Explicar conjugation
to explain
Past participleexplicado
Gerundexplicando
Future stemexplicar-
Preterite (yo)expliqué
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Explicar in the main GCSE tenses
highlighted forms don't follow the regular pattern, so learn these ones carefully.
Presente present
| yo explico |
| tú explicas |
| él/ella/usted explica |
| nosotros/as explicamos |
| vosotros/as explicáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes explican |
Pretérito indefinido preterite
| yo expliqué |
| tú explicaste |
| él/ella/usted explicó |
| nosotros/as explicamos |
| vosotros/as explicasteis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes explicaron |
Pretérito imperfecto imperfect
| yo explicaba |
| tú explicabas |
| él/ella/usted explicaba |
| nosotros/as explicábamos |
| vosotros/as explicabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes explicaban |
Futuro inmediato near future
| yo voy a explicar |
| tú vas a explicar |
| él/ella/usted va a explicar |
| nosotros/as vamos a explicar |
| vosotros/as vais a explicar |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes van a explicar |
Futuro simple future
| yo explicaré |
| tú explicarás |
| él/ella/usted explicará |
| nosotros/as explicaremos |
| vosotros/as explicaréis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes explicarán |
Condicional conditional
| yo explicaría |
| tú explicarías |
| él/ella/usted explicaría |
| nosotros/as explicaríamos |
| vosotros/as explicaríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes explicarían |
Pretérito perfecto perfect
| yo he explicado |
| tú has explicado |
| él/ella/usted ha explicado |
| nosotros/as hemos explicado |
| vosotros/as habéis explicado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes han explicado |
Presente continuo present continuous
| yo estoy explicando |
| tú estás explicando |
| él/ella/usted está explicando |
| nosotros/as estamos explicando |
| vosotros/as estáis explicando |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes están explicando |
Imperativo imperative (commands)
| (tú) explica |
| (usted) explique |
| (vosotros/as) explicad |
| (ustedes) expliquen |
Also useful at Higher (aim for grades 7 to 9)
Pluscuamperfecto pluperfect
| yo había explicado |
| tú habías explicado |
| él/ella/usted había explicado |
| nosotros/as habíamos explicado |
| vosotros/as habíais explicado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes habían explicado |
Presente de subjuntivo present subjunctive
| yo explique |
| tú expliques |
| él/ella/usted explique |
| nosotros/as expliquemos |
| vosotros/as expliquéis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes expliquen |
Quick questions about explicar
Is explicar regular or irregular?
Explicar is a verb with a spelling change. The highlighted forms in the tables are the ones that break the regular pattern.
What is the preterite of explicar?
In the preterite, yo expliqué and él/ella/usted explicó. The full table is above.
What is the past participle of explicar?
The past participle of explicar is explicado, as in yo he explicado.
What is the gerund of explicar?
The gerund (-ing form) of explicar is explicando, as in yo estoy explicando.
What is the future stem of explicar?
The future and conditional stem of explicar is explicar-: yo explicaré, yo explicaría.
Verbs that follow the same pattern as explicar
- buscar look for, fetch
- sacar take out, get, obtain
- tocar touch, play (instrument)
- dedicar devote, dedicate
- publicar publish, post (online)
- indicar point (out), indicate
- destacar emphasise, stand out, highlight
- significar mean
- identificar identify
- comunicar communicate
- practicar practise
- criticar criticise
- fabricar manufacture, produce
Most common GCSE Spanish verbs
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