Ella VerbsHow to conjugate Alternar in Spanish
To alternate Regular AR Verb
At a glance: Alternar (to alternate) is a regular -AR verb in Spanish. In the present tense: alterno, alternas, alterna, alternamos, alternáis, alternan. Because it is fully regular, its endings apply directly to hundreds of other -AR verbs.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Indicative tenses of Alternar
- Alternar in the Indicative Present
- Alternar in the Indicative Preterite
- Alternar in the Indicative Imperfect
- Alternar in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Alternar in the Indicative Informal Future
- Alternar in the Indicative Future
- Alternar in the Indicative Conditional
- Alternar in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Alternar in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Alternar in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Alternar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Alternar
- Imperative tenses of Alternar
- Frequently asked questions
- Downloadable cheat sheet (PDF)
- Practice Alternar conjugations (free mobile app)
Introduction
Alternar is the Spanish verb for "to alternate". It is a regular AR verb. Read on below to see how it is conjugated in the 18 major Spanish tenses!
| Item | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | alternar | to alternate |
| Past participle | alternado | alternated |
| Gerund | alternando | alternating |
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Play nowIndicative Tenses of Alternar
Alternar in the Indicative Present
The Indicative Present of alternar is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, "alterno", meaning "I alternate".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alterno | I alternate |
| Tú | alternas | you alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alterna | s/he alternates |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternamos | we alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternáis | you (plural) alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternan | they alternate |
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Alternar in the Indicative Preterite
The Indicative Preterite of alternar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, "alterné", meaning "I alternated".
In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alterné | I alternated |
| Tú | alternaste | you alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alternó | s/he alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternamos | we alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternasteis | you (plural) alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternaron | they alternated |
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Alternar in the Indicative Imperfect
The Indicative Imperfect of alternar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, "alternaba", meaning "I used to alternate".
In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alternaba | I used to alternate |
| Tú | alternabas | you used to alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alternaba | s/he used to alternate |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternábamos | we used to alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternabais | you (plural) used to alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternaban | they used to alternate |
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Alternar in the Indicative Present Continuous
The Indicative Present Continuous of alternar is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, "estoy alternando", meaning "I am alternating".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy alternando | I am alternating |
| Tú | estás alternando | you are alternating |
| Ella / Él / Usted | está alternando | s/he is alternating |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | estamos alternando | we are alternating |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | estáis alternando | you (plural) are alternating |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | están alternando | they are alternating |
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Alternar in the Indicative Informal Future
The Indicative Informal Future of alternar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, "voy a alternar", meaning "I am going to alternate".
In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy a alternar | I am going to alternate |
| Tú | vas a alternar | you are going to alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | va a alternar | s/he is going to alternate |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | vamos a alternar | we are going to alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | vais a alternar | you (plural) are going to alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | van a alternar | they are going to alternate |
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Alternar in the Indicative Future
The Indicative Future of alternar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, "alternaré", meaning "I will alternate".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alternaré | I will alternate |
| Tú | alternarás | you will alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alternará | s/he will alternate |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternaremos | we will alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternaréis | you (plural) will alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternarán | they will alternate |
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Alternar in the Indicative Conditional
The Indicative Conditional of alternar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, "alternaría", meaning "I would alternate".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alternaría | I would alternate |
| Tú | alternarías | you would alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alternaría | s/he would alternate |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternaríamos | we would alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternaríais | you (plural) would alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternarían | they would alternate |
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Alternar in the Indicative Present Perfect
The Indicative Present Perfect of alternar is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, "he alternado", meaning "I have alternated".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | he alternado | I have alternated |
| Tú | has alternado | you have alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | ha alternado | s/he has alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hemos alternado | we have alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habéis alternado | you (plural) have alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | han alternado | they have alternated |
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Alternar in the Indicative Past Perfect
The Indicative Past Perfect of alternar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, "había alternado", meaning "I had alternated".
In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | había alternado | I had alternated |
| Tú | habías alternado | you had alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | había alternado | s/he had alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habíamos alternado | we had alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habíais alternado | you (plural) had alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habían alternado | they had alternated |
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Alternar in the Indicative Future Perfect
The Indicative Future Perfect of alternar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, "habré alternado", meaning "I will have alternated".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habré alternado | I will have alternated |
| Tú | habrás alternado | you will have alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habrá alternado | s/he will have alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habremos alternado | we will have alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habréis alternado | you (plural) will have alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrán alternado | they will have alternated |
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Alternar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The Indicative Conditional Perfect of alternar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, "habría alternado", meaning "I would have alternated".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habría alternado | I would have alternated |
| Tú | habrías alternado | you would have alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habría alternado | s/he would have alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habríamos alternado | we would have alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habríais alternado | you (plural) would have alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrían alternado | they would have alternated |
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Play nowSubjunctive Tenses of Alternar
Alternar in the Subjunctive Present
The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, "alterne", meaning "I alternate".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alterne | I alternate |
| Tú | alternes | you alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alterne | s/he alternates |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternemos | we alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternéis | you (plural) alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternen | they alternate |
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Alternar in the Subjunctive Imperfect
The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, "alternara", meaning "I alternated".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alternara | I alternated |
| Tú | alternaras | you alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alternara | s/he alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternáramos | we alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternarais | you (plural) alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternaran | they alternated |
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Alternar in the Subjunctive Future
The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, "alternare", meaning "I will alternate".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | alternare | I will alternate |
| Tú | alternares | you will alternate |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alternare | s/he will alternate |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternáremos | we will alternate |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternareis | you (plural) will alternate |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternaren | they will alternate |
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Alternar in the Subjunctive Present Perfect
The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, "haya alternado", meaning "I have alternated".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | haya alternado | I have alternated |
| Tú | hayas alternado | you have alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | haya alternado | s/he has alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hayamos alternado | we have alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hayáis alternado | you (plural) have alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hayan alternado | they have alternated |
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Alternar in the Subjunctive Past Perfect
The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, "hubiera alternado", meaning "I had alternated".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera alternado | I had alternated |
| Tú | hubieras alternado | you had alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiera alternado | s/he had alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéramos alternado | we had alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubierais alternado | you (plural) had alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieran alternado | they had alternated |
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Alternar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect
The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, "hubiere alternado", meaning "I will have alternated".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere alternado | I will have alternated |
| Tú | hubieres alternado | you will have alternated |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiere alternado | s/he will have alternated |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéremos alternado | we will have alternated |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubiereis alternado | you (plural) will have alternated |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieren alternado | they will have alternated |
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Play nowImperative Tenses of Alternar
Alternar in the Imperative Affirmative
The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, "alterne", meaning "(to you formal) alternate!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | alterna | (to you) alternate! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | alterne | (to you formal) alternate! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | alternemos | let's alternate! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | alternad | (to you plural) alternate! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | alternen | (to you plural formal) alternate! |
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Alternar in the Imperative Negative
The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, "no alterne", meaning "(to you formal) don't alternate!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | no alternes | (to you) don't alternate! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | no alterne | (to you formal) don't alternate! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | no alternemos | let's not alternate! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | no alternéis | (to you plural) don't alternate! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | no alternen | (to you plural formal) don't alternate! |
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Frequently asked questions about Alternar
Is alternar a regular or irregular verb?
Alternar is a fully regular -AR verb. It follows the standard -AR conjugation pattern in every tense and mood without any stem changes, spelling changes, or irregular forms. This makes it a model verb for learning the -AR conjugation system.
How do you conjugate alternar in the present tense (presente)?
In the present tense (presente), alternar is conjugated as: yo alterno, tú alternas, él/ella/usted alterna, nosotros alternamos, vosotros alternáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes alternan. The present tense is used To talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths.
How do you conjugate alternar in the preterite (pretérito indefinido)?
In the preterite (pretérito indefinido), alternar is conjugated as: yo alterné, tú alternaste, él/ella/usted alternó, nosotros alternamos, vosotros alternasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes alternaron. The preterite is used To talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time.
How do you conjugate alternar in the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)?
In the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto), alternar is conjugated as: yo alternaba, tú alternabas, él/ella/usted alternaba, nosotros alternábamos, vosotros alternabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes alternaban. The imperfect is used To describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do.
How do you conjugate alternar in the future tense (futuro simple)?
In the future tense (futuro simple), alternar is conjugated as: yo alternaré, tú alternarás, él/ella/usted alternará, nosotros alternaremos, vosotros alternaréis, ellos/ellas/ustedes alternarán. The future tense is used To talk about something that will happen in the future.
How do you conjugate alternar in the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente)?
In the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente), alternar is conjugated as: yo alterne, tú alternes, él/ella/usted alterne, nosotros alternemos, vosotros alternéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes alternen. The present subjunctive is used To talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about.
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Downloadable cheat sheets
Download and print a cheat sheet of Alternar Spanish conjugation tables in image or PDF format:
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Practice Alternar conjugations (free mobile & web app)
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Want to explore other verb conjugations?
Why not check out Alucinar – to hallucinate or see the complete list of verbs here.
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