentence consists of two clauses:

The “Si” Clause (Condition) → Expresses the condition.
The Main Clause (Result) → Expresses the result if the condition is met.

Basic Sentence Patterns

First Conditional:
- Si + present tense, future tense
- Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)
Second Conditional:
- Si + past subjunctive, conditional tense
- Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had money, I would travel the world.)
Third Conditional:
- Si + past perfect subjunctive, conditional perfect tense
- Si hubieras venido, te habrías divertido. (If you had come, you would have had fun.)

2. Word Order in Conditional Sentences

The order of the clauses can change without altering the meaning.
✅ Si clause first: Si practicas, mejorarás tu español. (If you practice, you will improve your Spanish.)
✅ Result clause first: Mejorarás tu español si practicas. (You will improve your Spanish if you practice.)

🚨 Important: When the “si” clause comes first, a comma is needed. When it comes second, no comma is required.

3. Conditional Sentences Without “Si”

Although “si” (if) is the most common way to introduce a conditional sentence, other expressions can be used instead:

✅ De + infinitive (For hypothetical conditions in second and third conditionals)

De tener tiempo, te ayudaría. (If I had time, I would help you.)

✅ Como + subjunctive (For warnings or threats – equivalent to “If you ever…”)

Como llegues tarde otra vez, te despedirán. (If you ever arrive late again, they will fire you.)

✅ A menos que + subjunctive (Unless…)

No saldré a menos que deje de llover. (I won’t go out unless it stops raining.)

4. The Use of “Cuando” Instead of “Si” in First Conditional

In the first conditional, “cuando” (when) can sometimes replace “si” (if), but only if we are talking about something that will definitely happen in the future.

✅ Cuando termine la reunión, te llamaré. (When the meeting ends, I will call you.)
❌ Cuando tuviera más dinero, viajaría más. (Incorrect – second conditional cannot use “cuando”)

5. “Si” Never Uses the Future or Conditional in the Condition Clause

One of the most common mistakes learners make is using the future or conditional tense after “si” in the condition clause.

🚨 Incorrect:
❌ Si tendrás tiempo, llámame. (If you will have time, call me.)
🚀 Correct:
✅ Si tienes tiempo, llámame. (If you have time, call me.)

🚨 Incorrect:
❌ Si tendría dinero, compraría un coche. (If I would have money, I would buy a car.)
🚀 Correct:
✅ Si tuviera dinero, compraría un coche. (If I had money, I would buy a car.)

Now that we’ve covered the grammar rules, the next section will highlight tricky points and exceptions that you need to keep in mind.

Things to Keep in Mind: Tricky Points and Exceptions

While conditional sentences in Spanish follow clear patterns, there are tricky points, irregularities, and exceptions that learners should be aware of. Let’s go over these carefully.

1. The Present Indicative Can Sometimes Replace the Future in First Conditional Sentences

In spoken Spanish, it’s common to use the present indicative in both clauses instead of the future tense, even when talking about the future.

✅ Standard First Conditional (With Future Tense):

Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)

✅ Alternative (Using Present Indicative in Both Clauses):

Si estudias, apruebas el examen. (If you study, you pass the exam.)

Both are correct, but the second is more natural in conversation.

2. The Second Conditional Sometimes Uses “Imperfect Indicative” Instead of “Past Subjunctive”

In some Spanish-speaking countries (especially in Latin America), imperfect indicative is sometimes used instead of past subjunctive in the second conditional.

✅ Standard:

Si tú fueras más alto, jugarías baloncesto. (If you were taller, you would play basketball.)

✅ Alternative (Common in Latin America):

Si tú eras más alto, jugabas baloncesto. (If you were taller, you would play basketball.)

🚀 Note: The first version (with past subjunctive) is grammatically correct in formal Spanish. The second version is considered colloquial.

3. The Third Conditional Can Sometimes Use the Simple Conditional Instead of Conditional Perfect

In spoken Spanish, some people simplify the third conditional by replacing the conditional perfect with the simple conditional (though this is not always grammatically correct).

✅ Standard Third Conditional (Using Conditional Perfect):

Si hubieras estudiado, habrías aprobado el examen. (If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.)

🚨 Colloquial Alternative (Less Formal, Less Accurate):

Si hubieras estudiado, aprobabas el examen. (If you had studied, you would pass the exam.)

This structure is common in casual speech but should be avoided in formal writing.

4. Some Irregular Verbs in Conditional Sentences

Some verbs have irregular forms in the future and conditional tenses. Since the first and second conditionals rely on these tenses, it’s important to recognize them.

✅ Common Irregular Verbs in the Future & Conditional Tenses:

Infinitive	Future (Yo Form)	Conditional (Yo Form)
Tener (to have)	Tendré	Tendría
Hacer (to do/make)	Haré	Haría
Decir (to say/tell)	Diré	Diría
Poder (to be able to)	Podré	Podría
Venir (to come)	Vendré	Vendría
Querer (to want)	Querré	Querría

Example Sentences:

Si tengo dinero, compraré un coche. (If I have money, I will buy a car.)
Si tuviera dinero, compraría un coche. (If I had money, I would buy a car.)
Si hubiera tenido dinero, habría comprado un coche. (If I had had money, I would have bought a car.)

5. “Como Si” Always Uses the Past Subjunctive

The phrase “como si” (as if) always triggers the past subjunctive, even if the meaning is in the present.

✅ Correct:

Me mira como si fuera un extraterrestre. (He looks at me as if I were an alien.)
Habla como si supiera todo. (He speaks as if he knew everything.)

🚨 Incorrect:
❌ Me mira como si es un extraterrestre.

6. The Difference Between “Si No” and “Sino”

🚀 “Si no” (two words) means “if not.”

Si no estudias, no aprobarás. (If you don’t study, you won’t pass.)

🚀 “Sino” (one word) means “but rather”

No quiero café, sino té. (I don’t want coffee, but rather tea.)

Many Spanish learners confuse these, so it’s important to remember the difference!

Now that we’ve covered these tricky points, the next section will focus on common mistakes learners make and how to avoid them.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced learners make mistakes with first, second, and third conditional sentences in Spanish. Let’s go over the most frequent errors and how to correct them.

1. Using the Future or Conditional in the “Si” Clause

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si tendrás tiempo, llámame. (If you will have time, call me.)
❌ Si tendría dinero, compraría un coche. (If I would have money, I would buy a car.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si tienes tiempo, llámame. (If you have time, call me.)
✅ Si tuviera dinero, compraría un coche. (If I had money, I would buy a car.)

📌 Rule: The “si” clause never takes the future or conditional tense. It must always use the present indicative (first conditional) or past subjunctive (second conditional).

2. Confusing “Si” (If) with “Sí” (Yes)

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Sí tienes hambre, come algo. (Yes you are hungry, eat something.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si tienes hambre, come algo. (If you are hungry, eat something.)

📌 Rule: Si (without an accent) means “if.” Sí (with an accent) means “yes.”

3. Forgetting to Use the Past Subjunctive in the Second Conditional

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si tengo más dinero, viajaría a España. (If I have more money, I would travel to Spain.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría a España. (If I had more money, I would travel to Spain.)

📌 Rule: The past subjunctive must be used in the “si” clause of a second conditional sentence.

4. Incorrect Word Order

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si aprobarás el examen estudias. (If you will pass the exam, you study.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)

📌 Rule: Condition comes first, result follows. Word order can be reversed, but verb tenses must stay correct.

5. Misusing the Third Conditional

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si estudiabas más, habrías aprobado el examen. (If you studied more, you would have passed the exam.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si hubieras estudiado más, habrías aprobado el examen. (If you had studied more, you would have passed the exam.)

📌 Rule: The third conditional requires the past perfect subjunctive (hubieras + past participle) in the “si” clause.

6. Not Using a Comma When the “Si” Clause Comes First

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si practicas mejorarás tu español. (If you practice you will improve your Spanish.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si practicas, mejorarás tu español. (If you practice, you will improve your Spanish.)

📌 Rule: When the “si” clause comes first, a comma is needed before the main clause.

7. Mixing Up “Si No” and “Sino”

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si no quieres café, sino té. (If not you want coffee, but rather tea.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si no quieres café, toma té. (If you don’t want coffee, have tea.)
✅ No quiero café, sino té. (I don’t want coffee, but rather tea.)

📌 Rule:

Si no (two words) means “if not”
Sino (one word) means “but rather”

8. Incorrectly Using “Como Si” with the Indicative Instead of the Subjunctive

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Habla como si sabe todo. (He talks as if he knows everything.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Habla como si supiera todo. (He talks as if he knew everything.)

📌 Rule: “Como si” always requires the past subjunctive.

9. Overusing “Si” When Other Structures Work Better

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si no me llamas, estaré preocupado. (If you don’t call me, I will be worried.)

🚀 Alternative:
✅ A menos que me llames, estaré preocupado. (Unless you call me, I will be worried.)

📌 Tip: Instead of always using “si,” try alternatives like “a menos que” (unless), “de” + infinitive, or “como” for variety and accuracy.

10. Translating Directly from English

🚨 Mistake:
❌ Si hubiera sido tú, no haría eso. (If I had been you, I wouldn’t do that.)

🚀 Correction:
✅ Si yo fuera tú, no haría eso. (If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.)

📌 Rule: Spanish does not use the past perfect subjunctive (“hubiera sido”) in hypothetical identity situations. The past subjunctive (“fuera”) is correct.

Example Sentences: First, Second, and Third Conditional in Spanish

Below are 20 example sentences demonstrating the first, second, and third conditionals in Spanish. Each example includes the English translation to help you understand the structure and meaning.

🔹 First Conditional (Si + Present Indicative → Future/Imperative/Present)

Used for real or likely situations in the present or future.

Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)
Si me llamas, iré contigo. (If you call me, I will go with you.)
Si llueve, llevaremos paraguas. (If it rains, we will take umbrellas.)
Si tienes hambre, come algo. (If you are hungry, eat something.)
Si trabajas duro, tendrás éxito. (If you work hard, you will succeed.)

🔹 Second Conditional (Si + Past Subjunctive → Conditional)

Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future.

Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel the world.)
Si fueras más paciente, te iría mejor. (If you were more patient, things would go better for you.)
Si supiera cocinar, haría una cena deliciosa. (If I knew how to cook, I would make a delicious dinner.)
Si vivieras en España, hablarías español perfectamente. (If you lived in Spain, you would speak Spanish perfectly.)
Si no hiciera tanto frío, saldríamos a caminar. (If it weren’t so cold, we would go for a walk.)

🔹 Third Conditional (Si + Past Perfect Subjunctive → Conditional Perfect)

Used for impossible past situations (things that didn’t happen).

Si hubieras estudiado, habrías aprobado el examen. (If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.)
Si me hubieras avisado antes, habría llegado a tiempo. (If you had warned me earlier, I would have arrived on time.)
Si no hubiéramos perdido el tren, habríamos llegado más rápido. (If we hadn’t missed the train, we would have arrived faster.)
Si hubieras escuchado, no habrías cometido el error. (If you had listened, you wouldn’t have made the mistake.)
Si hubiéramos ahorrado dinero, habríamos comprado una casa. (If we had saved money, we would have bought a house.)

🔹 Mixed Conditionals (Combining Second & Third Conditional)

Used for past situations with present/future consequences.

Si hubiera estudiado medicina, ahora sería doctor. (If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.)
Si no hubieras perdido tu pasaporte, estarías en París ahora. (If you hadn’t lost your passport, you would be in Paris now.)
Si hubiera nacido en Italia, hablaría italiano perfectamente. (If I had been born in Italy, I would speak Italian perfectly.)
Si hubieras entrenado más, jugarías en el equipo profesional. (If you had trained more, you would be playing on the professional team.)
Si hubiera tomado el tren temprano, no llegaría tarde ahora. (If I had taken the early train, I wouldn’t be late now.)

💡 Key Takeaways:

First conditional = Real situations → Present + Future.
Second conditional = Hypothetical present/future → Past subjunctive + Conditional.
Third conditional = Impossible past → Past perfect subjunctive + Conditional perfect.
Mixed conditional = Past situations affecting the present.

Exercise: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Conditional Form

Below are 20 fill-in-the-blank sentences to test your understanding of first, second, and third conditional sentences in Spanish. Try to complete each sentence with the correct verb form!

💡 Instructions:

Try to complete the blanks using the correct verb form.
Pay attention to whether it is a first, second, third, or mixed conditional sentence.
If needed, review the grammar rules before answering.

🔹 First Conditional (Si + Present Indicative → Future/Imperative/Present)

Si __________ (tener) tiempo, te ayudaré con la tarea. (If I have time, I will help you with the homework.)
Si no __________ (estudiar), no aprobarás el examen. (If you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.)
Si __________ (llover), llevaremos un paraguas. (If it rains, we will take an umbrella.)
Si __________ (llegar) temprano, podremos elegir los mejores asientos. (If we arrive early, we will be able to choose the best seats.)
Si __________ (hacer) calor, iremos a la playa. (If it’s hot, we will go to the beach.)

🔹 Second Conditional (Si + Past Subjunctive → Conditional)

Si __________ (tener) más dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel the world.)
Si __________ (poder) hablar francés, trabajaría en París. (If I could speak French, I would work in Paris.)
Si tú __________ (ser) más amable, tendrías más amigos. (If you were kinder, you would have more friends.)
Si ellos __________ (vivir) en España, hablarían español perfectamente. (If they lived in Spain, they would speak Spanish perfectly.)
Si __________ (haber) menos tráfico, llegaríamos a tiempo. (If there were less traffic, we would arrive on time.)

🔹 Third Conditional (Si + Past Perfect Subjunctive → Conditional Perfect)

Si __________ (saber) que venías, te habría esperado en la estación. (If I had known you were coming, I would have waited for you at the station.)
Si __________ (escuchar) a mi madre, no habría cometido ese error. (If I had listened to my mother, I wouldn’t have made that mistake.)
Si nosotros __________ (tomar) el tren temprano, habríamos llegado antes. (If we had taken the early train, we would have arrived earlier.)
Si ellos __________ (estudiar) más, habrían aprobado el examen. (If they had studied more, they would have passed the exam.)
Si tú __________ (haber) practicado más, habrías jugado mejor. (If you had practiced more, you would have played better.)

🔹 Mixed Conditionals (Combining Second & Third Conditional)

Si __________ (nacer) en Italia, hablaría italiano perfectamente. (If I had been born in Italy, I would speak Italian perfectly.)
Si tú __________ (estudiar) más en la universidad, ahora tendrías un mejor trabajo. (If you had studied more at university, you would have a better job now.)
Si ellos __________ (haber) ahorrado dinero, ahora podrían comprar una casa. (If they had saved money, they could buy a house now.)
Si __________ (haber) entrenado más, jugaría en el equipo profesional. (If I had trained more, I would be playing on the professional team.)
Si tú __________ (haber) llegado a tiempo, no estarías tan estresado ahora. (If you had arrived on time, you wouldn’t be so stressed now.)

Answers

Let’s see how many yo got Right.

🔹 First Conditional (Si + Present Indicative → Future/Imperative/Present)

Si tengo tiempo, te ayudaré con la tarea. (If I have time, I will help you with the homework.)
Si no estudias, no aprobarás el examen. (If you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.)
Si llueve, llevaremos un paraguas. (If it rains, we will take an umbrella.)
Si llegamos temprano, podremos elegir los mejores asientos. (If we arrive early, we will be able to choose the best seats.)
Si hace calor, iremos a la playa. (If it’s hot, we will go to the beach.)

🔹 Second Conditional (Si + Past Subjunctive → Conditional)

Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel the world.)
Si pudiera hablar francés, trabajaría en París. (If I could speak French, I would work in Paris.)
Si tú fueras más amable, tendrías más amigos. (If you were kinder, you would have more friends.)
Si ellos vivieran en España, hablarían español perfectamente. (If they lived in Spain, they would speak Spanish perfectly.)
Si hubiera menos tráfico, llegaríamos a tiempo. (If there were less traffic, we would arrive on time.)

🔹 Third Conditional (Si + Past Perfect Subjunctive → Conditional Perfect)

Si hubiera sabido que venías, te habría esperado en la estación. (If I had known you were coming, I would have waited for you at the station.)
Si hubiera escuchado a mi madre, no habría cometido ese error. (If I had listened to my mother, I wouldn’t have made that mistake.)
Si nosotros hubiéramos tomado el tren temprano, habríamos llegado antes. (If we had taken the early train, we would have arrived earlier.)
Si ellos hubieran estudiado más, habrían aprobado el examen. (If they had studied more, they would have passed the exam.)
Si tú hubieras practicado más, habrías jugado mejor. (If you had practiced more, you would have played better.)

🔹 Mixed Conditionals (Combining Second & Third Conditional)

Si hubiera nacido en Italia, hablaría italiano perfectamente. (If I had been born in Italy, I would speak Italian perfectly.)
Si tú hubieras estudiado más en la universidad, ahora tendrías un mejor trabajo. (If you had studied more at university, you would have a better job now.)
Si ellos hubieran ahorrado dinero, ahora podrían comprar una casa. (If they had saved money, they could buy a house now.)
Si hubiera entrenado más, jugaría en el equipo profesional. (If I had trained more, I would be playing on the professional team.)
Si tú hubieras llegado a tiempo, no estarías tan estresado ahora. (If you had arrived on time, you wouldn’t be so stressed now.)

Summary: Key Takeaways on Conditional Sentences in Spanish

✔ First Conditional (Real Situations)

Structure: Si + present indicative → future/imperative/present
Used for possible or likely future events.

✔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical Situations)

Structure: Si + past subjunctive → conditional
Used for imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future.

✔ Third Conditional (Impossible Past Situations)

Structure: Si + past perfect subjunctive → conditional perfect
Used for events that could have happened but didn’t.

✔ Mixed Conditionals (Past Events Affecting Present/Future)

Combine second and third conditionals.
Used when a past event influences a present or future outcome.

✔ Key Grammar Rules:

Verb tenses must agree with each conditional type.
No future tense after “si” in first conditionals.
Use subjunctive in second and third conditionals.

✔ Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Using the future tense after “si” in first conditionals.
Forgetting to use the subjunctive in second and third conditionals.
Mixing up past and present tenses in mixed conditionals.

Conclusion: Master Conditional Sentences in Spanish!

Understanding first, second, and third conditional sentences in Spanish is essential for expressing real possibilities, hypothetical situations, and past regrets. These structures allow you to speak more naturally, express complex ideas, and improve fluency in Spanish.

👉Want to master Spanish: Check out more Spanish lessons here

Now that you’ve learned the rules, practice is key! Try forming your own conditional sentences, complete the exercises, and apply them in conversations. The more you use them, the more confident you’ll become.

🚀 Start using conditionals today and take your Spanish to the next level!

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Spanish

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Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto (Past Perfect) in Spanish

Pretérito Indefinido vs. Imperfecto – Usage and Contrast Between Two Types of Past Tense in Spanish

Simple Future (Futuro Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Simple Conditional (Condicional Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Subordinate Clauses (Oraciones Subordinadas) in Spanish

Relative Clauses (Oraciones relativas) with Indicative in Spanish

Relative Clauses(oraciones relativas) with Subjunctive in Spanish

Indirect & Direct Object Pronouns Combined in Spanish Grammar

Tiempo Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto / Present Perfect Tense in Spanish

The Imperfect Subjunctive Tense in Spanish: Tiempo pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

Tiempo Futuro Compuesto / Future Perfect Tense in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Master the Spanish Simple Conditional Tense: The Ultimate Expert Guide

Tiempo Condicional Compuesto: Conditional Perfect Tense in Spanish

Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish: Master Verbal Periphrases with Easy Rules & Examples

Estilo Indirecto en Pasado: How to Use Reported Speech in Past Tense in Spanish

Mastering Spanish Conditional Sentences: First, Second, and Third Conditionals Explained with Examples

Mastering Relative Clauses in Spanish: Indicative vs. Subjunctive Made Simple!

How to Use the Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: A Complete B2 Guide on Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo

Past Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: How to Use Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo with Examples and Easy Rules

March 28, 2025

Estilo Indirecto en Pasado: How to Use Reported Speech in Past Tense in Spanish

When we want to report what someone said in the past, we use reported speech or “estilo indirecto en pasado” in Spanish. This is an essential grammar structure for retelling conversations, summarizing news, and sharing information in a natural way.

In direct speech, we quote a person’s exact words. But in reported speech, we modify the sentence to fit into our own narration, often shifting the verb tense into the past.

For example:

Direct Speech: María dijo: “Voy al mercado.” (Maria said, “I’m going to the market.”)
Reported Speech: María dijo que iba al mercado. (Maria said that she was going to the market.)

Notice how the verb voy (I go) in direct speech changes to iba (I was going) in reported speech. This tense shift is a key feature of reported speech in Spanish.

Mastering reported speech in past tense is crucial for storytelling, writing formal reports, and engaging in everyday conversations. Whether you’re discussing past events, quoting someone’s opinion, or sharing a story, knowing how to use this structure correctly will help you sound more fluent and natural.

In this complete guide, we’ll explore:
✅ Common expressions used in reported speech
✅ When and how to use reported speech in past tense
✅ Conjugation patterns for different tenses
✅ Grammar rules and tricky exceptions
✅ Examples and exercises to reinforce learning

By the end of this article, you’ll have a strong command of estilo indirecto en pasado, making it easier to understand and use in real-life conversations. Let’s dive in!

Common Expressions in Reported Speech (Estilo Indirecto en Pasado)

Below are some commonly used expressions when reporting speech in the past. These phrases introduce reported statements and are frequently used in conversations and writing.

Dijo que… (He/She said that…)
Comentó que… (He/She commented that…)
Explicó que… (He/She explained that…)
Aseguró que… (He/She assured that…)
Mencionó que… (He/She mentioned that…)
Respondió que… (He/She responded that…)
Indicó que… (He/She indicated that…)
Afirmó que… (He/She stated that…)
Preguntó si… (He/She asked if…)
Quiso saber si… (He/She wanted to know if…)

These phrases are used to introduce indirect speech before transitioning into the main statement, which is often modified into the past tense.

Usage of Reported Speech in Past Tense (Estilo Indirecto en Pasado)

Reported speech in past tense is used in several real-life situations where we need to relay information, retell conversations, or summarize past events. Below are the main cases where this grammar structure is commonly applied:

1. Reporting What Someone Said

When conveying what someone else has said without quoting them directly.
✅ María dijo que estaba cansada.
(Maria said that she was tired.)

2. Summarizing Conversations or News

When recounting past discussions or summarizing news reports.
✅ El presidente anunció que habría nuevos cambios en la economía.
(The president announced that there would be new changes in the economy.)

3. Retelling Stories or Events

When narrating events, especially in past storytelling.
✅ Mi abuelo me contó que en su juventud trabajaba en una fábrica.
(My grandfather told me that in his youth, he worked in a factory.)

4. Expressing Indirect Questions

When reporting questions without using the exact words of the speaker.
✅ Ella preguntó si íbamos a la fiesta.
(She asked if we were going to the party.)

✅ Me preguntó qué había pasado ayer.
(He/She asked me what had happened yesterday.)

5. Giving Instructions Indirectly

When conveying commands or requests in an indirect manner.
✅ El profesor nos pidió que entregáramos la tarea a tiempo.
(The teacher asked us to submit the homework on time.)

✅ Mi mamá me dijo que comprara leche en el supermercado.
(My mom told me to buy milk at the supermarket.)

6. Sharing Someone’s Opinion

When expressing thoughts or opinions that someone else has shared.
✅ Juan mencionó que el libro era muy interesante.
(Juan mentioned that the book was very interesting.)

✅ Ella comentó que la película no le había gustado mucho.
(She commented that she didn’t like the movie very much.)

These are the most common situations where reported speech in past tense is used in Spanish. Understanding these cases will help you use this structure naturally in conversations and writing.

Conjugation in Reported Speech (Estilo Indirecto en Pasado)

When using reported speech in past tense in Spanish, the verb in the direct speech often shifts back to a past tense when reported. This change follows a predictable pattern.

Below is a table showing how verb tenses change when moving from direct speech to reported speech:

Direct Speech (Estilo Directo)	Reported Speech (Estilo Indirecto)	Example
Presente (Present)	Pretérito imperfecto (Imperfect past)	Juan dice: “Tengo hambre.” → Juan dijo que tenía hambre. (Juan said that he was hungry.)
Pretérito perfecto (Present perfect)	Pretérito pluscuamperfecto (Past perfect)	Ana dijo: “He terminado mi tarea.” → Ana dijo que había terminado su tarea. (Ana said that she had finished her homework.)
Pretérito indefinido (Simple past)	Pretérito pluscuamperfecto (Past perfect)	Pedro dijo: “Fui al cine.” → Pedro dijo que había ido al cine. (Pedro said that he had gone to the movies.)
Futuro simple (Future simple)	Condicional simple (Simple conditional)	Clara dijo: “Iré a la playa.” → Clara dijo que iría a la playa. (Clara said that she would go to the beach.)
Imperativo (Command form)	Subjuntivo imperfecto (Imperfect subjunctive)	Él dijo: “Ven aquí.” → Él dijo que viniera allí. (He said to come there.)

Additional Notes on Conjugation Shifts:

If the original statement is already in the imperfect tense, the verb usually stays the same.
✅ Ella dijo: “Cuando era niña, jugaba mucho.”
✅ Ella dijo que cuando era niña, jugaba mucho. (No tense change needed.)
If the past perfect (pluscuamperfecto) is used in the direct speech, it remains the same.
✅ Él dijo: “Había visto esa película.”
✅ Él dijo que había visto esa película.
If the reporting verb is in the present tense, the tense shift does not necessarily happen.
✅ Ella dice que viene mañana. (She says she is coming tomorrow.)

This pattern of backshifting verb tenses is essential to forming correct reported speech in past tense in Spanish.

Grammar Rules for Reported Speech in Past Tense (Estilo Indirecto en Pasado)

When using reported speech in past tense in Spanish, several important grammar rules must be followed. Below are the key guidelines to ensure correct usage.

1. The Reporting Verb is Usually in the Past

In reported speech, the verb that introduces the statement (such as dijo, mencionó, preguntó) is usually in the preterite or imperfect past tense.

✅ Él dijo que estaba cansado.
(He said that he was tired.)

✅ María comentó que le gustaba la música clásica.
(Maria commented that she liked classical music.)

2. The Verb in the Original Statement Often Shifts to the Past

When converting direct speech into reported speech, the verb in the reported statement usually moves one step back in time.

Direct Speech (Estilo Directo)	Reported Speech (Estilo Indirecto en Pasado)
Present → Imperfect	“Tengo frío.” → Dijo que tenía frío.
Present Perfect → Past Perfect	“He comido.” → Dijo que había comido.
Preterite → Past Perfect	“Fui a la playa.” → Dijo que había ido a la playa.
Future → Conditional	“Iré al cine.” → Dijo que iría al cine.

However, if the reporting verb is in present tense, no change in tense is necessary.

✅ Él dice que tiene frío. (He says that he is cold.)

3. Pronouns and Possessives May Change

Pronouns and possessive adjectives may need to be adjusted based on the new perspective of the speaker.

✅ María dijo: “Mi casa es grande.”
➡️ María dijo que su casa era grande.
(Maria said that her house was big.)

✅ Carlos dijo: “Yo tengo hambre.”
➡️ Carlos dijo que él tenía hambre.
(Carlos said that he was hungry.)

4. Time and Place Expressions May Change

When reporting speech, time expressions often shift depending on when the conversation is reported.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
Hoy (today)	Ese día / Aquel día (that day)
Ayer (yesterday)	El día anterior (the day before)
Mañana (tomorrow)	Al día siguiente (the next day)
Aquí (here)	Allí (there)
Este/esta (this)	Ese/esa/aquel/aquella (that)

Example:
✅ Ana dijo: “Voy al médico mañana.”
➡️ Ana dijo que iba al médico al día siguiente.
(Ana said that she was going to the doctor the next day.)

5. Imperative (Commands) Change to the Imperfect Subjunctive

When reporting commands or requests, the imperative form changes to the imperfect subjunctive.

✅ El profesor dijo: “Estudien para el examen.”
➡️ El profesor dijo que estudiaran para el examen.
(The teacher said that they should study for the exam.)

✅ Mi madre me dijo: “Llama a tu abuela.”
➡️ Mi madre me dijo que llamara a mi abuela.
(My mother told me to call my grandmother.)

Things to Keep in Mind: Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Even advanced Spanish learners sometimes make errors when using reported speech in past tense. Below are some of the most common mistakes and tips to avoid them.

1. Forgetting to Adjust Pronouns and Possessives

✅ Correct: Pedro dijo que su hermano estaba enfermo.
❌ Incorrect: Pedro dijo que mi hermano estaba enfermo. (This changes the meaning.)

💡 Tip: Always adjust possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su, nuestro, etc.) and subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, etc.) to match the new perspective of the reported sentence.

2. Incorrect Verb Tense Changes

✅ Correct: Ella dijo que estaba feliz. (She said she was happy.)
❌ Incorrect: Ella dijo que está feliz. (This keeps the verb in the present, which is incorrect in most cases.)

💡 Tip: When reporting speech in the past, shift the verb back one tense unless the context requires otherwise.

3. Not Changing Time Expressions

✅ Correct: Dijo que vendría al día siguiente. (He said he would come the next day.)
❌ Incorrect: Dijo que vendría mañana. (The sentence does not reflect that the speech was in the past.)

💡 Tip: When reporting past conversations, words like hoy, mañana, ayer must change to reflect the new timeline (ese día, al día siguiente, el día anterior).

4. Using the Infinitive Instead of the Subjunctive for Commands

✅ Correct: Me pidió que hablara más despacio. (He asked me to speak more slowly.)
❌ Incorrect: Me pidió hablar más despacio. (Infinitive should not be used in reported commands.)

💡 Tip: When reporting commands, use the imperfect subjunctive, not the infinitive.

5. Overcomplicating the Sentence

✅ Correct: Mi amigo dijo que iba a llegar tarde.
❌ Incorrect: Mi amigo mencionó que en el transcurso del tiempo planificado de llegada, él iba a arribar en un momento posterior. (Too complicated!)

💡 Tip: Keep your sentences clear and natural. Avoid overly complex structures unless necessary.

6. Confusing “Si” and “Que” in Reported Questions

✅ Correct: Me preguntó si sabía nadar. (He asked me if I knew how to swim.)
❌ Incorrect: Me preguntó que sabía nadar. (Que does not work with indirect yes/no questions.)

💡 Tip: Use “si” when reporting yes/no questions. Use question words (qué, cuándo, dónde, por qué, cómo, etc.) for open-ended questions.

7. Forgetting to Use the Conditional for Future Tense

✅ Correct: Ella dijo que viajaría a España el próximo verano. (She said she would travel to Spain next summer.)
❌ Incorrect: Ella dijo que viajará a España el próximo verano. (Viajará should change to viajaría.)

💡 Tip: When reporting future statements, the future tense (irá, hará, dirá, etc.) changes to the conditional (iría, haría, diría, etc.).

By keeping these common mistakes in mind and applying these practical tips, you’ll use reported speech in past tense with greater accuracy and confidence.

Example Sentences: Direct Speech & Reported Speech in Past Tense

Below are 20 examples demonstrating how to correctly transform direct speech (estilo directo) into reported speech (estilo indirecto en pasado) in Spanish. Each example includes an English translation for the reported speech sentence.

Statements (Oraciones enunciativas)

1️⃣ Direct: Juan dijo: “Estoy cansado.”
Reported: Juan dijo que estaba cansado. (Juan said that he was tired.)

2️⃣ Direct: Ana comentó: “He terminado mi tarea.”
Reported: Ana comentó que había terminado su tarea. (Ana commented that she had finished her homework.)

3️⃣ Direct: Carlos mencionó: “Fui a Madrid el mes pasado.”
Reported: Carlos mencionó que había ido a Madrid el mes anterior. (Carlos mentioned that he had gone to Madrid the previous month.)

4️⃣ Direct: Mi amigo dijo: “Iré a la playa mañana.”
Reported: Mi amigo dijo que iría a la playa al día siguiente. (My friend said that he would go to the beach the next day.)

5️⃣ Direct: El profesor explicó: “Los exámenes son difíciles.”
Reported: El profesor explicó que los exámenes eran difíciles. (The teacher explained that the exams were difficult.)

Questions (Preguntas indirectas)

6️⃣ Direct: Marta preguntó: “¿Dónde están mis llaves?”
Reported: Marta preguntó dónde estaban sus llaves. (Marta asked where her keys were.)

7️⃣ Direct: Pedro preguntó: “¿Cuándo empieza la película?”
Reported: Pedro preguntó cuándo empezaba la película. (Pedro asked when the movie started.)

8️⃣ Direct: Me preguntaron: “¿Has visto la nueva serie?”
Reported: Me preguntaron si había visto la nueva serie. (They asked me if I had seen the new series.)

9️⃣ Direct: Juan preguntó: “¿Vendrás a la fiesta?”
Reported: Juan preguntó si vendría a la fiesta. (Juan asked if I would come to the party.)

🔟 Direct: Mi madre me preguntó: “¿Por qué llegaste tarde?”
Reported: Mi madre me preguntó por qué había llegado tarde. (My mother asked me why I had arrived late.)

Commands & Requests (Órdenes y peticiones)

1️⃣1️⃣ Direct: El profesor dijo: “Estudien más.”
Reported: El profesor dijo que estudiaran más. (The teacher said that they should study more.)

1️⃣2️⃣ Direct: Mi padre me dijo: “Limpia tu habitación.”
Reported: Mi padre me dijo que limpiara mi habitación. (My father told me to clean my room.)

1️⃣3️⃣ Direct: Ella me pidió: “No hables tan fuerte.”
Reported: Ella me pidió que no hablara tan fuerte. (She asked me not to speak so loudly.)

1️⃣4️⃣ Direct: El jefe ordenó: “Terminen el informe hoy.”
Reported: El jefe ordenó que terminaran el informe ese día. (The boss ordered them to finish the report that day.)

1️⃣5️⃣ Direct: Mi amigo me dijo: “Llámame cuando llegues.”
Reported: Mi amigo me dijo que lo llamara cuando llegara. (My friend told me to call him when I arrived.)

Opinions & Thoughts (Opiniones y pensamientos)

1️⃣6️⃣ Direct: Carlos dijo: “Creo que este libro es interesante.”
Reported: Carlos dijo que creía que ese libro era interesante. (Carlos said that he thought that book was interesting.)

1️⃣7️⃣ Direct: El profesor mencionó: “Los estudiantes han mejorado mucho.”
Reported: El profesor mencionó que los estudiantes habían mejorado mucho. (The teacher mentioned that the students had improved a lot.)

1️⃣8️⃣ Direct: Mi hermana comentó: “No me gusta el chocolate.”
Reported: Mi hermana comentó que no le gustaba el chocolate. (My sister commented that she didn’t like chocolate.)

1️⃣9️⃣ Direct: Ellos dijeron: “No tenemos tiempo para ir al cine.”
Reported: Ellos dijeron que no tenían tiempo para ir al cine. (They said that they didn’t have time to go to the movies.)

2️⃣0️⃣ Direct: María dijo: “Voy a aprender francés.”
Reported: María dijo que iba a aprender francés. (María said that she was going to learn French.)

These examples illustrate how to correctly convert direct speech into reported speech in past tense in Spanish.

Exercise: Fill in the Blanks (Reported Speech in Past Tense)

Instructions:

Transform the direct speech into reported speech (estilo indirecto en pasado) by filling in the blanks with the correct verb form and necessary adjustments.

Fill in the blanks:

1️⃣ Direct: Ana dijo: “Estoy muy ocupada hoy.”
Reported: Ana dijo que __________ muy ocupada __________.

2️⃣ Direct: Juan comentó: “Voy a viajar a Argentina el próximo mes.”
Reported: Juan comentó que __________ a viajar a Argentina __________.

3️⃣ Direct: Mi madre me preguntó: “¿Dónde guardaste las llaves?”
Reported: Mi madre me preguntó dónde __________ las llaves.

4️⃣ Direct: El profesor explicó: “La Tierra gira alrededor del Sol.”
Reported: El profesor explicó que la Tierra __________ alrededor del Sol.

5️⃣ Direct: Carlos mencionó: “He terminado el informe.”
Reported: Carlos mencionó que __________ terminado el informe.

6️⃣ Direct: Ella preguntó: “¿Cuándo empieza la película?”
Reported: Ella preguntó cuándo __________ la película.

7️⃣ Direct: El jefe dijo: “No quiero retrasos en el proyecto.”
Reported: El jefe dijo que no __________ retrasos en el proyecto.

8️⃣ Direct: Pedro me dijo: “Mañana tengo una reunión importante.”
Reported: Pedro me dijo que al día siguiente __________ una reunión importante.

9️⃣ Direct: Luis afirmó: “Mis padres están de vacaciones.”
Reported: Luis afirmó que sus padres __________ de vacaciones.

🔟 Direct: El entrenador ordenó: “Practiquen todos los días.”
Reported: El entrenador ordenó que __________ todos los días.

1️⃣1️⃣ Direct: Mi amigo me dijo: “Llama a tu hermana cuando llegues.”
Reported: Mi amigo me dijo que __________ a mi hermana cuando __________.

1️⃣2️⃣ Direct: El camarero preguntó: “¿Desean algo más?”
Reported: El camarero preguntó si __________ algo más.

1️⃣3️⃣ Direct: María comentó: “Me gusta mucho este restaurante.”
Reported: María comentó que le __________ mucho ese restaurante.

1️⃣4️⃣ Direct: Los estudiantes dijeron: “No entendemos la lección.”
Reported: Los estudiantes dijeron que no __________ la lección.

1️⃣5️⃣ Direct: Mi hermana me dijo: “Haz la cena temprano.”
Reported: Mi hermana me dijo que __________ la cena temprano.

1️⃣6️⃣ Direct: Ellos dijeron: “No podemos asistir a la reunión.”
Reported: Ellos dijeron que no __________ asistir a la reunión.

1️⃣7️⃣ Direct: Marta preguntó: “¿Qué hora es?”
Reported: Marta preguntó qué hora __________.

1️⃣8️⃣ Direct: El profesor advirtió: “No hablen durante el examen.”
Reported: El profesor advirtió que no __________ durante el examen.

1️⃣9️⃣ Direct: Mi madre me pidió: “Ayúdame con las bolsas.”
Reported: Mi madre me pidió que la __________ con las bolsas.

2️⃣0️⃣ Direct: Luis me dijo: “Voy a aprender italiano este año.”
Reported: Luis me dijo que __________ a aprender italiano ese año.

Answer Key: Reported Speech in Past Tense

Here are the correct answers for the 20 fill-in-the-blank exercises. The transformed reported speech sentences include the necessary verb changes, pronoun adjustments, and time expression modifications.

Answers:

1️⃣ Direct: Ana dijo: “Estoy muy ocupada hoy.”
Reported: Ana dijo que estaba muy ocupada ese día.

2️⃣ Direct: Juan comentó: “Voy a viajar a Argentina el próximo mes.”
Reported: Juan comentó que iba a viajar a Argentina el mes siguiente.

3️⃣ Direct: Mi madre me preguntó: “¿Dónde guardaste las llaves?”
Reported: Mi madre me preguntó dónde había guardado las llaves.

4️⃣ Direct: El profesor explicó: “La Tierra gira alrededor del Sol.”
Reported: El profesor explicó que la Tierra gira alrededor del Sol. (General truths do not change tense.)

5️⃣ Direct: Carlos mencionó: “He terminado el informe.”
Reported: Carlos mencionó que había terminado el informe.

6️⃣ Direct: Ella preguntó: “¿Cuándo empieza la película?”
Reported: Ella preguntó cuándo empezaba la película.

7️⃣ Direct: El jefe dijo: “No quiero retrasos en el proyecto.”
Reported: El jefe dijo que no quería retrasos en el proyecto.

8️⃣ Direct: Pedro me dijo: “Mañana tengo una reunión importante.”
Reported: Pedro me dijo que al día siguiente tenía una reunión importante.

9️⃣ Direct: Luis afirmó: “Mis padres están de vacaciones.”
Reported: Luis afirmó que sus padres estaban de vacaciones.

🔟 Direct: El entrenador ordenó: “Practiquen todos los días.”
Reported: El entrenador ordenó que practicaran todos los días.

1️⃣1️⃣ Direct: Mi amigo me dijo: “Llama a tu hermana cuando llegues.”
Reported: Mi amigo me dijo que llamara a mi hermana cuando llegara.

1️⃣2️⃣ Direct: El camarero preguntó: “¿Desean algo más?”
Reported: El camarero preguntó si deseaban algo más.

1️⃣3️⃣ Direct: María comentó: “Me gusta mucho este restaurante.”
Reported: María comentó que le gustaba mucho ese restaurante.

1️⃣4️⃣ Direct: Los estudiantes dijeron: “No entendemos la lección.”
Reported: Los estudiantes dijeron que no entendían la lección.

1️⃣5️⃣ Direct: Mi hermana me dijo: “Haz la cena temprano.”
Reported: Mi hermana me dijo que hiciera la cena temprano.

1️⃣6️⃣ Direct: Ellos dijeron: “No podemos asistir a la reunión.”
Reported: Ellos dijeron que no podían asistir a la reunión.

1️⃣7️⃣ Direct: Marta preguntó: “¿Qué hora es?”
Reported: Marta preguntó qué hora era.

1️⃣8️⃣ Direct: El profesor advirtió: “No hablen durante el examen.”
Reported: El profesor advirtió que no hablaran durante el examen.

1️⃣9️⃣ Direct: Mi madre me pidió: “Ayúdame con las bolsas.”
Reported: Mi madre me pidió que la ayudara con las bolsas.

2️⃣0️⃣ Direct: Luis me dijo: “Voy a aprender italiano este año.”
Reported: Luis me dijo que iba a aprender italiano ese año.

With these answers, you can now check your understanding of reported speech in past tense (estilo indirecto en pasado).

Summary: Key Takeaways on Reported Speech in Past Tense (Estilo Indirecto en Pasado)

Here are the most important points covered in this blog:

✅ Reported speech (estilo indirecto) is used when relaying what someone said in the past. It often requires changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions.

✅ Common reporting verbs include decir (to say, to tell), comentar (to comment), preguntar (to ask), mencionar (to mention), explicar (to explain), afirmar (to affirm), pedir (to request), ordenar (to order).

✅ Changes in verb tenses: When reporting speech in the past, verbs usually shift back one tense:

Presente → Imperfecto (Estoy cansado → Dijo que estaba cansado.)
Pretérito → Pluscuamperfecto (Comí temprano → Dijo que había comido temprano.)
Futuro → Condicional (Iré mañana → Dijo que iría al día siguiente.)

✅ General truths (hechos generales) do not change tense in reported speech.

El profesor dijo: “El agua hierve a 100 grados.”
El profesor dijo que el agua hierve a 100 grados. (No cambia porque es una verdad universal.)

✅ Pronoun and possessive changes: When shifting from direct to reported speech, pronouns may change based on the subject’s perspective.

Pedro dijo: “Voy a mi casa.”
Pedro dijo que iba a su casa.

✅ Changes in time expressions:

hoy → ese día
mañana → al día siguiente
ayer → el día anterior
este año → ese año
la próxima semana → la semana siguiente

✅ Changes in commands and requests:

Affirmative commands shift to the subjunctive (pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo).
- Mi madre dijo: “Haz la tarea.”
- Mi madre dijo que hiciera la tarea.
Negative commands follow the same rule.
- El profesor dijo: “No hablen.”
- El profesor dijo que no hablaran.

✅ Questions in reported speech: When reporting yes/no questions, si is used:

Juan preguntó: “¿Tienes hambre?”
Juan preguntó si tenía hambre.

✅ WH-questions keep the question word but follow normal verb shifts:

Ana preguntó: “¿Dónde vives?”
Ana preguntó dónde vivía.

Conclusion: Mastering Reported Speech in Past Tense

Now that you’ve learned how to use reported speech in past tense (estilo indirecto en pasado) in Spanish, you can confidently transform direct speech into indirect speech while maintaining clarity and correctness. Understanding verb tense shifts, pronoun changes, and time expressions is essential for mastering this concept.

To improve, practice regularly by transforming direct speech into reported speech in different contexts. Try listening to conversations, news reports, or reading stories and rewriting them in estilo indirecto. This will help you become more fluent in recognizing and applying these grammar rules naturally.

💡 Ready to test your skills? Try the exercises in this blog and check your answers. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section!

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Spanish

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Simple Conditional (Condicional Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Subordinate Clauses (Oraciones Subordinadas) in Spanish

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Relative Clauses(oraciones relativas) with Subjunctive in Spanish

Indirect & Direct Object Pronouns Combined in Spanish Grammar

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The Imperfect Subjunctive Tense in Spanish: Tiempo pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

Tiempo Futuro Compuesto / Future Perfect Tense in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Master the Spanish Simple Conditional Tense: The Ultimate Expert Guide

Tiempo Condicional Compuesto: Conditional Perfect Tense in Spanish

Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish: Master Verbal Periphrases with Easy Rules & Examples

Estilo Indirecto en Pasado: How to Use Reported Speech in Past Tense in Spanish

Mastering Spanish Conditional Sentences: First, Second, and Third Conditionals Explained with Examples

Mastering Relative Clauses in Spanish: Indicative vs. Subjunctive Made Simple!

How to Use the Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: A Complete B2 Guide on Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo

Past Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: How to Use Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo with Examples and Easy Rules

March 23, 2025

Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish: Master Verbal Periphrases with Easy Rules & Examples

Learning Spanish grammar can sometimes feel overwhelming, but understanding perífrasis verbales (verbal periphrases) is essential for mastering the language. These special verb constructions help express intentions, actions in progress, repetition, obligation, probability, and more.

In simple terms, a perífrasis verbal is a combination of two verbs that work together as a single unit to convey a specific meaning. The first verb is conjugated, while the second verb usually appears in its infinitive, gerund, or participle form. For example:

✅ Voy a estudiar español. (I am going to study Spanish.)
✅ Estoy aprendiendo español. (I am learning Spanish.)
✅ Tengo que practicar español. (I have to practice Spanish.)

These expressions are extremely common in everyday conversations and essential for speaking naturally and fluently in Spanish.

In this guide, we will explore:

✔️ Common expressions using verbal periphrases
✔️ How and when to use them correctly
✔️ Grammar rules and tricky points to keep in mind
✔️ 20 example sentences with translations
✔️ Exercises and answers to test your understanding

By the end of this lesson, you will have a strong grasp of Spanish verbal periphrases and be able to use them confidently in daily conversations. Let’s get started!

Common Expressions

Here are 10 essential expressions using perífrasis verbales:

Voy a estudiar español. (I am going to study Spanish.)
Tienes que hacer la tarea. (You have to do the homework.)
Está lloviendo mucho. (It is raining a lot.)
Llevo tres años viviendo en Madrid. (I have been living in Madrid for three years.)
Debes decir la verdad. (You must tell the truth.)
Volvió a llamar a su amigo. (He/She called their friend again.)
Sigo aprendiendo japonés. (I am still learning Japanese.)
Hay que comer frutas y verduras. (One must eat fruits and vegetables.)
Empezó a nevar de repente. (It suddenly started to snow.)
Debe de estar en casa ahora. (He/She must be at home now.)

Usage of Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish

Verbal periphrases allow Spanish speakers to express time, obligation, ongoing actions, repetition, probability, and more with precision. Below are the six main categories, along with common structures and example sentences that help illustrate their usage in real-life communication.

1. Perífrasis to Express the Future or Intention

Ir a + infinitive → Expresses near-future actions or intentions
✅ Voy a estudiar español. (I am going to study Spanish.)
✅ ¿Vas a viajar este verano? (Are you going to travel this summer?)
Estar por + infinitive → Indicates something is about to happen
✅ Estoy por llamar a mi amigo. (I’m about to call my friend.)
✅ El tren está por salir. (The train is about to leave.)
Andar + gerundio → Indicates an action happening intermittently or informally
✅ Anda diciendo mentiras sobre mí. (He/She keeps spreading lies about me.)
✅ Ando buscando un buen restaurante. (I’m going around looking for a good restaurant.)

2. Perífrasis to Express Obligation or Necessity

Tener que + infinitive → Expresses personal obligation
✅ Tienes que hacer la tarea. (You have to do the homework.)
✅ Tengo que estudiar para el examen. (I have to study for the exam.)
Deber + infinitive → Expresses moral obligation or strong recommendation
✅ Debes decir la verdad. (You must tell the truth.)
✅ Deberías ayudar a tus padres. (You should help your parents.)
Haber de + infinitive → Expresses a formal obligation or a personal resolution
✅ Has de respetar las normas de la empresa. (You must respect the company rules.)
✅ Hemos de salir temprano mañana. (We have to leave early tomorrow.)
Haber que + infinitive → Expresses necessity in an impersonal way
✅ Habrá que esperar hasta mañana. (We will have to wait until tomorrow.)
✅ Habrá que ver cómo reacciona. (We will have to see how he/she reacts.)

3. Perífrasis to Express Actions in Progress

Estar + gerundio → Expresses an action happening right now
✅ Está lloviendo mucho. (It is raining a lot.)
✅ Estoy aprendiendo español. (I am learning Spanish.)
Llevar + gerundio → Indicates the duration of an action
✅ Llevo tres años viviendo en Madrid. (I have been living in Madrid for three years.)
✅ Llevamos una hora esperando. (We have been waiting for an hour.)
Ir + gerundio → Expresses a gradual action
✅ Voy entendiendo mejor la gramática. (I am gradually understanding grammar better.)
✅ Va mejorando su español con el tiempo. (His/Her Spanish is improving over time.)
Andar + gerundio → Indicates an action done repeatedly or without a clear direction
✅ Anda buscando trabajo desde hace meses. (He/She has been looking for a job for months.)
✅ Siempre anda diciendo cosas sin pensar. (He/She is always saying things without thinking.)

4. Perífrasis to Express the Start, Continuation, or End of an Action

Empezar a + infinitive → Expresses the beginning of an action
✅ Empezó a nevar de repente. (It suddenly started to snow.)
✅ Ana empezó a trabajar en una nueva empresa. (Ana started working at a new company.)
Volver a + infinitive → Expresses repetition of an action
✅ Volvió a llamar a su amigo. (He/She called their friend again.)
✅ Tengo que volver a estudiar este tema. (I have to study this topic again.)
Seguir + gerundio → Expresses continuity of an action
✅ Sigo aprendiendo japonés. (I am still learning Japanese.)
✅ Seguimos esperando el autobús. (We are still waiting for the bus.)
Dejar de + infinitive → Expresses the interruption of an action
✅ Dejé de fumar el año pasado. (I stopped smoking last year.)
✅ Por favor, deja de molestar. (Please stop bothering me.)
Acabar de + infinitive → Expresses an action that was completed very recently
✅ Acabo de terminar el informe. (I just finished the report.)
✅ Acabamos de llegar a casa. (We just got home.)

5. Perífrasis to Express Probability or Assumption

Deber de + infinitive → Expresses probability or speculation
✅ Debe de estar en casa ahora. (He/She must be at home now.)
✅ Debe de hacer frío afuera. (It must be cold outside.)
Tener que + infinitive → Can also indicate probability
✅ Tienen que estar cansados después de un día tan largo. (They must be tired after such a long day.)
✅ Tiene que ser muy interesante ese libro. (That book must be very interesting.)
Venir a + infinitive → Expresses approximation or estimation
✅ Esto viene a costar unos 50 euros. (This costs approximately 50 euros.)
✅ Viene a ser lo mismo. (It turns out to be the same.)
Parecer + infinitive → Expresses a tentative assumption
✅ Parece ser una persona amable. (He/She seems to be a kind person.)
✅ Parece haber un problema con la conexión. (There seems to be a problem with the connection.)

6. Perífrasis to Express the Result of an Action (Advanced / C1 Level)

Tener + participio → Expresses a completed action with an effect
✅ Tengo hechas todas mis tareas. (I have all my tasks done.)
✅ Ya tienes escrita la carta. (You already have the letter written.)
Llevar + participio → Emphasizes the quantity of something completed
✅ Llevo leídos tres capítulos del libro. (I have read three chapters of the book.)
✅ Llevamos recorridos 100 kilómetros. (We have traveled 100 kilometers.)

Final Thoughts on Usage👇👇

These six key categories of verbal periphrases allow for more precise, natural, and advanced communication in Spanish. For students preparing for DELE C1, mastering these expressions is essential for achieving fluency and accuracy in both spoken and written Spanish.

Conjugation of Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish

Verbal periphrases always consist of two or more verbs:

An auxiliary (conjugated) verb → This verb provides tense, mood, person, and number.
A main verb (non-conjugated) → This verb remains in infinitive, gerund, or past participle form.

Let’s break down the conjugation for each type of periphrasis across different verb forms.

1. Conjugation with Infinitive (Perífrasis de Infinitivo)

These periphrases use an auxiliary verb followed by an infinitive verb.

Conjugation Examples:

✅ Tener que + infinitive (Expressing obligation)

Subject	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future
Yo	Tengo que estudiar	Tuve que estudiar	Tenía que estudiar	Tendré que estudiar
Tú	Tienes que salir	Tuviste que salir	Tenías que salir	Tendrás que salir
Él/Ella	Tiene que trabajar	Tuvo que trabajar	Tenía que trabajar	Tendrá que trabajar
Nosotros	Tenemos que esperar	Tuvimos que esperar	Teníamos que esperar	Tendremos que esperar
Vosotros	Tenéis que comer	Tuvisteis que comer	Teníais que comer	Tendréis que comer
Ellos/Ellas	Tienen que irse	Tuvieron que irse	Tenían que irse	Tendrán que irse

📝 Other common periphrases with infinitives:

Ir a + infinitive → Voy a viajar, Iba a viajar, Fui a viajar, Iré a viajar
Deber + infinitive → Debo estudiar, Debía estudiar, Debí estudiar, Deberé estudiar

2. Conjugation with Gerund (Perífrasis de Gerundio)

These periphrases use an auxiliary verb with a gerund (-ando, -iendo) to show ongoing or repetitive actions.

Conjugation Examples:

✅ Estar + gerundio (Expressing an ongoing action)

Subject	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future
Yo	Estoy estudiando	Estuve estudiando	Estaba estudiando	Estaré estudiando
Tú	Estás comiendo	Estuviste comiendo	Estabas comiendo	Estarás comiendo
Él/Ella	Está trabajando	Estuvo trabajando	Estaba trabajando	Estará trabajando
Nosotros	Estamos escribiendo	Estuvimos escribiendo	Estábamos escribiendo	Estaremos escribiendo
Vosotros	Estáis leyendo	Estuvisteis leyendo	Estabais leyendo	Estaréis leyendo
Ellos/Ellas	Están durmiendo	Estuvieron durmiendo	Estaban durmiendo	Estarán durmiendo

📝 Other common periphrases with gerunds:

Seguir + gerundio → Sigo aprendiendo, Seguí aprendiendo, Seguía aprendiendo, Seguiré aprendiendo
Andar + gerundio → Anda diciendo cosas raras, Andaba diciendo cosas raras

3. Conjugation with Past Participle (Perífrasis de Participio)

These periphrases use an auxiliary verb followed by a past participle (-ado, -ido, irregular forms) to express a completed or resulting action.

Conjugation Examples:

✅ Llevar + participio (Expressing quantity of completed actions)

Subject	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future
Yo	Llevo terminados dos libros	Llevé terminados dos libros	Llevaba terminados dos libros	Llevaré terminados dos libros
Tú	Llevas hechos los deberes	Llevaste hechos los deberes	Llevabas hechos los deberes	Llevarás hechos los deberes
Él/Ella	Lleva corregidos los errores	Llevó corregidos los errores	Llevaba corregidos los errores	Llevará corregidos los errores
Nosotros	Llevamos vistos muchos episodios	Llevamos vistos muchos episodios	Llevábamos vistos muchos episodios	Llevaremos vistos muchos episodios
Vosotros	Lleváis aprendidas tres canciones	Llevasteis aprendidas tres canciones	Llevabais aprendidas tres canciones	Llevaréis aprendidas tres canciones
Ellos/Ellas	Llevan completados cinco informes	Llevaron completados cinco informes	Llevaban completados cinco informes	Llevarán completados cinco informes

📝 Other common periphrases with participles:

Tener + participio → Tengo hechas las tareas, Tenía hechas las tareas
Dar por + participio → Doy por terminada la reunión, Daba por terminada la reunión

4. Conjugation of Verbal Periphrases with Reflexive Verbs

Some periphrases involve reflexive verbs, meaning the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) must be placed correctly.

Example: Ir a + infinitive with a reflexive verb

✅ Me voy a duchar. (I am going to take a shower.)
✅ Voy a ducharme. (I am going to take a shower.)

📌 Placement Rules:

The reflexive pronoun can be before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive/gerund.
Gerund example:
✅ Me estoy duchando. = ✅ Estoy duchándome.

Key Takeaways on Conjugation 👇👇

✔ The first verb (auxiliary verb) is conjugated in the required tense.
✔ The second verb remains in the infinitive, gerund, or participle form.
✔ In reflexive periphrases, the pronoun can be before the conjugated verb or attached to the non-conjugated verb.
✔ Some periphrases work with multiple conjugation patterns depending on tense and aspect.

Grammar Rules for Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish

Verbal periphrases follow specific grammatical structures that determine their correct usage. Below, we’ll break down these rules to help you use them accurately.

1. Structure of Verbal Periphrases

A verbal periphrasis consists of:
✅ Auxiliary verb (conjugated) + Link word (sometimes) + Main verb (non-conjugated)

Types of Non-Conjugated Main Verbs:

Infinitive: Voy a estudiar (I am going to study)
Gerund: Estoy estudiando (I am studying)
Participle: Tengo hecha la tarea (I have the homework done)

Some periphrases require a preposition (de, a, por, en, con) between the verbs:

Acabar de + infinitive → Acabo de llegar. (I just arrived.)
Tener que + infinitive → Tienes que comer. (You have to eat.)

2. Agreement Between Verbs

📌 The first verb is conjugated, while the second verb remains unchanged:
✅ Debemos estudiar. (We must study.)
✅ Seguí trabajando. (I kept working.)

📌 If the first verb changes in tense or mood, the second verb does not:
✅ Voy a viajar. (I am going to travel.) → Future intention
✅ Fui a viajar. (I was going to travel.) → Past intention

3. Reflexive Verbs in Verbal Periphrases

When using reflexive verbs in periphrases, the reflexive pronoun can be:
✅ Before the conjugated auxiliary verb: Me voy a duchar. (I am going to shower.)
✅ Attached to the infinitive or gerund: Voy a ducharme.

For periphrases with gerunds, an accent is needed when the pronoun is attached:
✅ Estoy bañándome. (I am taking a bath.)

4. Subjunctive with Verbal Periphrases

Some periphrases require the subjunctive mood in certain cases:
✅ Puede que + subjunctive → Puede que llueva mañana. (It might rain tomorrow.)
✅ Deber de + subjunctive → Debe de haber llegado ya. (He must have arrived already.)

5. Verbal Periphrases and Passive Voice

Certain periphrases work in passive constructions:
✅ Se debe trabajar con esfuerzo. (One must work hard.)
✅ Las tareas deben de estar terminadas. (The tasks must be finished.)

6. Key Exceptions & Irregular Cases

❌ Not all verbs can form periphrases. Some verbs need prepositions but don’t function as periphrases (e.g., “insistir en hacer algo” is not a periphrasis).
❌ Perífrasis with ‘estar + participio’ are NOT true periphrases but function as descriptions (Está roto = It is broken).

Key Takeaways on Grammar Rules

✔ First verb is conjugated; second verb remains infinitive, gerund, or participle.
✔ Some periphrases require prepositions (a, de, por, en).
✔ Reflexive pronouns can attach to infinitives/gerunds but require accents.
✔ Some periphrases use the subjunctive.
✔ Certain periphrases work in passive voice.

Things to Keep in Mind About Perífrasis Verbales

While verbal periphrases are widely used in Spanish, there are some tricky points, exceptions, and special considerations to be aware of. Let’s explore them in detail.

1. Not All Verb + Infinitive Constructions Are Perífrasis

Not every combination of a conjugated verb + an infinitive forms a true verbal periphrasis. Some verbs simply govern an infinitive without forming a fixed grammatical structure.

❌ Incorrect example (not a periphrasis):

Quiero cantar. (I want to sing.) → “Querer” acts as a modal verb, not a periphrasis.

✅ Correct periphrasis example:

Voy a cantar. (I am going to sing.) → “Ir a + infinitive” is a true verbal periphrasis.

📌 Tip: If the first verb can stand alone with full meaning (like quiero in quiero cantar), it’s not a periphrasis.

2. Differences Between “Deber” and “Deber de”

Many learners confuse these two structures:

✅ Deber + infinitive → Expresses obligation.

Debes estudiar más. (You must study more.)

✅ Deber de + infinitive → Expresses probability or assumption.

Debe de estar en casa. (He must be at home.)

📌 Tip: If you can replace “deber de” with “probablemente”, it means probability.

3. When to Use “Tener que” vs. “Haber que”

✅ Tener que + infinitive → Expresses a personal obligation.

Tengo que trabajar. (I have to work.)

✅ Haber que + infinitive → Expresses a general necessity (impersonal).

Hay que estudiar mucho. (One must study a lot.)

📌 Tip: Haber que is only used in third-person singular (hay que).

4. Reflexive Verbs in Perífrasis: Placement of Pronouns

When using reflexive verbs, the pronoun position changes depending on the structure.

✅ Before the conjugated verb:

Me voy a duchar. (I am going to shower.)

✅ Attached to the infinitive or gerund:

Voy a ducharme.
Estoy duchándome. (With accent for correct stress)

📌 Tip: If attaching a pronoun to a gerund, add an accent to maintain pronunciation.

5. Some Perífrasis Have Multiple Meanings Depending on Context

✅ Andar + gerundio → Usually means “to go around doing something,” but can also express a negative tone (complaints).

Ando buscando un nuevo trabajo. (I am looking for a new job.) → Neutral
Anda diciendo tonterías. (He keeps saying nonsense.) → Negative

📌 Tip: Be careful with the tone and context when using andar + gerundio.

6. Perífrasis Can Change Meaning in Different Tenses

Some periphrases change in meaning depending on the tense:

✅ Ir a + infinitive (Present) → Future intention

Voy a comprar pan. (I am going to buy bread.)

✅ Ir a + infinitive (Past) → Unfulfilled intention

Iba a comprar pan, pero se me olvidó. (I was going to buy bread, but I forgot.)

📌 Tip: In past tenses (iba a + infinitive), the action never happened!

7. Be Aware of Regional Variations

Some periphrases are more common in certain Spanish-speaking regions.

✅ “Ir a + infinitive” is universally used to express future actions.
✅ “Llevar + gerundio” (e.g., llevo estudiando 2 años) is more common in Spain.
✅ “Estar por + infinitive” (meaning “to be about to do something”) is more common in Latin America.

📌 Tip: Spanish varies across regions, so be mindful of how certain periphrases are used differently.

Key Takeaways on Tricky Points & Exceptions

✔ Not all verb + infinitive structures are periphrases.
✔ Deber vs. Deber de → Obligation vs. probability.
✔ Tener que vs. Haber que → Personal vs. impersonal obligation.
✔ Reflexive pronouns can attach to infinitives or gerunds (with accents).
✔ Some periphrases change meaning in past tenses.
✔ Regional differences exist for some periphrases.

More Example Sentences Using Perífrasis Verbales

Each sentence demonstrates a different type of verbal periphrasis in Spanish with its English translation.

1. Perífrasis to Express the Future or Intention

🔹 Ir a + infinitive → Expresses near-future actions or intentions.

Voy a comprar un coche nuevo el próximo mes.
I am going to buy a new car next month.
Mañana vamos a visitar a mis abuelos.
Tomorrow we are going to visit my grandparents.

🔹 Estar por + infinitive → Indicates something is about to happen.

El avión está por despegar, abróchense los cinturones.
The plane is about to take off, fasten your seatbelts.
La película está por comenzar, apaga el teléfono.
The movie is about to start, turn off your phone.

2. Perífrasis to Express Obligation or Necessity

🔹 Tener que + infinitive → Expresses personal obligation.

Tengo que hacer la tarea antes de salir.
I have to do my homework before going out.
Mi hermano tiene que cuidar a su perro este fin de semana.
My brother has to take care of his dog this weekend.

🔹 Haber que + infinitive → Expresses general obligation.

Hay que ser responsable con el trabajo.
One must be responsible with work.
Para mantenerse sano, hay que hacer ejercicio regularmente.
To stay healthy, one must exercise regularly.

🔹 Deber + infinitive → Expresses moral or ethical obligation.

Debes respetar las opiniones de los demás.
You must respect other people’s opinions.
Debemos ayudar a quienes lo necesitan.
We must help those in need.

3. Perífrasis to Express the Start, Continuation, or End of an Action

🔹 Empezar a + infinitive → Expresses the beginning of an action.

Empezamos a estudiar japonés este semestre.
We started studying Japanese this semester.
El bebé empezó a caminar la semana pasada.
The baby started walking last week.

🔹 Ponerse a + infinitive → Expresses a sudden or voluntary start of an action.

Me puse a reír cuando escuché el chiste.
I started laughing when I heard the joke.
Se puso a llover justo cuando salimos.
It started raining just as we went out.

🔹 Seguir + gerundio → Expresses the continuation of an action.

Sigo aprendiendo francés en mi tiempo libre.
I am still learning French in my free time.
Después de tanto tiempo, él sigue trabajando en la misma empresa.
After so much time, he is still working at the same company.

🔹 Llevar + gerundio → Expresses the duration of an action.

Llevo estudiando español cinco años.
I have been studying Spanish for five years.
Llevamos viviendo aquí desde 2010.
We have been living here since 2010.

🔹 Acabar de + infinitive → Expresses an action that has just finished.

Acabo de hablar con mi madre por teléfono.
I just talked to my mother on the phone.
Acabamos de llegar a casa después del viaje.
We just arrived home after the trip.

🔹 Dejar de + infinitive → Expresses stopping an action.

Dejé de comer azúcar por motivos de salud.
I stopped eating sugar for health reasons.
Ellos dejaron de fumar hace años.
They stopped smoking years ago.

4. Perífrasis to Express Probability or Assumption

🔹 Deber de + infinitive → Expresses probability or assumption.

Debe de estar cansado después del viaje.
He must be tired after the trip.
La tienda debe de estar cerrada a esta hora.
The store must be closed at this hour.

🔹 Poder + infinitive → Expresses possibility.

Puede llover más tarde, lleva un paraguas.
It might rain later, take an umbrella.
El tren puede haber llegado ya.
The train might have arrived already.

5. Perífrasis to Express Repetition or Habit

🔹 Volver a + infinitive → Expresses repeating an action.

Volví a ver la película porque me encantó.
I watched the movie again because I loved it.
Voy a volver a intentarlo mañana.
I am going to try again tomorrow.

🔹 Soler + infinitive → Expresses a habit or customary action.

Suele desayunar café y tostadas.
He usually has coffee and toast for breakfast.
No suelo salir los domingos.
I don’t usually go out on Sundays.

6. Perífrasis to Express Gradual Progress or Result

🔹 Ir + gerundio → Expresses gradual progress of an action.

Voy aprendiendo español poco a poco.
I am gradually learning Spanish.
Ellos van mejorando en cada partido.
They are improving in every match.

🔹 Acabar + gerundio → Expresses an action that results in something.

Acabé perdiendo mi teléfono en el viaje.
I ended up losing my phone on the trip.
Siempre acaba discutiendo con su hermano.
He always ends up arguing with his brother.

🔹 Andar + gerundio → Expresses doing something continuously or aimlessly.

Ando buscando un libro interesante para leer.
I am going around looking for an interesting book to read.
Anda diciendo mentiras sobre mí.
He is going around telling lies about me.

Exercise: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using the correct perífrasis verbal. The verb to be used is given in parentheses in its plain form.

Example:
(_______) estudiar más para el examen. (Tener que)
✅ Tengo que estudiar más para el examen.
💡 I have to study more for the exam.

Complete the sentences:

Mañana __________ a la playa con mis amigos. (Ir a – viajar)
El tren __________ en cinco minutos. (Estar por – salir)
Para ser saludable, __________ frutas y verduras. (Haber que – comer)
Mis abuelos __________ la televisión todas las noches. (Soler – ver)
No puedo hablar ahora, __________ con el director. (Estar – hablar)
Después de muchos intentos, __________ ganar el torneo. (Acabar – conseguir)
¿__________ a llamarme más tarde? (Volver a – llamar)
Es tarde, ya __________ en casa. (Deber de – estar)
Mi hermano __________ el violín hace dos años. (Dejar de – tocar)
Mis amigos __________ mudarse a otra ciudad. (Pensar – mudarse)
Cuando terminó la película, todos __________ a aplaudir. (Ponerse a – aplaudir)
Si sigues así, __________ problemas en el futuro. (Poder – tener)
Él __________ mucho en el trabajo últimamente. (Andar – quejarse)
Mis padres __________ de preparar la cena. (Acabar de – preparar)
Desde hace años, ella __________ en la misma empresa. (Llevar – trabajar)
El maestro dijo que __________ más para el examen. (Tener que – estudiar)
Después del accidente, él __________ caminar lentamente. (Ir – recuperar)
El cielo está nublado, __________ a llover pronto. (Estar por – llover)
Siempre __________ levantarse temprano para hacer ejercicio. (Solía – levantarse)
El niño __________ llorar cuando vio su juguete roto. (Echarse a – llorar)

Answers

(Complete the sentences with the correct perífrasis verbal. The correct answer is in bold.)

Mañana voy a viajar a la playa con mis amigos.
Tomorrow I am going to travel to the beach with my friends.
El tren está por salir en cinco minutos.
The train is about to leave in five minutes.
Para ser saludable, hay que comer frutas y verduras.
To be healthy, one must eat fruits and vegetables.
Mis abuelos suelen ver la televisión todas las noches.
My grandparents usually watch television every night.
No puedo hablar ahora, estoy hablando con el director.
I can’t talk now, I am talking with the director.
Después de muchos intentos, acabé consiguiendo ganar el torneo.
After many attempts, I ended up managing to win the tournament.
¿Vas a volver a llamarme más tarde?
Are you going to call me again later?
Es tarde, ya debe de estar en casa.
It’s late, he must be at home already.
Mi hermano dejó de tocar el violín hace dos años.
My brother stopped playing the violin two years ago.
Mis amigos piensan mudarse a otra ciudad.
My friends are planning to move to another city.
Cuando terminó la película, todos se pusieron a aplaudir.
When the movie ended, everyone started clapping.
Si sigues así, puedes tener problemas en el futuro.
If you continue like this, you might have problems in the future.
Él anda quejándose mucho en el trabajo últimamente.
He has been complaining a lot at work lately.
Mis padres acaban de preparar la cena.
My parents just finished preparing dinner.
Desde hace años, ella lleva trabajando en la misma empresa.
She has been working at the same company for years.
El maestro dijo que tenemos que estudiar más para el examen.
The teacher said that we have to study more for the exam.
Después del accidente, él va recuperando la capacidad de caminar.
After the accident, he is gradually recovering his ability to walk.
El cielo está nublado, está por llover pronto.
The sky is cloudy, it is about to rain soon.
Siempre solía levantarse temprano para hacer ejercicio.
He used to get up early to exercise.
El niño se echó a llorar cuando vio su juguete roto.
The child started crying when he saw his broken toy.

Summary: Key Takeaways on Perífrasis Verbales

Perífrasis verbales are verb phrases formed by combining an auxiliary verb and a main verb (infinitive, gerund, or participle).
They help express time, aspect, and modality in Spanish.
They can be grouped into six main categories based on their function:
- To express the future or intention: Ir a + infinitive, Estar por + infinitive
- To express obligation or necessity: Tener que + infinitive, Haber que + infinitive
- To express habit or repetition: Soler + infinitive, Andar + gerundio, Volver a + infinitive
- To express progress or continuity: Estar + gerundio, Llevar + gerundio, Seguir + gerundio, Ir + gerundio
- To express completion or result: Acabar de + infinitive, Acabar + gerundio, Dejar de + infinitive, Tener + participio
- To express probability or assumption: Deber de + infinitive, Poder + infinitive
Each periphrasis has specific grammar rules and conjugation patterns based on tense and subject.
Some tricky points and exceptions include:
- “Haber que” is always used impersonally (e.g., Hay que estudiar – One must study).
- “Deber de” expresses probability (Debe de estar en casa – He must be at home), while “deber” alone expresses obligation (Debes estudiar – You must study).
- “Ir + gerundio” implies gradual progress rather than a general present action.

Conclusion

Mastering perífrasis verbales is essential for achieving fluency in Spanish, especially at an advanced level. These verb constructions help convey nuance, intention, progression, obligation, and probability, making your speech and writing sound more natural and precise.

By understanding the different types of periphrasis and their specific uses, you can express yourself more effectively in various contexts. Whether you are talking about the future, describing habits, or indicating probability, using these structures correctly will improve your communication skills and comprehension.

To reinforce your learning:

Practice regularly by using these structures in daily conversations.
Read books, articles, and listen to native speakers to see them in real use.
Do exercises and quizzes to test your understanding.

With continuous exposure and practice, you will develop greater confidence and fluency in using perífrasis verbales naturally in Spanish! 🚀✨

💡 Which perífrasis verbal do you use the most in Spanish? Share your thoughts in the comments below! I’d love to hear how you use these expressions in daily conversations.

📢 Learning is more fun together! Share this post with your friends and fellow Spanish learners. 🚀

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Spanish

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Tiempo Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto / Present Perfect Tense in Spanish

The Imperfect Subjunctive Tense in Spanish: Tiempo pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

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March 18, 2025

Relative Clauses (Oraciones relativas) with Subjunctive in Spanish

Relative clauses, or oraciones relativas, are an essential part of Spanish grammar. They allow us to add extra information about a noun without starting a new sentence. When combined with the subjunctive mood, relative clauses take on a more nuanced meaning, often expressing uncertainty, doubt, or hypothetical situations. Mastering this structure is key to sounding more fluent and natural in Spanish.

In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about relative clauses with the subjunctive, including common expressions, conjugation rules, and practical examples.

Common Expressions Using Relative Clauses with Subjunctive

Here are some everyday expressions that use relative clauses with the subjunctive. These are frequently used in conversational Spanish:

Busco a alguien que pueda ayudarme.
(I’m looking for someone who can help me.)
Necesito un libro que sea interesante.
(I need a book that is interesting.)
Quiero un lugar donde pueda relajarme.
(I want a place where I can relax.)
No hay nadie que sepa la respuesta.
(There’s no one who knows the answer.)
Espero encontrar algo que me guste.
(I hope to find something that I like.)
Busco un profesor que hable español.
(I’m looking for a teacher who speaks Spanish.)
No conozco a nadie que haya estado allí.
(I don’t know anyone who has been there.)
Quiero un coche que no gaste mucha gasolina.
(I want a car that doesn’t use much gas.)
Necesito una solución que funcione.
(I need a solution that works.)
Es difícil encontrar a alguien que entienda esto.
(It’s hard to find someone who understands this.)

Things to Keep in Mind

When using relative clauses with the subjunctive, there are a few key points to remember:

Articles and Agreement: The definite (el, la, los, las) or indefinite (un, una, unos, unas) articles must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Example: Busco una casa que tenga jardín. (I’m looking for a house that has a garden.)
Gender and Plurality: Adjectives and verbs within the relative clause must match the noun in gender and number.
Example: Necesito unos zapatos que sean cómodos. (I need shoes that are comfortable.)
Use of “Que”: The relative pronoun que is the most common connector in these clauses.
Example: Quiero un perro que sea tranquilo. (I want a dog that is calm.)
Indefinite or Non-Specific Nouns: The subjunctive is used when the noun is indefinite or not specific. If the noun is specific, the indicative is used instead.
Example: Subjunctive: Busco un libro que sea bueno. (I’m looking for a book that is good.)
Indicative: Este es el libro que es bueno. (This is the book that is good.)
Expressing Doubt or Uncertainty: The subjunctive is often used to express doubt, uncertainty, or hypothetical situations.
Example: No hay nadie que lo sepa. (There’s no one who knows it.)

When to Use Relative Clauses with Subjunctive

Relative clauses with the subjunctive are used in the following situations:

When the Antecedent is Unknown or Non-Existent:
Example: Busco un médico que hable inglés. (I’m looking for a doctor who speaks English.)
When Expressing Doubt or Uncertainty:
Example: No creo que haya alguien que pueda hacerlo. (I don’t think there’s anyone who can do it.)
When the Antecedent is Indefinite:
Example: Necesito una casa que tenga tres habitaciones. (I need a house that has three bedrooms.)
When Making Hypothetical Statements:
Example: Quiero un trabajo que me permita viajar. (I want a job that allows me to travel.)

Conjugation of Regular Verbs in Relative Clauses with Subjunctive

To form the subjunctive in relative clauses, follow these steps for regular verbs:

1. -AR Verbs (e.g., hablar):

yo: hable
tú: hables
él/ella/usted: hable
nosotros/nosotras: hablemos
vosotros/vosotras: habléis
ellos/ellas/ustedes: hablen

2. -ER Verbs (e.g., comer):

yo: coma
tú: comas
él/ella/usted: coma
nosotros/nosotras: comamos
vosotros/vosotras: comáis
ellos/ellas/ustedes: coman

3. -IR Verbs (e.g., vivir):

yo: viva
tú: vivas
él/ella/usted: viva
nosotros/nosotras: vivamos
vosotros/vosotras: viváis
ellos/ellas/ustedes: vivan

Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugation

Here are some common irregular verbs in the subjunctive mood:

Ser (to be):
- yo: sea
- tú: seas
- él/ella/usted: sea
- nosotros/nosotras: seamos
- vosotros/vosotras: seáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: sean
Example: Busco un amigo que sea honesto. (I’m looking for a friend who is honest.)
Ir (to go):
- yo: vaya
- tú: vayas
- él/ella/usted: vaya
- nosotros/nosotras: vayamos
- vosotros/vosotras: vayáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: vayan
Example: Necesito un lugar que vaya bien con mi estilo. (I need a place that goes well with my style.)
Tener (to have):
- yo: tenga
- tú: tengas
- él/ella/usted: tenga
- nosotros/nosotras: tengamos
- vosotros/vosotras: tengáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: tengan
Example: Quiero un coche que tenga aire acondicionado. (I want a car that has air conditioning.)

10 Regular Verbs in Relative Clauses with Subjunctive

Verb	Subjunctive Form	Example Sentence	Meaning
Hablar	hable	Busco alguien que hable francés.	I’m looking for someone who speaks French.
Comer	coma	Necesito un restaurante que coma vegano.	I need a restaurant that serves vegan food.
Vivir	viva	Quiero un lugar donde viva tranquilo.	I want a place where I can live peacefully.
Estudiar	estudie	Busco un profesor que estudie literatura.	I’m looking for a teacher who studies lit.
Trabajar	trabaje	Necesito un empleado que trabaje duro.	I need an employee who works hard.
Escuchar	escuche	Quiero una canción que escuche relajante.	I want a song that sounds relaxing.
Escribir	escriba	Busco un libro que escriba García Márquez.	I’m looking for a book written by García Márquez.
Leer	lea	Necesito un artículo que lea interesante.	I need an article that reads interesting.
Correr	corra	Quiero un parque donde corra seguro.	I want a park where I can run safely.
Cocinar	cocine	Busco un chef que cocine comida mexicana.	I’m looking for a chef who cooks Mexican food.

More Example Sentences

Espero encontrar un hotel que esté cerca de la playa.
(I hope to find a hotel that is near the beach.)
No hay nadie que quiera ayudarme.
(There’s no one who wants to help me.)
Quiero un vestido que sea elegante.
(I want a dress that is elegant.)
Busco un amigo que tenga intereses similares.
(I’m looking for a friend who has similar interests.)
Necesito un teléfono que funcione bien.
(I need a phone that works well.)
No conozco a nadie que haya viajado allí.
(I don’t know anyone who has traveled there.)
Quiero un trabajo que me permita ser creativo.
(I want a job that allows me to be creative.)
Es difícil encontrar un lugar que sea perfecto.
(It’s hard to find a place that is perfect.)
Busco una película que sea emocionante.
(I’m looking for a movie that is exciting.)
Necesito una solución que resuelva el problema.
(I need a solution that solves the problem.)

Fill in the Blanks

Busco un libro que _____ (ser) interesante.
Necesito un coche que no _____ (gastar) mucha gasolina.
Quiero un lugar donde _____ (poder) relajarme.
No hay nadie que _____ (saber) la respuesta.
Espero encontrar algo que me _____ (gustar).
Busco un profesor que _____ (hablar) español.
No conozco a nadie que _____ (haber) estado allí.
Quiero un trabajo que me _____ (permitir) viajar.
Necesito una solución que _____ (funcionar).
Es difícil encontrar a alguien que _____ (entender) esto.

Answers:

sea
gaste
pueda
sepa
guste
hable
haya
permita
funcione
entienda

Conclusion

Mastering relative clauses with the subjunctive in Spanish opens up a world of expressive possibilities. Whether you’re describing hypothetical situations, expressing doubt, or seeking something specific, this grammatical structure is indispensable. By practicing the conjugations, memorizing common expressions, and understanding the nuances, you’ll be well on your way to sounding like a native speaker. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using relative clauses with the subjunctive effortlessly in your conversations!

Happy learning! 😊

Mastering the Present Indicative Mode in Spanish (Regular verbs)

Imperative Mode in Spanish

Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido) in Spanish

Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto) in Spanish

Future Simple Tense in Spanish

Spanish Conditional Tense (Condicional Simple)

Present Perfect Tense (Pretérito Perfecto de Indicativo) in Spanish

Understanding the Subjunctive Mood in Spanish

Understanding the Present Subjunctive (Presente de Subjuntivo) in Spanish

Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto (Past Perfect) in Spanish

Pretérito Indefinido vs. Imperfecto – Usage and Contrast Between Two Types of Past Tense in Spanish

Simple Conditional (Condicional Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Simple Future (Futuro Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Tiempo Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto / Present Perfect Tense in Spanish

The Imperfect Subjunctive Tense in Spanish: Tiempo pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

Tiempo Futuro Compuesto / Future Perfect Tense in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Master the Spanish Simple Conditional Tense: The Ultimate Expert Guide

Tiempo Condicional Compuesto: Conditional Perfect Tense in Spanish

Mastering Present Progressive in Spanish

How to Use the Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: A Complete B2 Guide on Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo

Past Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: How to Use Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo with Examples and Easy Rules

February 24, 2025

Relative Clauses (Oraciones relativas) with Indicative in Spanish

Relative clauses, or oraciones relativos, are an essential part of Spanish grammar. They allow us to provide additional information about a noun without starting a new sentence. When combined with the indicative mood, relative clauses are used to express factual or certain information. Understanding how to use them correctly can significantly improve your fluency and comprehension in Spanish.

In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about relative clauses with the indicative mood, including common expressions, conjugation rules, and practical examples.

Common Expressions Using Relative Clauses with Indicative

Here’s a list of common expressions that use relative clauses with the indicative mood in everyday Spanish:

El libro que leí – The book that I read.
La persona que me ayudó – The person who helped me.
El lugar donde vivimos – The place where we live.
El momento en que llegó – The moment when he/she arrived.
La razón por la que vine – The reason why I came.
Las cosas que me gustan – The things that I like.
El chico que sabe mucho – The boy who knows a lot.
La casa que compramos – The house that we bought.
El día que nos conocimos – The day we met.
La comida que preparé – The food that I prepared.

These expressions are widely used in daily conversations and are a great starting point for mastering relative clauses with the indicative.

Things to Keep in Mind

When using relative clauses with the indicative mood, keep the following points in mind:

Articles and Agreement: The relative pronoun (que, quien, donde, etc.) must agree in number and gender with the noun it refers to. For example:
- El hombre que habla (The man who speaks).
- Las mujeres que cantan (The women who sing).
Indicative Mood: The indicative is used when the information in the relative clause is factual or certain. For example:
- El niño que estudia mucho (The boy who studies a lot).
Relative Pronouns:
- Que is the most common relative pronoun and can refer to people, things, or ideas.
- Quien/quienes is used for people, especially after prepositions.
- Donde refers to places.
- El cual/la cual/los cuales/las cuales are more formal and used to avoid ambiguity.
Prepositions: When a preposition is needed, it is placed before the relative pronoun. For example:
- La chica con la que hablé (The girl I spoke with).

When to Use Relative Clauses with Indicative

Relative clauses with the indicative mood are used in the following situations:

To Provide Specific Information:
- El coche que compré es rojo (The car I bought is red).
To Describe People or Things:
- La profesora que enseña español es muy amable (The teacher who teaches Spanish is very kind).
To Indicate Time or Place:
- El día que llegaste fue especial (The day you arrived was special).
To Explain Reasons:
- La razón por la que no vine es el tráfico (The reason I didn’t come is the traffic).

Conjugation of Regular Verbs

To form relative clauses with the indicative, conjugate the verb in the indicative mood according to the subject. Here’s how to conjugate regular verbs:

1. -AR Verbs (e.g., hablar – to speak):

Yo hablo
Tú hablas
Él/Ella/Usted habla
Nosotros/Nosotras hablamos
Vosotros/Vosotras habláis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablan

2. -ER Verbs (e.g., comer – to eat):

Yo como
Tú comes
Él/Ella/Usted come
Nosotros/Nosotras comemos
Vosotros/Vosotras coméis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comen

3. -IR Verbs (e.g., vivir – to live):

Yo vivo
Tú vives
Él/Ella/Usted vive
Nosotros/Nosotras vivimos
Vosotros/Vosotras vivís
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes viven

Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugation

Here are some common irregular verbs and their conjugation in the indicative mood:

Ser (to be):
- Yo soy
- Tú eres
- Él/Ella/Usted es
- Nosotros/Nosotras somos
- Vosotros/Vosotras sois
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son
Example: El hombre que es médico (The man who is a doctor).
Ir (to go):
- Yo voy
- Tú vas
- Él/Ella/Usted va
- Nosotros/Nosotras vamos
- Vosotros/Vosotras vais
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes van
Example: El lugar al que vamos (The place we are going to).
Tener (to have):
- Yo tengo
- Tú tienes
- Él/Ella/Usted tiene
- Nosotros/Nosotras tenemos
- Vosotros/Vosotras tenéis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen
Example: La chica que tiene un perro (The girl who has a dog).

10 Regular Verbs in Relative Clauses with Indicative

Verb	Example Sentence 1	Example Sentence 2
Hablar	El hombre que habla es mi profesor.	La mujer que habla español es mi amiga.
Comer	El niño que come fruta está sano.	La comida que comimos fue deliciosa.
Vivir	La ciudad donde vivo es muy bonita.	Las personas que viven aquí son amables.
Escuchar	La música que escucho es relajante.	El chico que escucha música es mi hermano.
Escribir	El libro que escribió es famoso.	Las cartas que escribimos son importantes.
Leer	El artículo que leí es interesante.	Los libros que leemos son educativos.
Correr	El atleta que corre rápido ganó la carrera.	El perro que corre en el parque es mío.
Bailar	La chica que baila es mi hermana.	La música que bailamos es salsa.
Cantar	El cantante que canta bien es famoso.	Las canciones que cantamos son divertidas.
Trabajar	El hombre que trabaja aquí es ingeniero.	La empresa donde trabajamos es grande.

More Example Sentences

El coche que conduzco es nuevo. (The car I drive is new.)
La casa que construyeron es enorme. (The house they built is huge.)
El libro que leíste es interesante. (The book you read is interesting.)
El lugar donde nos conocimos es especial. (The place where we met is special.)
La persona que me llamó es mi jefe. (The person who called me is my boss.)
El día que llegaste fue inolvidable. (The day you arrived was unforgettable.)
La razón por la que estudias es importante. (The reason why you study is important.)
Las flores que compraste son hermosas. (The flowers you bought are beautiful.)
El niño que juega en el parque es mi hijo. (The boy who plays in the park is my son.)
La comida que preparaste está deliciosa. (The food you prepared is delicious.)

Fill in the Blanks

El libro ___ leí es muy interesante.
La persona ___ me ayudó es mi amiga.
El lugar ___ vivimos es tranquilo.
El día ___ nos conocimos fue especial.
La razón ___ vine es importante.
Las cosas ___ me gustan son simples.
El chico ___ sabe mucho es mi hermano.
La casa ___ compramos es grande.
El momento ___ llegó fue inesperado.
La comida ___ preparé es saludable.

Answers: 1. que, 2. que, 3. donde, 4. que, 5. por la que, 6. que, 7. que, 8. que, 9. en que, 10. que

Conclusion

Mastering relative clauses with the indicative mood in Spanish is a key step toward fluency. By understanding the rules, practicing conjugation, and using common expressions, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively and naturally. Keep practicing with the examples and exercises provided, and soon you’ll find yourself using relative clauses with confidence in your conversations.

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Spanish

Differentiating Homophones in Spanish: Tú vs. Tu, Él vs. El, and Others

Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto (Past Perfect) in Spanish

Pretérito Indefinido vs. Imperfecto – Usage and Contrast Between Two Types of Past Tense in Spanish

Simple Future (Futuro Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Simple Conditional (Condicional Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Subordinate Clauses (Oraciones Subordinadas) in Spanish

Relative Clauses (Oraciones relativas) with Indicative in Spanish

Relative Clauses(oraciones relativas) with Subjunctive in Spanish

Indirect & Direct Object Pronouns Combined in Spanish Grammar

Tiempo Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto / Present Perfect Tense in Spanish

The Imperfect Subjunctive Tense in Spanish: Tiempo pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

Tiempo Futuro Compuesto / Future Perfect Tense in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Master the Spanish Simple Conditional Tense: The Ultimate Expert Guide

Tiempo Condicional Compuesto: Conditional Perfect Tense in Spanish

Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish: Master Verbal Periphrases with Easy Rules & Examples

Estilo Indirecto en Pasado: How to Use Reported Speech in Past Tense in Spanish

Mastering Spanish Conditional Sentences: First, Second, and Third Conditionals Explained with Examples

Mastering Relative Clauses in Spanish: Indicative vs. Subjunctive Made Simple!

How to Use the Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: A Complete B2 Guide on Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo

Past Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: How to Use Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo with Examples and Easy Rules

February 23, 2025

Subordinate Clauses (Oraciones Subordinadas) in Spanish

Subordinate clauses, or oraciones subordinadas in Spanish, are an essential part of mastering the language. They allow you to express complex ideas by connecting a main clause with a dependent clause. In simpler terms, a subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it relies on the main clause to give it meaning. Whether you’re describing a condition, providing a reason, or expressing time, subordinate clauses are your go-to tool for adding depth and nuance to your Spanish conversations and writing.

In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about subordinate clauses in Spanish, including common expressions, conjugation rules, irregular verbs, and practical examples. By the end, you’ll be able to use subordinate clauses confidently in your daily Spanish communication.

Common Expressions Using Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses are often introduced by specific conjunctions or expressions. Here’s a list of common ones used in everyday Spanish:

Porque (because)
- Example: Estudio porque quiero aprender. (I study because I want to learn.)
Aunque (although, even though)
- Example: Voy al parque aunque llueva. (I’m going to the park even if it rains.)
Si (if)
- Example: Si tengo tiempo, te llamaré. (If I have time, I’ll call you.)
Cuando (when)
- Example: Cuando llegues, avísame. (When you arrive, let me know.)
Mientras (while)
- Example: Mientras cocino, escucho música. (While I cook, I listen to music.)
Como (since, as)
- Example: Como no estudiaste, reprobaste. (Since you didn’t study, you failed.)
Para que (so that)
- Example: Estudio mucho para que pueda aprobar. (I study a lot so that I can pass.)
A menos que (unless)
- Example: No iré a menos que tú vayas. (I won’t go unless you go.)
Después de que (after)
- Example: Después de que termines, llámame. (After you finish, call me.)
Antes de que (before)
- Example: Llegaré antes de que empiece la película. (I’ll arrive before the movie starts.)

Things to Keep in Mind

When using subordinate clauses in Spanish, there are a few key points to remember:

Verb Conjugation: The verb in the subordinate clause must agree with the subject and tense of the main clause.
- Example: Si tengo dinero, viajaré. (If I have money, I will travel.)
Subjunctive Mood: Some subordinate clauses require the subjunctive mood, especially when expressing doubt, uncertainty, or hypothetical situations.
- Example: Espero que vengas. (I hope you come.)
Articles and Gender: Ensure that articles and adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
- Example: El libro que compré es interesante. (The book that I bought is interesting.)
Plural Forms: Pay attention to plural forms when using subordinate clauses.
- Example: Los niños que juegan son felices. (The children who play are happy.)
Punctuation: In Spanish, subordinate clauses are often separated by commas when they precede the main clause.
- Example: Cuando llegues, avísame. (When you arrive, let me know.)

When to Use Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses are used in various situations, including:

Expressing Cause or Reason:
- No fui a la fiesta porque estaba cansado. (I didn’t go to the party because I was tired.)
Describing Conditions:
- Si estudias, aprobarás. (If you study, you’ll pass.)
Indicating Time:
- Cuando termine, te llamaré. (When I finish, I’ll call you.)
Expressing Purpose:
- Estudio para que pueda conseguir un buen trabajo. (I study so that I can get a good job.)
Showing Contrast:
- Aunque hace frío, voy a salir. (Even though it’s cold, I’m going out.)

Conjugation

Regular Verbs

Subordinate clauses can be formed with regular verbs in Spanish. Here’s how to conjugate them in the present tense:

-AR Verbs (e.g., hablar)
- Yo hablo
- Tú hablas
- Él/Ella/Usted habla
- Nosotros hablamos
- Vosotros habláis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablan
-ER Verbs (e.g., comer)
- Yo como
- Tú comes
- Él/Ella/Usted come
- Nosotros comemos
- Vosotros coméis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comen
-IR Verbs (e.g., vivir)
- Yo vivo
- Tú vives
- Él/Ella/Usted vive
- Nosotros vivimos
- Vosotros vivís
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes viven

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs in subordinate clauses follow unique conjugation patterns. Here are some common irregular verbs and their conjugations:

Ser (to be)
- Yo soy
- Tú eres
- Él/Ella/Usted es
- Nosotros somos
- Vosotros sois
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son
Example: Espero que seas feliz. (I hope you are happy.)
Ir (to go)
- Yo voy
- Tú vas
- Él/Ella/Usted va
- Nosotros vamos
- Vosotros vais
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes van
Example: Voy a la tienda antes de que cierre. (I’m going to the store before it closes.)
Tener (to have)
- Yo tengo
- Tú tienes
- Él/Ella/Usted tiene
- Nosotros tenemos
- Vosotros tenéis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen
Example: A menos que tengas dinero, no podemos ir. (Unless you have money, we can’t go.)

Regular Verbs in Subordinate Clauses: Examples

Verb	Example Sentence 1	Meaning	Example Sentence 2	Meaning
Hablar	Espero que hables con él.	I hope you talk to him.	Cuando hables, sé claro.	When you speak, be clear.
Comer	Quiero que comas sano.	I want you to eat healthy.	Si comes mucho, te sentirás mal.	If you eat too much, you’ll feel sick.
Vivir	Espero que vivas feliz.	I hope you live happily.	Cuando vivas aquí, lo entenderás.	When you live here, you’ll understand.
Estudiar	A menos que estudies, no aprobarás.	Unless you study, you won’t pass.	Estudio para que pueda aprender.	I study so that I can learn.
Trabajar	Cuando trabajes, sé responsable.	When you work, be responsible.	Trabajo para que mi familia tenga todo.	I work so that my family has everything.
Escribir	Espero que escribas una carta.	I hope you write a letter.	Si escribes bien, te publicarán.	If you write well, they’ll publish you.
Leer	Quiero que leas este libro.	I want you to read this book.	Cuando leas, comprenderás.	When you read, you’ll understand.
Correr	A menos que corras, no llegarás.	Unless you run, you won’t arrive.	Corro para que pueda mantenerme en forma.	I run so that I can stay in shape.
Bailar	Espero que bailes conmigo.	I hope you dance with me.	Si bailas bien, te felicitarán.	If you dance well, they’ll congratulate you.
Cantar	Quiero que cantes en la fiesta.	I want you to sing at the party.	Cuando cantes, todos te escucharán.	When you sing, everyone will listen to you.

More Example Sentences

Espero que vengas a la reunión. (I hope you come to the meeting.)
Si llueve, no iremos al parque. (If it rains, we won’t go to the park.)
Aunque esté cansado, terminaré el trabajo. (Even though I’m tired, I’ll finish the work.)
Cuando llegues, avísame. (When you arrive, let me know.)
Estudio mucho para que pueda aprobar. (I study a lot so that I can pass.)
No iré a menos que tú vayas. (I won’t go unless you go.)
Después de que termines, llámame. (After you finish, call me.)
Llegaré antes de que empiece la película. (I’ll arrive before the movie starts.)
Como no estudiaste, reprobaste. (Since you didn’t study, you failed.)
Mientras cocino, escucho música. (While I cook, I listen to music.)

Fill in the Blanks

Espero que _______ (venir) a la fiesta.
Si _______ (tener) tiempo, te ayudaré.
Aunque _______ (estar) cansado, iré.
Cuando _______ (llegar), avísame.
Estudio para que _______ (poder) aprobar.
No iré a menos que tú _______ (ir).
Después de que _______ (terminar), llámame.
Llegaré antes de que _______ (empezar) la película.
Como no _______ (estudiar), reprobaste.
Mientras _______ (cocinar), escucho música.

Answers:

vengas
tienes
esté
llegues
pueda
vayas
termines
empiece
estudiaste
cocino

Conclusion

Mastering subordinate clauses in Spanish opens up a world of possibilities for expressing complex ideas and emotions. By understanding the rules of conjugation, recognizing common expressions, and practicing regularly, you’ll soon find yourself using oraciones subordinadas with ease. Whether you’re writing, speaking, or simply trying to understand native speakers, this guide will help you navigate the intricacies of Spanish grammar.

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Spanish

Differentiating Homophones in Spanish: Tú vs. Tu, Él vs. El, and Others

Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto (Past Perfect) in Spanish

Pretérito Indefinido vs. Imperfecto – Usage and Contrast Between Two Types of Past Tense in Spanish

Simple Future (Futuro Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Simple Conditional (Condicional Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Subordinate Clauses (Oraciones Subordinadas) in Spanish

Relative Clauses (Oraciones relativas) with Indicative in Spanish

Relative Clauses(oraciones relativas) with Subjunctive in Spanish

Indirect & Direct Object Pronouns Combined in Spanish Grammar

Tiempo Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto / Present Perfect Tense in Spanish

The Imperfect Subjunctive Tense in Spanish: Tiempo pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo

Tiempo Futuro Compuesto / Future Perfect Tense in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Master the Spanish Simple Conditional Tense: The Ultimate Expert Guide

Tiempo Condicional Compuesto: Conditional Perfect Tense in Spanish

Perífrasis Verbales in Spanish: Master Verbal Periphrases with Easy Rules & Examples

Estilo Indirecto en Pasado: How to Use Reported Speech in Past Tense in Spanish

Mastering Spanish Conditional Sentences: First, Second, and Third Conditionals Explained with Examples

Mastering Relative Clauses in Spanish: Indicative vs. Subjunctive Made Simple!

How to Use the Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: A Complete B2 Guide on Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo

Past Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish: How to Use Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo with Examples and Easy Rules

February 22, 2025

Reported Speech (Estilo Indirecto) in Spanish

Reported speech, or estilo indirecto, is a fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar that allows us to relay what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, making it an essential skill for effective communication in Spanish. Whether you’re recounting a conversation, sharing news, or summarizing someone’s thoughts, mastering estilo indirecto will significantly enhance your fluency.

In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about estilo indirecto, including common expressions, conjugation rules, irregular verbs, and practical examples. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to use reported speech confidently in Spanish.

Common Expressions Using Estilo Indirecto

Here’s a list of common expressions used in daily life with estilo indirecto. These phrases are frequently used to report speech or thoughts:

Dijo que… – He/She said that…
Me preguntó si… – He/She asked me if…
Quería saber si… – He/She wanted to know if…
Explicó que… – He/She explained that…
Comentó que… – He/She commented that…
Aseguró que… – He/She assured that…
Negó que… – He/She denied that…
Prometió que… – He/She promised that…
Sugirió que… – He/She suggested that…
Advirtió que… – He/She warned that…

These expressions are often followed by a verb in the indicative or subjunctive mood, depending on the context.

Things to Keep in Mind

When using estilo indirecto, there are several key points to remember:

Verb Tense Changes: The tense of the verb in the original statement often changes in reported speech. For example, present tense may shift to imperfect, and preterite may shift to pluperfect.
Pronoun Adjustments: Pronouns often change to reflect the new perspective. For example, yo (I) may become él/ella (he/she).
Time and Place References: Words like hoy (today) may change to aquel día (that day) in reported speech.
Use of Que: The word que (that) is frequently used to introduce reported speech.
Subjunctive Mood: If the original statement expresses doubt, uncertainty, or a recommendation, the subjunctive mood is used in estilo indirecto.
Gender and Number Agreement: Ensure that adjectives and articles agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.

When to Use Estilo Indirecto

Estilo indirecto is used in the following situations:

Reporting Statements: To relay what someone has said.
- Example: Juan dijo que tenía hambre. (Juan said he was hungry.)
Reporting Questions: To report questions asked by someone.
- Example: Me preguntó si quería café. (He asked me if I wanted coffee.)
Reporting Commands or Requests: To relay instructions or requests.
- Example: Ella me pidió que cerrara la puerta. (She asked me to close the door.)
Reporting Thoughts or Feelings: To share someone’s thoughts or emotions.
- Example: Pensé que no vendrías. (I thought you wouldn’t come.)

Conjugation

Regular Verbs

In estilo indirecto, regular verbs follow the same conjugation rules as in direct speech. However, the tense may change depending on the context. Here’s how to conjugate regular verbs in the three main categories:

-AR Verbs (e.g., hablar)
- Present: habla → Imperfect: hablaba
- Preterite: habló → Pluperfect: había hablado
-ER Verbs (e.g., comer)
- Present: come → Imperfect: comía
- Preterite: comió → Pluperfect: había comido
-IR Verbs (e.g., vivir)
- Present: vive → Imperfect: vivía
- Preterite: vivió → Pluperfect: había vivido

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs in estilo indirecto follow the same conjugation patterns as in direct speech, but their forms must be memorized. Here are some common irregular verbs and their conjugations:

Ser (to be)
- Present: es → Imperfect: era
- Preterite: fue → Pluperfect: había sido
Ir (to go)
- Present: va → Imperfect: iba
- Preterite: fue → Pluperfect: había ido
Decir (to say)
- Present: dice → Imperfect: decía
- Preterite: dijo → Pluperfect: había dicho
Hacer (to do/make)
- Present: hace → Imperfect: hacía
- Preterite: hizo → Pluperfect: había hecho
Tener (to have)
- Present: tiene → Imperfect: tenía
- Preterite: tuvo → Pluperfect: había tenido

List of common Verbs in Estilo Indirecto

Verb	Estilo Indirecto Form	Example Sentence 1	Example Sentence 2	Meaning
Hablar	hablaba	Dijo que hablaba con su madre.	Ella comentó que hablaba español.	He said he was talking to his mom. / She mentioned she spoke Spanish.
Comer	comía	Me dijo que comía pizza.	Ellos aseguraron que comían saludable.	He told me he was eating pizza. / They assured they ate healthy.
Vivir	vivía	Explicó que vivía en Madrid.	Pensé que vivías cerca.	He explained he lived in Madrid. / I thought you lived nearby.
Ser	era	Dijo que era médico.	Creí que era tarde.	He said he was a doctor. / I thought it was late.
Ir	iba	Me preguntó si iba al cine.	Ella dijo que iba a llamarte.	He asked me if I was going to the cinema. / She said she was going to call you.
Decir	dijo	Juan dijo que no vendría.	Ellos dijeron que tenían prisa.	Juan said he wouldn’t come. / They said they were in a hurry.
Hacer	hizo	Aseguró que hizo la tarea.	Pensé que hacías ejercicio.	He assured he did the homework. / I thought you were exercising.
Tener	tenía	Me dijo que tenía sueño.	Creí que tenías razón.	He told me he was sleepy. / I thought you were right.
Poder	podía	Dijo que podía ayudarme.	Ellos comentaron que podían venir.	He said he could help me. / They mentioned they could come.
Querer	quería	Me preguntó si quería café.	Ella dijo que quería viajar.	He asked me if I wanted coffee. / She said she wanted to travel.

More Example Sentences

Dijo que no podía venir a la fiesta. (He said he couldn’t come to the party.)
Me preguntó si había terminado el proyecto. (He asked me if I had finished the project.)
Ella aseguró que sabía la respuesta. (She assured she knew the answer.)
Explicó que no tenía tiempo. (He explained he didn’t have time.)
Comentó que le gustaba el café. (He mentioned he liked coffee.)
Advirtió que llovería mañana. (He warned it would rain tomorrow.)
Prometió que llamaría más tarde. (He promised he would call later.)
Negó que hubiera robado el dinero. (He denied he had stolen the money.)
Sugirió que fuéramos al parque. (He suggested we go to the park.)
Quería saber si habías visto la película. (He wanted to know if you had seen the movie.)

Fill in the Blanks

Ella _____ que no _____ tiempo. (decir, tener)
Me _____ si _____ al cine. (preguntar, ir)
Dijo que _____ la tarea. (hacer)
Nos _____ que _____ temprano. (pedir, llegar)
Creí que _____ en casa. (estar)
Explicó que no _____ la respuesta. (saber)
Ellos _____ que _____ a la fiesta. (decir, venir)
Pensé que _____ más tarde. (llamar)
Aseguró que _____ el libro. (leer)
Me _____ si _____ ayuda. (preguntar, necesitar)

Answers:

dijo, tenía
preguntó, iba
había hecho
pidió, llegáramos
estabas
sabía
dijeron, vendrían
llamarías
había leído
preguntó, necesitaba

Conclusion

Mastering estilo indirecto is a crucial step toward achieving fluency in Spanish. By understanding the rules of conjugation, recognizing common expressions, and practicing with real-life examples, you’ll be able to report speech accurately and naturally. Remember to pay attention to verb tense changes, pronoun adjustments, and the use of the subjunctive mood when necessary. With consistent practice, you’ll soon find yourself using estilo indirecto with confidence in everyday conversations.

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

Happy learning! 😊

📚 Continue Learning Spanish

Differentiating Homophones in Spanish: Tú vs. Tu, Él vs. El, and Others

Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto (Past Perfect) in Spanish

Pretérito Indefinido vs. Imperfecto – Usage and Contrast Between Two Types of Past Tense in Spanish

Simple Future (Futuro Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Simple Conditional (Condicional Simple) Tense/Mode in Spanish

Subordinate Clauses (Oraciones Subordinadas) in Spanish

Relative Clauses (Oraciones relativas) with Indicative in Spanish

Relative Clauses(oraciones relativas) with Subjunctive in Spanish

Indirect & Direct Object Pronouns Combined in Spanish Grammar