Learning Spanish verbs can feel overwhelming, but a tenses in Spanish chart makes everything clearer. Spanish has 18 verb tenses that fall into two groups—simple and compound—and are further organized by moods such as indicative, subjunctive, and imperative. With the help of a chart, you can easily see how verbs ending in -ar, -er, and -ir change depending on when the action happens: past, present, or future. This guide walks you through each tense with examples, tables, and tips so you can build confidence and finally master Spanish conjugation step by step.
Why a Spanish Tense Chart Is Essential
Unlike English, where verbs often stay the same across subjects, Spanish verbs change for each subject pronoun (yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos/ellas). A chart helps learners visualize these patterns, making it easier to memorize and apply them in daily conversations.
For example, here is the present tense of hablar (to speak):
| Subject | Hablar (Present) |
|---|---|
| Yo | hablo |
| Tú | hablas |
| Él/Ella | habla |
| Nosotros | hablamos |
| Vosotros | habláis |
| Ellos/Ellas | hablan |
This tenses in Spanish chart system applies to regular verbs, while irregular verbs (like ser, ir, tener) need special attention.
Overview of Spanish Tenses
Spanish verb tenses answer the question: “When does an action take place?”. They can be grouped into three moods:
- Indicative – Facts and reality.
- Subjunctive – Wishes, doubts, possibilities.
- Imperative – Commands.
Within these moods, tenses are either simple (one verb) or compound (auxiliary haber + past participle).
The 18 Spanish Tenses at a Glance
When you look at a tenses in Spanish chart, the first thing you’ll notice is that Spanish verbs are organized not only by time (past, present, future) but also by mood—how the speaker views the action. This structure makes Spanish grammar both logical and flexible, though it can feel overwhelming at first.
Here’s the master Spanish tenses chart most learners use as a reference:
| Mood | Simple Tenses | Compound Tenses |
|---|---|---|
| Indicative (statements of fact) | Present, Preterite, Imperfect, Future, Conditional | Present Perfect, Past Perfect (Pluperfect), Future Perfect, Conditional Perfect |
| Subjunctive (doubts, wishes, emotions, hypotheticals) | Present, Imperfect, Future (rare, almost obsolete) | Present Perfect, Past Perfect (Pluperfect), Future Perfect |
| Imperative (commands) | Affirmative and negative commands | — |
At first glance, you might think Spanish only has 14 “main” tenses because of the way they are grouped into simple and compound forms. But when you take into account all three moods (indicative, subjunctive, imperative) and their combinations, learners actually need to master 18 different verb tenses in total.
The indicative mood is by far the most used, since it handles everyday actions: I eat, she studied, we will go. The subjunctive mood is trickier for English speakers, since it expresses uncertainty, possibility, or emotion—things like I hope he comes or If I were you. The imperative mood is simpler but crucial: it’s used when giving commands like ¡Siéntate! (Sit down!) or ¡No corras! (Don’t run!).
The compound tenses (perfect tenses) add another layer. They use the auxiliary verb haber + past participle (for example, he comido = “I have eaten”). These help express actions that are completed relative to another point in time.
So while the chart gives you a bird’s-eye view, the real challenge lies in mastering when to use each tense naturally in conversation. That’s why a good Spanish tense chart doesn’t just list forms but also shows examples, context, and typical triggers (like time phrases: ayer, mañana, ya, todavía no).
Key Examples of Spanish Tenses
Let’s break down all the important tenses in the chart with examples for regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs. This will give you a clear view of how verbs change depending on tense, mood, and context.
Present Tense (Indicative) – Presente
Used for actions happening now or habits.
- Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish) – -ar verb
- Ellos comen arroz. (They eat rice) – -er verb
- Nosotros vivimos en Chile. (We live in Chile) – -ir verb
Preterite Tense – Pretérito Indefinido
Used for completed actions in the past.
- Ayer viajé a Madrid. (Yesterday I traveled to Madrid) – -ar verb
- Ellos corrieron en el parque. (They ran in the park) – -er verb
- Tú escribiste una carta. (You wrote a letter) – -ir verb
Imperfect Tense – Imperfecto
Used for ongoing past actions, repeated habits, or descriptions.
- Cuando era niño, jugaba al fútbol. (When I was a child, I used to play soccer) – -ar verb
- Ella leía libros cada noche. (She used to read books every night) – -er verb
- Nosotros abríamos la ventana cada mañana. (We used to open the window every morning) – -ir verb
Future Tense – Futuro Simple
Used for actions that will happen.
- Mañana hablaré con mi profesor. (Tomorrow I will talk with my teacher) – -ar verb
- Ellos comerán pizza. (They will eat pizza) – -er verb
- Nosotros viviremos en España. (We will live in Spain) – -ir verb
Conditional – Condicional
Expresses “would” actions, often tied to hypothetical situations.
- Yo viajaría a España si tuviera dinero. (I would travel to Spain if I had money) – -ar verb
- Ella comería más si tuviera hambre. (She would eat more if she were hungry) – -er verb
- Nosotros abriríamos la puerta por ti. (We would open the door for you) – -ir verb
Present Perfect – Pretérito Perfecto
Used for actions that happened recently or have relevance now.
- He hablado con mi madre. (I have spoken with my mother) – -ar verb
- Ellos han comido paella. (They have eaten paella) – -er verb
- Tú has vivido en Argentina, ¿verdad? (You have lived in Argentina, right?) – -ir verb
Past Perfect – Pluscuamperfecto
Used for actions completed before another past action.
- Ya había hablado con ella. (I had already spoken with her) – -ar verb
- Habías comido antes de salir. (You had eaten before leaving) – -er verb
- Ellos habían vivido en Francia antes de mudarse. (They had lived in France before moving) – -ir verb
Future Perfect – Futuro Perfecto
Used for actions that will have been completed in the future.
- Para mañana, habré hablado con el director. (By tomorrow, I will have spoken with the director) – -ar verb
- Ellos habrán comido antes de llegar. (They will have eaten before arriving) – -er verb
- Nosotros habremos vivido en España por cinco años. (We will have lived in Spain for five years) – -ir verb
Conditional Perfect – Condicional Perfecto
Used for hypothetical past actions that didn’t happen.
- Yo habría hablado contigo, pero no tuve tiempo. (I would have spoken with you, but I didn’t have time) – -ar verb
- Ella habría comido, pero no había comida. (She would have eaten, but there wasn’t food) – -er verb
- Ellos habrían vivido allí, pero no pudieron mudarse. (They would have lived there, but they couldn’t move) – -ir verb
Present Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Presente
Used to express doubt, wishes, or non-real situations.
- Espero que tú hables mañana. (I hope you speak tomorrow) – -ar verb
- Dudo que ellos coman aquí. (I doubt they eat here) – -er verb
- Es posible que vivamos en Madrid. (It’s possible that we live in Madrid) – -ir verb
Imperfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Used in hypothetical or past subjunctive clauses.
- Si yo hablara francés, viviría en París. (If I spoke French, I would live in Paris) – -ar verb
- Si ellos comieran más, tendrían más energía. (If they ate more, they would have more energy) – -er verb
- Si nosotros viviéramos allí, seríamos felices. (If we lived there, we would be happy) – -ir verb
Future Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Futuro (rare, mostly in legal or old texts)
- El que hablare será escuchado. (He who speaks will be heard) – -ar verb
- Cualquiera que comiere recibirá premio. (Whoever eats will receive a prize) – -er verb
- El que viviere en esta casa será protegido. (He who lives in this house will be protected) – -ir verb
Perfect Subjunctives (Compound Forms)
-
Present Perfect Subjunctive – Haya hablado / comido / vivido
- Espero que hayas comido. (I hope you have eaten)
-
Past Perfect (Pluperfect) Subjunctive – Hubiera hablado / comido / vivido
- Si hubieras hablado, te habrían escuchado. (If you had spoken, they would have listened)
-
Future Perfect Subjunctive (rare) – Hubiere hablado / comido / vivido
- El que hubiere hablado será juzgado. (Whoever may have spoken will be judged)
💡 Summary: That’s the full set of 18 Spanish tenses, complete with examples for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs. While not every tense is equally common, mastering them gives you the full toolbox to understand and express time in Spanish naturally.
Understanding Verb Conjugations
Spanish verbs fall into three categories:
- -ar (hablar)
- -er (comer)
- -ir (vivir)
Regular verbs follow consistent patterns, but irregular verbs like ser (to be), ir (to go), tener (to have) must be memorized separately.
For example:
| Verb | Yo (Present) | Ellos/Ellas (Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Ser | soy | son |
| Ir | voy | van |
| Tener | tengo | tienen |
How to Read a Spanish Tense Chart
When studying a tenses in Spanish chart, keep in mind:
- Rows = subject pronouns (yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos/ellas)
- Columns = tense forms (present, past, future, conditional)
- Patterns = endings for -ar, -er, -ir
Example:
AR Verbs – Present Tense Endings
- Yo: -o (hablo)
- Tú: -as (hablas)
- Él/Ella: -a (habla)
- Nosotros: -amos (hablamos)
- Vosotros: -áis (habláis)
- Ellos/Ellas: -an (hablan)
Compound Tenses with Haber
The verb haber is crucial for forming compound tenses. Think of it like English “have/has.”
Example – Present Perfect:
- He hablado (I have spoken)
- Hemos vivido (We have lived)
Spanish Moods and Why They Matter
Moods change the intention of the speaker:
- Indicative = facts (Ella estudia español – She studies Spanish)
- Subjunctive = uncertainty (Espero que ella estudie español – I hope she studies Spanish)
- Imperative = commands (¡Estudia español! – Study Spanish!)
A tenses in Spanish chart usually separates these moods for clarity.
Tips to Learn Spanish Tenses Faster
- Start with the present tense – Most used in daily life.
- Learn irregular verbs early – Verbs like ser, estar, ir are unavoidable.
- Use a Spanish tense chart daily – Visual repetition builds memory.
- Practice with time markers – “ayer” (yesterday), “mañana” (tomorrow), “ahora” (now).
- Transform one sentence into different tenses to see the patterns.
Example:
- Present: Yo como arroz. (I eat rice)
- Past: Yo comí arroz. (I ate rice)
- Future: Yo comeré arroz. (I will eat rice)
- Conditional: Yo comería arroz. (I would eat rice)
Practical Applications in Language Learning
- Ordering food: Quiero una tortilla. (I want a tortilla – present)
- Travel stories: Ayer visité Barcelona. (Yesterday I visited Barcelona – preterite)
- Future plans: Mañana iremos a la playa. (Tomorrow we will go to the beach – future)
Mastering the tenses in Spanish chart transforms you from “word memorizer” to real Spanish speaker.
Conclusion
The tenses in Spanish chart is not just a grammar tool—it’s your roadmap to fluency. By learning to identify patterns in regular verbs, irregular verbs, and compound tenses with haber, you gain confidence in expressing yourself across time: past, present, and future.
With daily practice, charts, and real-world examples, you’ll find yourself able to speak Spanish naturally and effectively.