You’ll devour this grammar guide to the “Comer” conjugation in Spanish!
The verb “comer” is one of the most important and commonly used verbs in the Spanish language. It belongs to the first conjugation group, known as “-er” verbs, and it is an irregular verb in some of its forms. “Comer” translates to “to eat” in English.
“Comer” is a versatile verb used to express the action of eating. It’s an essential verb for any Spanish learner or speaker, as eating is a fundamental part of daily life and communication.
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“Comer” Conjugation Indicative / Indicativo
The indicative tense (el modo indicativo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements, ask questions, and express opinions about actions or events that are considered real or certain.
Present Tense Comer Conjugation / Presente
The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.
Yo | Como |
Tú | Comes |
Él/Ella/Usted | Come |
Nosotros | Comemos |
Vosotros | Coméis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comen |
Examples:
- Yo como banano todas las mañanas. (I eat a banana every morning.)
- Ellas comen juntas. (They eat together.)
- Nosotros comemos pizza. (We eat pizza.)
Simple Past Comer Conjugation / Pasado
The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.
Yo | Comí |
Tú | Comiste |
Él/Ella/Usted | Comió |
Nosotros | Comimos |
Vosotros | Comisteis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comieron |
Examples:
- Tú comiste una deliciosa paella en el restaurante español. (You ate a delicious paella at the Spanish restaurant.)
- Comisteis demasiado pastel en la fiesta de cumpleaños. (You all ate too much cake at the birthday party.)
- Ellos comieron tacos en el puesto de comida callejera. (They ate tacos at the street food stall.)
Imperfect Comer Conjugation / Imperfecto
Spanish imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the stage or provide background information
Yo | Comía |
Tú | Comías |
Él/Ella/Usted | Comía |
Nosotros | Comíamos |
Vosotros | Comíais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comían |
Examples:
- Yo comía cereal todas las mañanas antes de ir a la escuela. (I used to eat cereal every morning before going to school.)
- Usted comía en ese restaurante italiano con frecuencia. (You used to eat at that Italian restaurant frequently.)
- Ellas comían helado mientras paseaban por el parque. (They used to eat ice cream while walking in the park.)
Present Continuous Comer Conjugation / Presente Continuo
The present continuous tense (also known as “estar + gerundio”) is used to describe actions that are currently happening in the present moment or to express temporary situations.
Yo | Estoy comiendo |
Tú | Estás comiendo |
Él/Ella/Usted | Está comiendo |
Nosotros | Estamos comiendo |
Vosotros | Estáis comiendo |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Están comiendo |
Examples:
- Estás comiendo una ensalada muy saludable para el almuerzo. (You are eating a very healthy salad for lunch.)
- Estamos comiendo en casa de mi abuela esta noche. (We are eating at my grandmother’s house tonight.)
Future Tense / Futuro
The Spanish future tense is used to express actions or events that will happen in the future, indicating something that has not yet occurred.
Yo | Comeré |
Tú | Comerás |
Él/Ella/Usted | Comerá |
Nosotros | Comeremos |
Vosotros | Comeréis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comerán |
Examples:
- Él comerá en el nuevo restaurante de comida japonesa. (He will eat at the new Japanese restaurant.)
- Los invitados comerán paella en la fiesta. (The guests will eat paella at the party.)
Conditional Comer Conjugation / Condicional
The conditional tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions or events that would happen under certain conditions in the present or future.
Yo | Comería |
Tú | Comerías |
Él/Ella/Usted | Comería |
Nosotros | Comeríamos |
Vosotros | Comeríais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comerían |
Examples:
- Comeríamos en el restaurante favorito de mi hermana, pero está cerrado hoy. (We would eat at my sister’s favorite restaurant, but it’s closed today.)
- ¿Comeríais sushi si lo preparo para la cena? (Would you all eat sushi if I make it for dinner?)
Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto
Spanish present perfect tense (also known as “pretérito perfecto compuesto”) is used to express actions that have occurred in the past but have a connection to the present, emphasizing the result or consequences of those actions.
Yo | He comido |
Tú | Has comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Ha comido |
Nosotros | Hemos comido |
Vosotros | Habéis comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Han comido |
Examples:
- He comido toda la pizza que quedaba en la nevera. (I have eaten all the pizza that was left in the fridge.)
- Mi hermana ha comido en ese restaurante varias veces y le encanta. (My sister has eaten at that restaurant several times, and she loves it.)
Past Perfect Comer Conjugation / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto
Spanish past perfect tense (also known as “pretérito pluscuamperfecto”) is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action or event, expressing a past-in-the-past relationship.
Yo | Había comido |
Tú | Has comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Ha comido |
Nosotros | Hemos comido |
Vosotros | Habéis comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Han comido |
Examples:
- ¿Has comido en este restaurante antes? (Have you eaten at this restaurant before?)
- Habéis comido demasiado postre en la cena. (You all have eaten too much dessert at dinner.)
Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto
The Spanish future perfect tense is used to express actions that will have been completed in the future, indicating an action that will be finished before another specified future time or event.
Yo | Habré comido |
Tú | Habrás comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Habrá comido |
Nosotros | Habremos comido |
Vosotros | Habréis comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habrán comido |
Examples:
- Usted habrá comido cuando llegue a casa. (You will have eaten by the time you get home.)
- Para las 3 de la tarde, ya habremos comido el almuerzo. (By 3 o’clock, we will have eaten lunch.)
Conditional Perfect / Condicional Perfect
The conditional perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions that would have been completed in the past, indicating an action that would have happened prior to another past event.
Yo | Habría comido |
Tú | Habrías comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Habría comido |
Nosotros | Habríamos comido |
Vosotros | Habríais comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habrían comido |
Examples:
- Habría comido más si no estuviera tan lleno. (I would have eaten more if I weren’t so full.)
- Habrían comido la cena si no hubieran llegado tarde a la fiesta. (They would have eaten dinner if they hadn’t arrived late to the party.)
“Comer” Conjugation Subjunctive / Subjuntivo
The subjunctive tense (el modo subjuntivo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, and hypothetical situations.
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Present Tense / Presente
The Spanish subjunctive present tense is used to express subjective actions, desires, doubts, recommendations, or possibilities, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, necessity, or influence.
Yo | Coma |
Tú | Comas |
Él/Ella/Usted | Coma |
Nosotros | Comamos |
Vosotros | Comáis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Coman |
Examples:
- Espero que comáis toda la fruta que está en la mesa. (I hope you all eat all the fruit on the table.)
- Comamos juntos en el restaurante italiano esta noche. (Let’s eat together at the Italian restaurant tonight.)
- Es importante que coman verduras todos los días para mantenerse saludables. (It’s important for them to eat vegetables every day to stay healthy.)
Imperfect / Imperfecto
This tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or unreal conditions.
Yo | Comiera |
Tú | Comieras |
Él/Ella/Usted | Comiera |
Nosotros | Comiéramos |
Vosotros | Comierais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comieran |
Examples:
- Si él comiera más sano, se sentiría mejor. (If he ate healthier, he would feel better.)
- Ellos comieran en el restaurante de mariscos durante sus vacaciones en la playa. (They would eat at the seafood restaurant during their beach vacation.)
Future Tense / Futuro
The Spanish subjunctive future tense is used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future.
Yo | Comiere |
Tú | Comieres |
Él/Ella/Usted | Comiere |
Nosotros | Comiéremos |
Vosotros | Comiereis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comieren |
Examples:
- Comiéremos en casa de mis padres el próximo fin de semana. (We will eat at my parents’ house next weekend.)
- ¿A qué hora comieres mañana? (What time will you eat tomorrow?)
Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto
Spanish subjunctive present perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the present with a connection to the past, indicating actions that would have been completed prior to the present moment.
Yo | Haya comido |
Tú | Hayas comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Haya comido |
Nosotros | Hayamos comido |
Vosotros | Hayáis comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hayan comido |
Examples:
- No puedo salir hasta que haya comido algo. (I can’t leave until I have eaten something.)
- Espero que hayas comido antes de la reunión. (I hope you have eaten before the meeting.)
Past Perfect / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto
Spanish subjunctive past perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past with a connection to a previous past event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that past event.
Yo | Hubiera comido |
Tú | Hubieras comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Hubiera comido |
Nosotros | Hubiéramos comido |
Vosotros | Hubierais comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hubieran comido |
Examples:
- Si hubiera comido más temprano, no tendría tanta hambre ahora. (If I had eaten earlier, I wouldn’t be so hungry now.)
- Usted hubiera comido el postre si lo hubiera sabido. (You would have eaten the dessert if you had known about it.)
Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto
The future perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future with a connection to a future event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that future event.
Yo | Hubiere comido |
Tú | Hubieres comido |
Él/Ella/Usted | Hubiere comido |
Nosotros | Hubiéremos comido |
Vosotros | Hubiereis comido |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hubieren comido |
Examples:
- No te preocupes, cuando tú hubieres comido, podemos ir al cine. (Don’t worry, when you have eaten, we can go to the movies.)
- Me avisarás cuando él hubiere comido, ¿verdad? (You will let me know when he has eaten, right?)
“Comer” Conjugation Imperative / Imperativo
The imperative tense (el modo imperativo) is one of the verb moods used to express commands, orders, or requests. It is used to tell someone what to do or what not to do.
Affirmative / Afirmativos
Spanish affirmative refers to the use of positive statements or expressions that indicate agreement, confirmation, or positive response to a question or statement.
Yo | – |
Tú | Come |
Él/Ella/Usted | Coma |
Nosotros | Comamos |
Vosotros | Comed |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Coman |
Examples:
- Come esa deliciosa fruta. (Eat that delicious fruit.)
- Comed juntos en la mesa. (Eat together at the table.)
- Es importante que coman sus verduras para estar saludables. (It’s important for them to eat their vegetables to stay healthy.)
Negative / Negativos
Spanish negative refers to the use of negative statements or expressions that indicate negation, denial, or disagreement with a question or statement.
Yo | – |
Tú | No comas |
Él/Ella/Usted | No coma |
Nosotros | No comamos |
Vosotros | No comáis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | No coman |
Examples:
- No coma postre antes de la cena. (Don’t eat dessert before dinner.)
- No comamos tanto dulce, es malo para la salud. (Let’s not eat so much candy, it’s bad for our health.)
- No coman en la habitación, por favor. (Don’t eat in the room, please.)
Become a Spanish Expert!
In conclusion, understanding the conjugation of the verb “comer” in Spanish is a fundamental step in mastering the language.
Learning the conjugation of “comer” not only improves our ability to communicate effectively but also allows us to immerse ourselves more deeply in the rich and diverse Spanish-speaking cultures. Whether we use it to talk about our favorite foods, share our dining experiences, or discuss our eating habits, “comer” connects us with others on a personal level.
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