• What are verb tenses?
• Classification of verb tenses
• Verb tenses in the indicative mood
• Verb tenses of the subjunctive mood
• Verb tenses of the imperative mood

We explain what the verb tenses are and what they are for the indicative mood, the subjunctive mood and the imperative mood.

Verb tenses express differences and chronological relationships.

What are verb tenses?

In grammar Spanish, the verb tenses are the different ways in which the verbs of our idiom to express the possible differences and chronological relationships with which we refer to the reality. In other words, it is about the ways in which verbs adapt to indicate to the listener at what moment of the weather what the verb expresses happened.

As we know, verbs denote action, and such action should reflect as much of information, and it does so through the details of its conjugation: the verbal person (1st, 2nd, 3rd, from the plural and the singular respectively), the verb mode (indicative, imperative, subjunctive) and the different verb tenses, which can be broadly grouped into three categories:

• past (what happened already),
• present (what happens while I speak),
• future (what will happen).

From these three perspectives, as we will see later, a complete classification of possible verb tenses emerges, each one with its particularity and with its rules of use, which usually depend on the regularity of the verb and its ending (-ar, -er, -ir) when conjugated.

Furthermore, this classification may change depending on the verbal mode in which we express ourselves, which is why it is common to say both things together (for example: “present of the indicative [mode]” or “past tense of the subjunctive [mode]”. , not all verb modes present the same verb tenses.

Like many other aspects of the language, the verb tense is varied and responds to historical conventions, although it is also susceptible to variations and dialect changes. In fact, certain nuances can vary very significantly between a region and another, despite being the same verb tense.

Classification of verb tenses

Beyond being divided into the three categories that we have previously explained (past-present-future), verb tenses can be of two types, depending on whether or not they require the help of the auxiliary verb “haber” to express their full meaning. Thus, we talk about:

• Simple verb tenses, which do not require the participation of any assistant. For example: “we eat”, “they danced”, “I will toast”.
• Compound verb tenses, which require the participation of the auxiliary "have", and the verb form of the participle. For example: “we have eaten”, “they would have danced” or “I will have toasted”.

Verb tenses in the indicative mood

The indicative mood, as we know, is one that we use to express concrete, past, present or future realities, or to describe the state of things. Therefore, it is the verb mode that most verb tenses contemplate.

Present time:

• Present (I speak, like, live). It is a simple time that expresses the current and immediate state of things, what happens at the same time that it is spoken. It can also be used to express that an action is recurrent in time or habitual in us, or even that a certain action is highly probable. Some examples of use are:
  • I think much in the future of humanity.
  • ¿You bring with you everything you need?
  • Colon discover America in 1492.
  • No we get in the market onion or tomato.
  • you guys have a lot of free time.
  • At work they speak all from that tv series.

• Post-past or present conditional (would speak, eat, live). It is a simple time that expresses an action possible in the present, but conditioned to an event in the near or remote past, or even in the future. It is also used to express doubt in the face of a possible present event and is often accompanied by the subjunctive. Examples of use are:
  • Would opine if you give me more information.
  • I would you do a favor?
  • The boy I would play but he has no toys.
  • I do not know if we could climb to the top.
  • you guys should solve your problems.
  • Your friends would come if it was not raining.

Times of the past:

• Preterite or past indefinite (I spoke, I ate, I lived). It is a simple tense that indicates a verbal action already completed, prior to the moment in which it is spoken.Its proximity or distance from the moment in which it is spoken can be very diverse, since it is an indefinite past in time. Examples of its use are:
  • Yesterday take a glass of water.
  • You arrived late to all classes.
  • Mary achievement everything that was proposed.
  • Just us we moved to a new house.
  • You guys they won the lottery?
  • My brothers They were to the dentist.

• Copreterite or past imperfect (spoke, ate, lived). It is a simple tense that expresses a past verbal action, but without precise limits of when. You can express that the past action was habitual, customary, or that the action has not yet been completed, or can no longer be completed, or is no longer relevant.
  • When i was young played a lot with my brothers.
  • ¿You wanted say something to me?
  • Tristan loved deeply to Isolde.
  • Before we we saw more often.
  • Not you they lived just around the corner?
  • The bosses us they asked one report after another.

• Present or past perfect (I have spoken, I have eaten, I have lived). Compound time that expresses a past action that continues to the present. However, in some Hispanic regions it is used in the sense of an action very remote in time, occurring sometime in history.
  • Already I have visited to all my close relatives.
  • ¿You have exhausted all possible options?
  • President has said many times the economy is growing.
  • We have arrived at the conclusion of dispensing with your services.
  • Have slept in the best bed in the house.
  • The negotiations have arrived at its end.
• Pre-past or past past (I have spoken, I have eaten, I have lived). A compound tense of very rare use in the spoken language, more common in the writing literary and certain formal speeches. It expresses a past action, immediately prior to another one that has already occurred. It is used as follows:
  • As soon as I will have bought, I regretted.
  • After what have touched the button, the machine turned off.
  • Barely had said, fell on him.
  • As soon as we will have finished the building, they began to demolish it.
  • As soon as i know they will have neglected, they were being robbed.
  • Barely they have finished to eat, they asked for the table.

• Antecopreterite or past perfect (had spoken, had eaten, had lived). A compound tense that expresses a “more than perfect” idea, since it expresses a past and verified action, but prior to another also past (usually past imperfect). It is used as follows:
  • I already had lit the oven, but the power went out.
  • Why haven't you you had decided to come?
  • Miracles I don't know had divorced still, but she was already dating someone else.
  • We had agreed something other than what we ended up doing.
  • You me they had promised
  • Beavers already know they had reproduced when the rains came.

• Antepospreterite or past conditional (would have spoken, would have eaten, would have lived). Compound verb tense that expresses a past action, subsequent to another, also past action, but conditional on the fulfillment of the first. That is, it is the past of the conditional and therefore it is usually accompanied by the subjunctive. It is used as follows:
  • Me would come on time if the weather conditions were different.
  • If you had studied, would have been a great professional.
  • Jorge would have sung at the party, if at any point you'd quit.
  • We could have beat them, if they hadn't taken us so much advantage at the beginning.
  • You guys they would have bought the product, to have the money?
  • They would have been kinder, if only they had done their part.

Times of the future:

• Simple future or imperfect future (I will speak, eat, live). Simple time that expresses an action to be carried out in the absolute future, that is, in a later and indeterminate instant with respect to the moment in which it is spoken. Examples of its use are:
  • I will eat mussels when I finally visit the Caribbean.
  • ¿Will you come with your sister to the party?
  • frames will be a wonderful father.
  • Us we will defend democracy at all costs.
  • Germán and you will know reach some kind of agreement.
  • Other policemen will chase thieves down the boulevard.

• Prefuture or future perfect (I will have spoken, I will have eaten, I will have lived). Compound verb tense that expresses an action that is about to happen, future with respect to the moment in which it is spoken, but at the same time past with respect to another idea later in the future. It is used as follows:
  • Someday I will die, but I will have lived according to my rules.
  • ¿You will have finished homework when I come back?
  • Even if she gets fired, Amalia will have defended what I thought.
  • We will have deciphered the code when night falls.
  • When the police arrive, you already know will have escaped.
  • The rose bushes will have flowered when you return from your trip.

More in: Indicative mood

Verb tenses of the subjunctive mood

Unlike the indicative mood, the subjunctive is used to express subjective realities, such as opinions, wishes, doubts or uncertainties, and it is a difficult verbal mode, typical of the Spanish language. Verb tenses in this way often express simultaneity or conditionality with respect to other actions past or present, or possible in an imaginary future.

Present times:

• Present (speak, eat, live). Simple verb tense that expresses a probable or close action in time, but that happens alongside another. It also serves to express command or negation of the imperative (“¡no me leave only!"). Examples of its use are:
  • I will always get up when I fall.
  • Close the door when
  • Martha will explain it to us when come on.
  • We will tell you how we Wow.
  • I hope you guys be forever
  • Make your companions know everything you need.

Times of the past:

• Past simple or past imperfect (speak / speak, eat / eat, live / live). Compound tense with two possible endings (-ra / -se) and equivalents, used above all in conditional constructions, since it expresses a past action but complementary to another that has also occurred. It is used as follows:
  • Would you help me if I give the opportunity?
  • You would have done better if would have more patience.
  • Pedro's suit would fit better if out of just a little higher.
  • We wouldn't have moved into this house if not we had the money for it.
  • Yes they will arrive in time, they wouldn't miss a thing.
  • My parents would be happy if will present to my girlfriend.

• Present or past perfect (has spoken, has eaten, has lived). Compound time that expresses a past and finished action, but that introduces a doubt, possibility or subjectivity in what happened. It also allows us to talk about future and possible actions, but from a point of view in which they will have already happened. It is used as follows:
  • When the has finished, I'll tell you.
  • You will stand from the table when you you have finished food.
  • The police will intervene once the minister have ordered.
  • When the we will have conquered, the top won't look so far away.
  • Once I know have marriedThey will be able to process this document.
  • What have said does not mean they did.

• Pre-past or past perfect (would have / would have spoken, would have / would have eaten, would have / would have lived). Compound time that expresses an action passed in time, prior to a closer one, and with which it presents some relationship of conditionality, simultaneity or possibility. As in the case of the past simple, it admits two equivalent forms. Examples of this time are the phrases:
  • If I have known, I will would have communicated.
  • If i would have helped, the job would be done.
  • Karina would not have been divorced, if her husband had not would have had an adventure.
  • If we would have graduated, we would win today in double.
  • Yes would have seen those landscapes, you couldn't believe it!
  • Your cousins ​​would be better off, if I know they would have endeavored a little more.

• Times of the future:
  • Simple future or imperfect future (I will speak, eat, live). Simple time that expresses a possible and future action. It is very little used in the spoken language and survives in the cult record, as in the liturgical, literary or official language, or in set phrases such as “whatever whatever”. Examples of its use are:
    • Yes I'll talkYour Majesty, you would not forgive me.
    • If so will you doMay the country demand it of you.
    • Who will be charged will do.
    • We will do what is agreed, whoever comes come.

• Antefuture or future perfect (he had spoken, he had eaten, he had lived). Compound time that expresses the possibility that an action will take place in the not too near future, and like the previous case, its use is restricted to legal documents and old or traditional formulas in the educated language. Some examples of its use are:
  • Who does not would have fulfilled His promise would deserve punishment.
  • The award will be reserved for those who would have reached the goal at the end of the set time.

Verb tenses of the imperative mood

The imperative mood is the one that allows the fewest verb tenses, since it is a very restricted use of the language, useful for giving instructions or orders. Therefore, it only corresponds to the present tense, devoid of the first person singular (since we cannot give ourselves orders).

The only verb tense of the imperative is conjugated like this:

	ending -ar	ending -er	ending -ir
2nd person singular	Speaks	Eat	It lives
3rd person singular	I talked	Eat	Live
1st person plural	Let's talk	let's eat	Let's live
2nd person plural	Talk	Eat	Live
3rd person plural	Talk	Eat	Live

For example: "Speaks now or shut up forever "or"let's sit down there".