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SPANISH VERB

inventar

to invent; to make up

  • Regular -ar verb
  • Gerund: inventando
  • Past participle: inventado

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. yo I invent
  2. tú you invent
  3. usted, él, ella he/she invents
  4. nosotros we invent
  5. vosotros Spain you all invent
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they invent

Past

Pretérito indefinido · finished actions

  1. yo I invented
  2. tú you invented
  3. usted, él, ella he/she invented
  4. nosotros we invented
  5. vosotros Spain you all invented
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they invented

Imperfect

Pretérito imperfecto · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. yo I used to invent
  2. tú you used to invent
  3. usted, él, ella he/she used to invent
  4. nosotros we used to invent
  5. vosotros Spain you all used to invent
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they used to invent

Future

Futuro · plans and promises; in speech, “voy a hablar” is just as common

  1. yo I will invent
  2. tú you will invent
  3. usted, él, ella he/she will invent
  4. nosotros we will invent
  5. vosotros Spain you all will invent
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they will invent

Conditional

Condicional · “would”

  1. yo I would invent
  2. tú you would invent
  3. usted, él, ella he/she would invent
  4. nosotros we would invent
  5. vosotros Spain you all would invent
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they would invent

Present subjunctive

Presente de subjuntivo · wishes, doubts, “que …”

  1. yo (that) I invent
  2. tú (that) you invent
  3. usted, él, ella (that) he/she invent
  4. nosotros (that) we invent
  5. vosotros Spain (that) you all invent
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas (that) they invent

Past subjunctive

Imperfecto de subjuntivo · “if I were”, “si …”

  1. yo (if) I invented
  2. tú (if) you invented
  3. usted, él, ella (if) he/she invented
  4. nosotros (if) we invented
  5. vosotros Spain (if) you all invented
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas (if) they invented

Imperative

Imperativo · requests and orders; a negative one uses the subjunctive (no hables)

  1. tú invent!
  2. usted invent! (formal)
  3. nosotros invent! (let’s)
  4. vosotros Spain invent! (all of you)
  5. ustedes invent! (all of you)

How to use inventar

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Mi hijo inventa excusas nuevas cada mañana.

    My son invents new excuses every morning.

  2. Past

    ¿Quién inventó la tortilla de patatas, con o sin cebolla?

    Who invented the potato omelette, with or without onion?

  3. Imperfect

    Mi abuelo inventaba cuentos para dormirnos.

    My grandfather used to make up stories to put us to sleep.

  4. Future

    Algún día inventarán un paraguas que aguante el viento.

    Someday they'll invent an umbrella that stands up to the wind.

  5. Conditional

    Yo inventaría una app para encontrar aparcamiento en Triana.

    I'd invent an app for finding parking in Triana.

  6. Present subjunctive

    No hace falta que inventes nada, cuenta la verdad.

    No need to make anything up, tell the truth.

  7. Past subjunctive

    Si me inventara una excusa, mi madre lo notaría.

    If I made up an excuse, my mother would notice.

  8. Imperative

    ¡Inventa algo rápido, que ya vienen!

    Make something up quick, they're coming!

Good to know

  • "Inventarse" is to make something up: "Te lo has inventado." A Spanish classic: "Esa palabra no existe, te la acabas de inventar."

Where you hear inventar

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Spanish · Fluency Level 2

  • Siempre inventas una regla nueva. You always invent a new rule.
  • Me inventé esa historia. I made up that story.
  • Voy a inventar otro juego. I am going to invent another game.
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Your Turn

Fluency Level 2 · Esa regla te la acabas de inventar.

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -ar verb.