How to Conjugate Sentir in Spanish
Sentir - to feel
Present Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Sentir in the present tense
Conjugating the verb "sentir" in the present tense in Spanish is essential for expressing emotions and physical sensations, as it translates to "to feel." Often used to convey personal emotions, "sentir" is commonly followed by nouns to indicate what one feels, such as "siento alegría" (I feel happiness) or "siento frío" (I feel cold). "Sentir" is also foundational for talking about others’ emotions, making it a key verb for discussing feelings and reactions.
In the present tense, "sentir" is conjugated with a stem change, transforming from "sent-" to "sient-" in most forms. The conjugations are as follows: "yo siento" (I feel), "tú sientes" (you feel), "él/ella/usted siente" (he/she/you formal feel), "nosotros/nosotras sentimos" (we feel), "vosotros/vosotras sentís" (you all feel), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes sienten" (they/you all formal feel). This conjugation has an e-to-ie stem change in all forms except the first-person plural ("nosotros/nosotras") and second-person plural ("vosotros/vosotras"), which retain the original stem "sent-."
Using "sentir" in the present tense helps convey current emotions and physical sensations, as in "siento mucha energía" (I feel a lot of energy) or "ellos sienten tristeza" (they feel sadness). Additionally, "sentir" can appear in expressions of sympathy, like "lo siento" (I'm sorry), making it an essential verb for both daily conversation and deeper emotional discussions in Spanish.
| siento | sentimos |
| sientes | sentís |
| siente | sienten |
Preterite Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Sentir in the Preterite Tense
Conjugating "sentir" in the preterite tense in Spanish allows you to express specific moments in the past when someone "felt" an emotion or sensation. The preterite tense of "sentir" is often used when talking about a particular instance of feeling, like "I felt sad" or "they felt happy," marking completed emotional or physical experiences.
In the preterite tense, "sentir" has a stem change in the third-person forms, changing from "e" to "i." The conjugations are as follows: "yo sentí" (I felt), "tú sentiste" (you felt), "él/ella/usted sintió" (he/she/you formal felt), "nosotros/nosotras sentimos" (we felt), "vosotros/vosotras sentisteis" (you all felt), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes sintieron" (they/you all formal felt). The stem change to "i" only occurs in the third-person singular and plural forms ("sintió" and "sintieron"), while the other forms keep the original stem "sent-."
Using "sentir" in the preterite tense is ideal for sharing specific past experiences, such as "sentí miedo" (I felt scared) or "sintieron alivio" (they felt relief). This form allows you to talk about emotions and sensations that occurred at defined points in time, making it perfect for storytelling or describing moments when emotions were especially significant.
| sentí | sentimos |
| sentiste | sentisteis |
| sintió | sintieron |
Future Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Sentir in the Future Tense
Conjugating the verb "sentir" in the future tense in Spanish enables you to express what someone "will feel" at a later time. This tense is particularly useful for discussing anticipated emotions, reactions, or physical sensations that you expect to experience. The future tense of "sentir" follows a regular conjugation pattern, making it straightforward to learn and apply.
In the future tense, "sentir" is conjugated as follows: "yo sentiré" (I will feel), "tú sentirás" (you will feel), "él/ella/usted sentirá" (he/she/you formal will feel), "nosotros/nosotras sentiremos" (we will feel), "vosotros/vosotras sentiréis" (you all will feel), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes sentirán" (they/you all formal will feel). In this tense, the verb retains its full infinitive form "sentir" and adds the standard future tense endings.
Using "sentir" in the future tense allows you to talk about what you anticipate feeling in various situations, such as "sentiré alegría en mi cumpleaños" (I will feel happiness on my birthday) or "ellos sentirán ansiedad antes del examen" (they will feel anxiety before the exam). This tense is invaluable for discussing plans, expectations, or predictions related to emotions and sensations, enhancing your ability to express future feelings in Spanish.
| sentiré | sentiremos |
| sentirás | sentiréis |
| sentirá | sentirán |
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Imperfect Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Sentir in the Imperfect Tense
Conjugating the verb "sentir" in the imperfect tense is important for describing ongoing or habitual feelings and sensations in the past. This tense allows you to convey emotions that were felt repeatedly or continuously over a period of time, making it essential for storytelling and providing background context.
In the imperfect tense, "sentir" is conjugated as follows: "yo sentía" (I used to feel), "tú sentías" (you used to feel), "él/ella/usted sentía" (he/she/you formal used to feel), "nosotros/nosotras sentíamos" (we used to feel), "vosotros/vosotras sentíais" (you all used to feel), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes sentían" (they/you all formal used to feel). In the imperfect tense, the verb maintains the stem "sent-" throughout, with regular imperfect endings that include an accent on the "i" in the first, second, and third person forms.
Using "sentir" in the imperfect tense allows you to express ongoing emotional states or habitual feelings, such as "cuando era niño, sentía felicidad" (when I was a child, I used to feel happiness) or "ellos siempre sentían tristeza en invierno" (they always felt sadness in winter). This tense is particularly useful for creating vivid narratives or discussing how emotions evolved over time, giving depth to your descriptions and interactions in Spanish.
| sentía | sentíamos |
| sentías | sentíais |
| sentía | sentían |
Conditional Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Sentir in the Conditional Tense
Conjugating the verb "sentir" in the conditional tense is essential for expressing hypothetical feelings or emotional states that would occur under specific conditions. This tense allows you to discuss what someone "would feel" if certain circumstances were met, making it particularly useful for polite requests, suggestions, or imagining scenarios.
In the conditional tense, "sentir" is conjugated as follows: "yo sentiría" (I would feel), "tú sentirías" (you would feel), "él/ella/usted sentiría" (he/she/you formal would feel), "nosotros/nosotras sentiríamos" (we would feel), "vosotros/vosotras sentiríais" (you all would feel), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes sentirían" (they/you all formal would feel). In this tense, the verb retains its full infinitive form "sentir" and adds the regular conditional endings, which are the same for all verbs in this tense.
Using "sentir" in the conditional tense allows for nuanced conversations about potential feelings or reactions. For example, you might say, "sentiría alivio si terminaran las clases" (I would feel relief if the classes ended) or "si tuviera más tiempo, sentiría menos estrés" (if I had more time, I would feel less stressed). This form enables you to convey what might happen in hypothetical situations, enhancing your ability to express emotions and reactions in a variety of contexts.
| sentiría | sentiríamos |
| sentirías | sentiríais |
| sentiría | sentirían |
Final Thoughts
Understanding the conjugation of "sentir" across all tenses—present, preterite, imperfect, future, and conditional—provides a comprehensive toolkit for expressing a wide range of emotions and sensations in Spanish. Each tense serves a distinct purpose, from describing immediate feelings in the present to recounting past experiences and discussing future expectations. The preterite tense allows for the articulation of specific emotional moments, while the imperfect tense conveys ongoing or habitual feelings. The future and conditional tenses enable you to discuss anticipated emotions and hypothetical situations, respectively. Mastering these conjugations not only enriches your vocabulary but also enhances your ability to communicate effectively about feelings, making your conversations more nuanced and meaningful in various contexts.
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