How to Conjugate Querer in Spanish
Querer - to want
Present Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Querer in the Present Tense
Conjugating the verb "querer" in the present tense is essential for expressing desires, wants, and intentions in Spanish. The verb "querer" translates to "to want" or "to love" in English, depending on the context. It is commonly used in everyday conversations, whether discussing personal preferences, expressing affection, or stating intentions.
In the present tense, "querer" is conjugated as follows: "yo quiero" (I want), "tú quieres" (you want), "él/ella/usted quiere" (he/she/you formal wants), "nosotros/nosotras queremos" (we want), "vosotros/vosotras queréis" (you all want), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren" (they/you all formal want). It’s important to note that "querer" is an irregular verb, particularly in the first-person singular form, where the "e" changes to "ie."
Using "querer" in the present tense allows you to articulate desires and intentions clearly. For instance, you might say "quiero comer pizza" (I want to eat pizza) or "ellos quieren ir al cine" (they want to go to the movies). This verb is fundamental for effective communication in Spanish, enabling you to express what you wish for and what actions you plan to take based on your desires.
| quiero | queremos |
| quieres | queréis |
| queire | quieren |
Preterite Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Querer in the Preterite Tense
Conjugating the verb "querer" in the preterite tense is essential for discussing specific instances of wanting or expressing desire in the past. This tense allows you to convey completed actions or decisions related to desires, making it useful for recounting past experiences or choices.
In the preterite tense, "querer" is conjugated as follows: "yo quise" (I wanted), "tú quisiste" (you wanted), "él/ella/usted quiso" (he/she/you formal wanted), "nosotros/nosotras quisimos" (we wanted), "vosotros/vosotras quisisteis" (you all wanted), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes quisieron" (they/you all formal wanted). In this tense, "querer" undergoes a stem change to "quis-" and follows a regular conjugation pattern.
Using "querer" in the preterite tense allows you to express specific moments when a desire was acted upon or a decision was made. For example, you might say, "quise aprender a bailar" (I wanted to learn to dance) or "ella quiso comprar un coche nuevo" (she wanted to buy a new car). This form is particularly effective for storytelling, as it helps clarify past intentions and the actions taken based on those desires.
| quise | quisimos |
| quisiste | quisisteis |
| quiso | quisieron |
Future Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Querer in the Future Tense
Conjugating the verb "querer" in the future tense is key to expressing what someone "will want" at a later time. This tense is particularly useful for discussing intentions, plans, or expectations regarding desires, allowing for clear communication about future wishes.
In the future tense, "querer" is conjugated as follows: "yo querré" (I will want), "tú querrás" (you will want), "él/ella/usted querrá" (he/she/you formal will want), "nosotros/nosotras querremos" (we will want), "vosotros/vosotras querréis" (you all will want), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes querrán" (they/you all formal will want). The verb maintains its full infinitive form "querer" while adopting the future tense endings, with a modification in the stem to "querr-."
Utilizing "querer" in the future tense allows you to articulate desires and plans for upcoming situations. For instance, you might say, "querré viajar a España el próximo año" (I will want to travel to Spain next year) or "ellos querrán asistir a la fiesta" (they will want to attend the party). This tense is valuable for discussing hopes and intentions, enhancing your ability to express future aspirations and commitments in Spanish.
| querré | querremos |
| querrás | querréis |
| querrá | querrán |
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Imperfect Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Querer in the Imperfect Tense
Conjugating the verb "querer" in the imperfect tense is essential for expressing ongoing or habitual desires in the past. This tense allows you to describe what someone "used to want" or what their feelings were over a period of time, making it particularly useful for storytelling and providing background context.
In the imperfect tense, "querer" is conjugated as follows: "yo quería" (I wanted), "tú querías" (you wanted), "él/ella/usted quería" (he/she/you formal wanted), "nosotros/nosotras queríamos" (we wanted), "vosotros/vosotras queríais" (you all wanted), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes querían" (they/you all formal wanted). The verb maintains the stem "quer-" throughout, with regular imperfect endings, which are characterized by accents in the first, second, and third person forms.
Using "querer" in the imperfect tense allows you to express continuous or repeated desires in the past. For example, you might say, "cuando era niño, quería ser médico" (when I was a child, I wanted to be a doctor) or "ellos siempre querían jugar en el parque" (they always wanted to play in the park). This form is particularly effective for creating vivid narratives and understanding how feelings and aspirations evolved over time.
| quería | queríamos |
| querías | queríais |
| quería | querían |
Conditional Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Querer in the Conditional Tense
Conjugating the verb "querer" in the conditional tense is vital for expressing hypothetical desires or situations in which someone "would want" something under specific conditions. This tense is particularly useful for making polite requests, discussing potential outcomes, or expressing wishes based on certain circumstances.
In the conditional tense, "querer" is conjugated as follows: "yo querría" (I would want), "tú querrías" (you would want), "él/ella/usted querría" (he/she/you formal would want), "nosotros/nosotras querríamos" (we would want), "vosotros/vosotras querríais" (you all would want), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes querrían" (they/you all formal would want). The verb uses the modified stem "querr-" while retaining the full infinitive form "querer" and adding the regular conditional endings.
Using "querer" in the conditional tense allows you to express desires that are dependent on certain situations. For example, you might say, "querría ir al cine si tuviera dinero" (I would want to go to the movies if I had money) or "ellos querrían participar en el proyecto si se les invitara" (they would want to participate in the project if they were invited). This form is particularly effective for discussing possibilities and polite expressions of desire, enriching your conversations with nuanced intentions and expectations.
| querría | querríamos |
| querrías | querríais |
| querría | querrían |
Final Thoughts
Understanding the conjugation of "querer" across various tenses—present, preterite, future, imperfect, and conditional—provides a comprehensive framework for expressing desires and intentions in Spanish. Each tense plays a unique role: the present tense conveys immediate wants, the preterite reflects specific past desires, the future indicates intentions, the imperfect highlights ongoing or habitual feelings, and the conditional expresses hypothetical scenarios. Mastery of these conjugations enhances your ability to communicate effectively about what you want and how your desires evolve over time. By incorporating "querer" into your vocabulary, you can engage in more meaningful conversations, articulate your aspirations, and navigate social interactions with greater ease.
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