narrar — Spanish conjugation
to narrate
Indicative
Present (Presente) Regular
The present tense is the most versatile tense in Spanish. It covers actions happening right now, habitual actions, and even near-future plans. One form does the work of three English constructions.
Ella habla inglés — She speaks / is speaking English
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | narro | I narrate |
| tú | narras | you narrate |
| vos | narrás | you narrate |
| él/ella/Ud. | narra | he/she/it narrates |
| nosotros | narramos | we narrate |
| vosotros | narráis | you (pl.) narrate |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narran | they narrate |
Preterite (Pretérito indefinido) Regular
Used for completed past actions with a defined endpoint — a single event, a series of events, or an action that interrupted another. Common with time expressions like ayer, el lunes, una vez.
Ella habló de ti ayer — She spoke about you yesterday
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | narré | I narrated |
| tú | narraste | you narrated |
| vos | narraste | you narrated |
| él/ella/Ud. | narró | he/she/it narrated |
| nosotros | narramos | we narrated |
| vosotros | narrasteis | you (pl.) narrated |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narraron | they narrated |
Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto) Regular
Describes ongoing or habitual past states — what things were like, background context, what used to happen. Contrasts with the preterite which marks completed events.
Cuando era niño vivía en Valencia — When I was a child I lived in Valencia
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | narraba |
| tú | narrabas |
| vos | narrabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | narraba |
| nosotros | narrábamos |
| vosotros | narrabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narraban |
Conditional (Condicional) Regular
Expresses hypothetical actions, polite requests, and what would happen under certain conditions. Also used for reported speech about the future from a past perspective.
¿Podrías ayudarme? — Could you help me?
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | narraría | I would narrate |
| tú | narrarías | you would narrate |
| vos | narrarías | you would narrate |
| él/ella/Ud. | narraría | he/she/it would narrate |
| nosotros | narraríamos | we would narrate |
| vosotros | narraríais | you (pl.) would narrate |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narrarían | they would narrate |
Future (Futuro) Regular
Expresses future actions, predictions, and probability about the present. Formed with the full infinitive as stem for most verbs. In spoken Spanish, ir a + infinitive is often preferred for near future.
Ella hablará en conferencia mañana — She will speak at the conference tomorrow
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | narraré | I will narrate |
| tú | narrarás | you will narrate |
| vos | narrarás | you will narrate |
| él/ella/Ud. | narrará | he/she/it will narrate |
| nosotros | narraremos | we will narrate |
| vosotros | narraréis | you (pl.) will narrate |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narrarán | they will narrate |
Present perfect (Pretérito perfecto) Regular
A compound past tense linking a past action to the present moment — something that has happened and still feels recent or relevant. More common in Spain than Latin America where preterite is preferred.
Hoy he hablado con el jefe — Today I have spoken with the boss
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | he narrado | I have narrated |
| tú | has narrado | you have narrated |
| vos | has narrado | you have narrated |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha narrado | he/she/it has narrated |
| nosotros | hemos narrado | we have narrated |
| vosotros | habéis narrado | you (pl.) have narrated |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han narrado | they have narrated |
Pluperfect (Pretérito pluscuamperfecto) Regular
The past of the past — describes an action that was already completed before another past event happened. Always implies a reference point in the past.
Ya había hablado cuando llegaste — She had already spoken when you arrived
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | había narrado | I had narrated |
| tú | habías narrado | you had narrated |
| vos | habías narrado | you had narrated |
| él/ella/Ud. | había narrado | he/she/it had narrated |
| nosotros | habíamos narrado | we had narrated |
| vosotros | habíais narrado | you (pl.) had narrated |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían narrado | they had narrated |
Conditional perfect (Condicional perfecto) Regular
Expresses what would have happened — actions that were possible but did not occur, or regrets about the past. Formed with conditional of haber + past participle.
Habría hablado, pero no me dejaron — I would have spoken, but they did not let me
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | habría narrado |
| tú | habrías narrado |
| vos | habrías narrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría narrado |
| nosotros | habríamos narrado |
| vosotros | habríais narrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían narrado |
Future perfect (Futuro perfecto) Regular
Describes an action that will have been completed by a certain point in the future, or expresses probability about a recent past action.
Para el lunes habré terminado — By Monday I will have finished
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | habré narrado | I will have narrated |
| tú | habrás narrado | you will have narrated |
| vos | habrás narrado | you will have narrated |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá narrado | he/she/it will have narrated |
| nosotros | habremos narrado | we will have narrated |
| vosotros | habréis narrado | you (pl.) will have narrated |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán narrado | they will have narrated |
Subjunctive
Present subjunctive (Subjuntivo presente) Regular
Used in subordinate clauses after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, necessity, or impersonal statements. Triggered by a change of subject between the main and subordinate clause.
Espero que hable — I hope she speaks
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | narre |
| tú | narres |
| vos | narres |
| él/ella/Ud. | narre |
| nosotros | narremos |
| vosotros | narréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narren |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra) (Subjuntivo imperfecto (-ra)) Regular
The past subjunctive used after past main verbs, in if-clauses with conditional, and for polite softening. The -ra form is more common in everyday speech than the -se form.
Si pudiera, lo haría — If I could, I would do it
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | narrara |
| tú | narraras |
| vos | narraras |
| él/ella/Ud. | narrara |
| nosotros | narráramos |
| vosotros | narrarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narraran |
Imperfect subjunctive (-se) (Subjuntivo imperfecto (-se)) Regular
The alternative past subjunctive form. Interchangeable with -ra in most contexts but slightly more literary or formal. Both forms are grammatically correct in all regions.
Si pudiese, lo haría — If I could, I would do it
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | narrase |
| tú | narrases |
| vos | narrases |
| él/ella/Ud. | narrase |
| nosotros | narrásemos |
| vosotros | narraseis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | narrasen |
Perfect subjunctive (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo) Regular
A compound subjunctive that expresses completed actions in a subjunctive context — used after present or future main verbs expressing doubt, emotion or desire.
Dudo que ya haya llegado — I doubt she has already arrived
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | haya narrado |
| tú | hayas narrado |
| vos | hayas narrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | haya narrado |
| nosotros | hayamos narrado |
| vosotros | hayáis narrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | hayan narrado |
Pluperfect subjunctive (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) Regular
Expresses what had happened in hypothetical or unreal past contexts — the subjunctive equivalent of the pluperfect. Common in contrary-to-fact past conditions.
Si hubiera hablado, lo habrían creído — If she had spoken, they would have believed her
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | hubiera narrado |
| tú | hubieras narrado |
| vos | hubieras narrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | hubiera narrado |
| nosotros | hubiéramos narrado |
| vosotros | hubierais narrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | hubieran narrado |
Other forms
Imperative (affirmative) (Imperativo afirmativo) Regular
Direct commands and instructions. The imperative only exists for tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros and ustedes — yo has no command form. Affirmative and negative forms use different conjugations.
Habla más despacio — Speak more slowly
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| tú | narra |
| vos | narrá |
| él/ella/Ud. | narre |
| nosotros | narremos |
| vosotros | narrad |
| ustedes | narren |
Imperative (negative) (Imperativo negativo) Regular
Negative commands use the subjunctive forms for all persons. Formed with no + present subjunctive. This applies to all persons including tú where the affirmative uses a different form.
No hables tan rápido — Do not speak so fast
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| tú | no narres |
| vos | no narres |
| él/ella/Ud. | no narre |
| nosotros | no narremos |
| vosotros | no narréis |
| ustedes | no narren |
Present progressive (Presente progresivo) Regular
Emphasises that an action is happening right now at this very moment. Less common than in English since the present tense already covers ongoing actions in Spanish.
Estoy hablando contigo — I am speaking with you
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy narrando |
| tú | estás narrando |
| vos | estás narrando |
| él/ella/Ud. | está narrando |
| nosotros | estamos narrando |
| vosotros | estáis narrando |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | están narrando |
Preterite progressive (Pretérito indefinido progresivo) Regular
Describes an action that was in progress throughout a completed past period. Uses the preterite of estar + gerund to emphasise the ongoing nature within a defined timeframe.
Estuvo hablando toda la tarde — He was talking all afternoon
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | estuve narrando |
| tú | estuviste narrando |
| vos | estuviste narrando |
| él/ella/Ud. | estuvo narrando |
| nosotros | estuvimos narrando |
| vosotros | estuvisteis narrando |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | estuvieron narrando |
Imperfect progressive (Pretérito imperfecto progresivo) Regular
Emphasises an ongoing background action using the imperfect of estar + gerund. Layered on top of the imperfect which already conveys continuity — used for extra emphasis on the progressive nature.
Estaba hablando cuando entró — I was speaking when he came in
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | estaba narrando |
| tú | estabas narrando |
| vos | estabas narrando |
| él/ella/Ud. | estaba narrando |
| nosotros | estábamos narrando |
| vosotros | estabais narrando |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | estaban narrando |
Conditional progressive (Condicional progresivo) Regular
Expresses what would be in progress under hypothetical conditions. Uses the conditional of estar + gerund. Less common but used for emphasis on the ongoing nature of a hypothetical action.
Estaría hablando ahora si pudiera — I would be speaking now if I could
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | estaría narrando |
| tú | estarías narrando |
| vos | estarías narrando |
| él/ella/Ud. | estaría narrando |
| nosotros | estaríamos narrando |
| vosotros | estaríais narrando |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | estarían narrando |
Future progressive (Futuro progresivo) Regular
Describes an action that will be in progress at a future point, or expresses probability about an ongoing present action. Uses the future of estar + gerund.
Mañana a esta hora estaré viajando — At this time tomorrow I will be travelling
| Pronoun | Spanish |
|---|---|
| yo | estaré narrando |
| tú | estarás narrando |
| vos | estarás narrando |
| él/ella/Ud. | estará narrando |
| nosotros | estaremos narrando |
| vosotros | estaréis narrando |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | estarán narrando |