Do you ever feel lost conjugating verbs in Spanish? It happens all the time, which is why today we’re explaining all you need to know about the “encontrar” conjugation in Spanish.
Encontrar is the Spanish verb meaning “to find”. t is used when finding, discovering, or encountering something new. It is an irregular verb, which means its conjugations do not always follow the standard patterns found in regular verbs.
In today’s blog post, you’ll learn all about the verb conjugation for “encontrar” in the different modes of Indicative, Subjunctive, and Imperative!
Are you ready? Let’s start learning!
Read more: THE 150 MOST COMMON SPANISH VERBS (IRREGULAR + REGULAR)
“Encontrar” Conjugation in Spanish 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 Encontrar Conjugation / Presente
The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.
Yo | Encuentro |
Tú | Encuentras |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encuentra |
Nosotros | Encontramos |
Vosotros | Encontráis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encuentran |
Examples:
- Yo encuentro mis llaves todos los días. (I find my keys every day.)
- ¿Encuentras fácil el libro que buscas? (Do you find the book you’re looking for easily?)
- Ella siempre encuentra buenas ofertas en el mercado. (She always finds good deals at the market.)
Simple Past Encontrar Conjugation / Pasado
The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.
Yo | Encontré |
Tú | Encontraste |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encontró |
Nosotros | Encontramos |
Vosotros | Encontrasteis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encontraron |
Examples:
- Ellos encontraron un buen restaurante en el centro. (They found a good restaurant downtown.)
- Él encontró su celular en el sofá. (He found his phone on the couch.)
- Encontramos un lugar perfecto para acampar. (We found a perfect place to camp.)
Imperfect Encontrar 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 | Encontraba |
Tú | Encontrabas |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encontraba |
Nosotros | Encontrábamos |
Vosotros | Encontrabais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encontraban |
Examples:
- Encontrabais conchas en la playa cuando erais niños. (You all used to find seashells on the beach when you were kids.)
- Usted encontraba siempre el mejor camino para llegar al trabajo. (You used to always find the best way to get to work.)
- Yo encontraba dinero en mis bolsillos sin darme cuenta. (I used to find money in my pockets without realizing it.)
Present Continuous Encontrar 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 encontrando |
Tú | Estás encontrando |
Él/Ella/Usted | Está encontrando |
Nosotros | Estamos encontrando |
Vosotros | Estáis encontrando |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Están encontrando |
Examples:
- Estoy encontrando nuevas maneras de aprender español. (I am finding new ways to learn Spanish.)
- ¿Estás encontrando lo que necesitas en la tienda? (Are you finding what you need at the store?)
- Estamos encontrando soluciones a los problemas del proyecto. (We are finding solutions to the project’s problems.)
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 | Encontraré |
Tú | Encontrarás |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encontrará |
Nosotros | Encontraremos |
Vosotros | Encontraréis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encontrarán |
Examples:
- Encontrarás el regalo perfecto para tu amigo. (You will find the perfect gift for your friend.)
- Ella encontrará una solución a este problema. (She will find a solution to this problem.)
- Encontrarán un lugar tranquilo para relajarse. (They will find a quiet place to relax.)
Conditional Encontrar 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 | Encontraría |
Tú | Encontrarías |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encontraría |
Nosotros | Encontraríamos |
Vosotros | Encontraríais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encontrarían |
Examples:
- Encontraría más tiempo para leer si no estuviera tan ocupado. (I would find more time to read if I weren’t so busy.)
- Encontrarías la respuesta si prestaras más atención. (You would find the answer if you paid more attention.)
- Encontraríamos el camino si tuviéramos un mapa. (We would find the way if we had a map.)
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 encontrado |
Tú | Has encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Ha encontrado |
Nosotros | Hemos encontrado |
Vosotros | Habéis encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Han encontrado |
Examples:
- Han encontrado el perro que se perdió ayer. (They have found the dog that got lost yesterday.)
- Habéis encontrado la solución correcta al problema. (You all have found the correct solution to the problem.)
- He encontrado un nuevo trabajo cerca de casa. (I have found a new job near home.)
Past Perfect Encontrar 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 encontrado |
Tú | Habías encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Había encontrado |
Nosotros | Habíamos encontrado |
Vosotros | Habíais encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habían encontrado |
Examples:
- Había encontrado mis gafas antes de que saliera de casa. (I had found my glasses before I left the house.)
- Habías encontrado el libro antes de que lo necesitáramos. (You had found the book before we needed it.)
- Habían encontrado el lugar perfecto para la boda antes de que llegara la lluvia. (They had found the perfect place for the wedding before the rain came.)
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 encontrado |
Tú | Habrás encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Habrá encontrado |
Nosotros | Habremos encontrado |
Vosotros | Habréis encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habrán encontrado |
Examples:
- Para cuando llegues, habrás encontrado la solución al problema. (By the time you arrive, you will have found the solution to the problem.)
- Para el final del día, habremos encontrado un lugar donde quedarnos. (By the end of the day, we will have found a place to stay.)
- Si continuáis buscando, habréis encontrado la respuesta correcta pronto. (If you keep searching, you will have found the correct answer soon.)
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 encontrado |
Tú | Habrías encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Habría encontrado |
Nosotros | Habríamos encontrado |
Vosotros | Habríais encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habrían encontrado |
Examples:
- Si hubiera tenido más tiempo, habría encontrado el libro que buscaba. (If I had had more time, I would have found the book I was looking for.)
- Si me hubieras preguntado, habrías encontrado la información más rápido. (If you had asked me, you would have found the information faster.)
- Si no hubiera llovido, habríamos encontrado el camino más fácilmente. (If it hadn’t rained, we would have found the way more easily.)
“Encontrar” Conjugation in Spanish 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 | Encuentre |
Tú | Encuentres |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encuentre |
Nosotros | Encontremos |
Vosotros | Encontréis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encuentren |
Examples:
- Espero que encuentres lo que buscas en la tienda. (I hope that you find what you’re looking for in the store.)
- Ojalá que encontremos un buen lugar para cenar esta noche. (I hope we find a good place to have dinner tonight.)
- Es posible que encontréis una solución al problema juntos. (It’s possible that you all find a solution to the problem together.)
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 | Encontrara |
Tú | Encontraras |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encontrara |
Nosotros | Encontraramos |
Vosotros | Encontrarais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encontraran |
Examples:
- Si encontraras el tiempo, podrías unirte a nosotros para el viaje. (If you find the time, you could join us for the trip.)
- Es posible que ella encontrara la solución en el último momento. (It’s possible that she will find the solution at the last moment.)
- Si ellos encontraran el mapa, no se perderían. (If they found the map, they wouldn’t get lost.)
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 encontrado |
Tú | Hayas encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Haya encontrado |
Nosotros | Hayamos encontrado |
Vosotros | Hayáis encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hayan encontrado |
Examples:
- Espero que él haya encontrado un buen lugar para vivir. (I hope that he has found a good place to live.)
- Me alegra que ustedes hayan encontrado la respuesta correcta. (I’m glad that you all have found the correct answer.)
- Ojalá que hayamos encontrado el camino antes de que oscurezca. (I hope that we have found the way before it gets dark.)
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 encontrado |
Tú | Hubieras encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Hubiera encontrado |
Nosotros | Hubiéramos encontrado |
Vosotros | Hubierais encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hubieran encontrado |
Examples:
- Si hubierais encontrado el tiempo, habríais terminado el proyecto a tiempo. (If you all had found the time, you would have finished the project on time.)
- Si yo hubiera encontrado el libro antes, lo habría leído. (If I had found the book earlier, I would have read it.)
- Si ella hubiera encontrado su pasaporte, no habría perdido el vuelo. (If she had found her passport, she wouldn’t have missed the flight.)
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 encontrado |
Tú | Hubieres encontrado |
Él/Ella/Usted | Hubiere encontrado |
Nosotros | Hubiéremos encontrado |
Vosotros | Hubiereis encontrado |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hubieren encontrado |
Examples:
- Si ellos hubieren encontrado la solución, nos avisarán de inmediato. (If they will have found the solution, they will notify us immediately.)
- Cuando lleguemos, espero que ya hubiéremos encontrado un lugar para quedarnos. (When we arrive, I hope that we will have already found a place to stay.)
- Si para entonces yo hubiere encontrado el libro, lo compartiré contigo. (If by then I will have found the book, I will share it with you.)
“Encontrar” Conjugation in Spanish 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 | Encuentra |
Él/Ella/Usted | Encuentre |
Nosotros | Encontremos |
Vosotros | Encontrad |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Encuentren |
Examples:
- Encuentra tus zapatos antes de salir de casa. (Find your shoes before leaving the house.)
- Encontrad un lugar tranquilo para estudiar. (Find a quiet place to study.)
- Encuentre la información que necesita en el archivo. (Find the information you need in the file.)
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 encuentres |
Él/Ella/Usted | No encuentre |
Nosotros | No encontremos |
Vosotros | No encontréis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | No encuentren |
Examples:
- No encuentres excusas para no hacer tu tarea. (Don’t find excuses for not doing your homework.)
- No encuentre el libro en ese estante, está en el otro. (Don’t find the book on that shelf; it’s on the other one.)
- No encuentren el camino equivocado; sigan las señales. (Don’t find the wrong way; follow the signs.)
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In conclusion, understanding the conjugation of the verb “encontrar” in Spanish is a fundamental step in mastering the language.
Learning the conjugation of “encontrar” 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.
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