How to conjugate Explicar in Spanish
To explain Irregular Verb Top 100
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Indicative tenses of Explicar
- Explicar in the Indicative Present
- Explicar in the Indicative Preterite
- Explicar in the Indicative Imperfect
- Explicar in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Explicar in the Indicative Informal Future
- Explicar in the Indicative Future
- Explicar in the Indicative Conditional
- Explicar in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Explicar in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Explicar in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Explicar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Explicar
- Imperative tenses of Explicar
- Downloadable cheat sheet (PDF)
- Practice Explicar conjugations (free mobile app)
Introduction
Explicar is the Spanish verb for "to explain". It is an irregular verb, and one of the most popular 100 Spanish verbs. Read on below to see how it is conjugated in the 18 major Spanish tenses!
| Item | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | explicar | to explain |
| Past participle | explicado | explained |
| Gerund | explicando | explaining |
Indicative Tenses of Explicar
Explicar in the Indicative Present
The Indicative Present of explicar 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, "explico la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I explain the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explico | I explain |
| Tú | explicas | you explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explica | s/he explains, you (formal) explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicamos | we explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicáis | you (plural) explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explican | they explain, you (plural formal) explain |
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Explicar in the Indicative Preterite
The Indicative Preterite of explicar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, "expliqué la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I explained the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | expliqué | I explained |
| Tú | explicaste | you explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explicó | s/he explained, you (formal) explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicamos | we explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicasteis | you (plural) explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explicaron | they explained, you (plural formal) explained |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Explicar in the Indicative Imperfect
The Indicative Imperfect of explicar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, "explicaba la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I used to explain the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explicaba | I used to explain |
| Tú | explicabas | you used to explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explicaba | s/he used to explain, you (formal) used to explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicábamos | we used to explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicabais | you (plural) used to explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explicaban | they used to explain, you (plural formal) used to explain |
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Explicar in the Indicative Present Continuous
The Indicative Present Continuous of explicar is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, "estoy explicando la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I am explaining the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy explicando | I am explaining |
| Tú | estás explicando | you are explaining |
| Ella / Él / Usted | está explicando | s/he is explaining, you (formal) are explaining |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | estamos explicando | we are explaining |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | estáis explicando | you (plural) are explaining |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | están explicando | they are explaining, you (plural formal) are explaining |
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Explicar in the Indicative Informal Future
The Indicative Informal Future of explicar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, "voy a explicar la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I am going to explain the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy a explicar | I am going to explain |
| Tú | vas a explicar | you are going to explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | va a explicar | s/he is going to explain, you (formal) are going to explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | vamos a explicar | we are going to explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | vais a explicar | you (plural) are going to explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | van a explicar | they are going to explain, you (plural formal) are going to explain |
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Explicar in the Indicative Future
The Indicative Future of explicar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, "explicaré la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I will explain the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explicaré | I will explain |
| Tú | explicarás | you will explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explicará | s/he will explain, you (formal) will explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicaremos | we will explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicaréis | you (plural) will explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explicarán | they will explain, you (plural formal) will explain |
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Explicar in the Indicative Conditional
The Indicative Conditional of explicar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, "explicaría la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I would explain the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explicaría | I would explain |
| Tú | explicarías | you would explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explicaría | s/he would explain, you (formal) would explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicaríamos | we would explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicaríais | you (plural) would explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explicarían | they would explain, you (plural formal) would explain |
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Explicar in the Indicative Present Perfect
The Indicative Present Perfect of explicar 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 explicado la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I have explained the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | he explicado | I have explained |
| Tú | has explicado | you have explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | ha explicado | s/he has explained, you (formal) have explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hemos explicado | we have explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habéis explicado | you (plural) have explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | han explicado | they have explained, you (plural formal) have explained |
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Explicar in the Indicative Past Perfect
The Indicative Past Perfect of explicar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, "había explicado la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I had explained the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | había explicado | I had explained |
| Tú | habías explicado | you had explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | había explicado | s/he had explained, you (formal) had explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habíamos explicado | we had explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habíais explicado | you (plural) had explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habían explicado | they had explained, you (plural formal) had explained |
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Explicar in the Indicative Future Perfect
The Indicative Future Perfect of explicar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, "habré explicado la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I will have explained the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habré explicado | I will have explained |
| Tú | habrás explicado | you will have explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habrá explicado | s/he will have explained, you (formal) will have explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habremos explicado | we will have explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habréis explicado | you (plural) will have explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrán explicado | they will have explained, you (plural formal) will have explained |
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Explicar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The Indicative Conditional Perfect of explicar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, "habría explicado la respuesta a los alumnos", meaning "I would have explained the answer to the students".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habría explicado | I would have explained |
| Tú | habrías explicado | you would have explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habría explicado | s/he would have explained, you (formal) would have explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habríamos explicado | we would have explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habríais explicado | you (plural) would have explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrían explicado | they would have explained, you (plural formal) would have explained |
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Subjunctive Tenses of Explicar
Explicar 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, "explique", meaning "I explain".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explique | I explain |
| Tú | expliques | you explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explique | s/he explains, you (formal) explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | expliquemos | we explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | expliquéis | you (plural) explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | expliquen | they explain, you (plural formal) explain |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Explicar 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, "explicara", meaning "I explained".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explicara | I explained |
| Tú | explicaras | you explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explicara | s/he explained, you (formal) explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicáramos | we explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicarais | you (plural) explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explicaran | they explained, you (plural formal) explained |
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Explicar 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, "explicare", meaning "I will explain".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | explicare | I will explain |
| Tú | explicares | you will explain |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explicare | s/he will explain, you (formal) will explain |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | explicáremos | we will explain |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicareis | you (plural) will explain |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | explicaren | they will explain, you (plural formal) will explain |
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Explicar 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 explicado", meaning "I have explained".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | haya explicado | I have explained |
| Tú | hayas explicado | you have explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | haya explicado | s/he has explained, you (formal) have explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hayamos explicado | we have explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hayáis explicado | you (plural) have explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hayan explicado | they have explained, you (plural formal) have explained |
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Explicar 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 explicado", meaning "I had explained".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera explicado | I had explained |
| Tú | hubieras explicado | you had explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiera explicado | s/he had explained, you (formal) had explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéramos explicado | we had explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubierais explicado | you (plural) had explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieran explicado | they had explained, you (plural formal) had explained |
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Explicar 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 explicado", meaning "I will have explained".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere explicado | I will have explained |
| Tú | hubieres explicado | you will have explained |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiere explicado | s/he will have explained, you (formal) will have explained |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéremos explicado | we will have explained |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubiereis explicado | you (plural) will have explained |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieren explicado | they will have explained, you (plural formal) will have explained |
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Imperative Tenses of Explicar
Explicar in the Imperative Affirmative
The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, "explique", meaning "(to you formal) explain!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | explica | (to you) explain! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | explique | (to you formal) explain! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | expliquemos | let's explain! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | explicad | (to you plural) explain! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | expliquen | (to you plural formal) explain! |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Explicar in the Imperative Negative
The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, "no explique", meaning "(to you formal) don't explain!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | no expliques | (to you) don't explain! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | no explique | (to you formal) don't explain! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | no expliquemos | let's not explain! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | no expliquéis | (to you plural) don't explain! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | no expliquen | (to you plural formal) don't explain! |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Downloadable cheat sheets
Download and print a cheat sheet of Explicar Spanish conjugation tables in image or PDF format:
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Want to explore other verb conjugations?
Why not check out Explorar – to explore or see the complete list of verbs here.
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Explicar: to explain
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