Alabar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb alabar means to praise, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Alabar means to praise, to say good things about someone or something. It is used for praising work, children, food and God, and it is a fully regular verb. Like every Spanish verb, alabar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say alabo el trabajo de su equipo, and in the preterite you say alabé la comida de la abuela. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: alabar
- English: to praise
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: alabando
- Past participle: alabado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + alabado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for alabar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Alabar is fully regular: alabo, alaba. It is warm praise; elogiar is the more formal word for the same thing.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for alabar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alabo |
| tú | alabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alaba |
| nosotros/as | alabamos |
| vosotros/as | alabáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alaban |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alabé |
| tú | alabaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabó |
| nosotros/as | alabamos |
| vosotros/as | alabasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alabaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alababa |
| tú | alababas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alababa |
| nosotros/as | alabábamos |
| vosotros/as | alababais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alababan |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alabaré |
| tú | alabarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabará |
| nosotros/as | alabaremos |
| vosotros/as | alabaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alabarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alabaría |
| tú | alabarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabaría |
| nosotros/as | alabaríamos |
| vosotros/as | alabaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alabarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he alabado |
| tú | has alabado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha alabado |
| nosotros/as | hemos alabado |
| vosotros/as | habéis alabado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han alabado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había alabado |
| tú | habías alabado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había alabado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos alabado |
| vosotros/as | habíais alabado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían alabado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré alabado |
| tú | habrás alabado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá alabado |
| nosotros/as | habremos alabado |
| vosotros/as | habréis alabado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán alabado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría alabado |
| tú | habrías alabado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría alabado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos alabado |
| vosotros/as | habríais alabado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían alabado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alabe |
| tú | alabes |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabe |
| nosotros/as | alabemos |
| vosotros/as | alabéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alaben |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alabara |
| tú | alabaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabara |
| nosotros/as | alabáramos |
| vosotros/as | alabarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alabaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alaba |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabe |
| nosotros/as | alabemos |
| vosotros/as | alabad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alaben |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alabes |
| él/ella/Ud. | alabe |
| nosotros/as | alabemos |
| vosotros/as | alabéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alaben |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | alabando | with estar for the progressive: estoy alabando |
| Past participle | alabado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he alabado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Alabo el trabajo de su equipo. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, alabé a su hijo por las buenas notas. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, alababa la comida de la abuela. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, alabaré a Dios en la iglesia. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Alabaría el trabajo de su equipo si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he alabado a su hijo por las buenas notas. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había alabado la comida de la abuela antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré alabado a Dios en la iglesia. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría alabado el trabajo de su equipo con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él alabe a su hijo por las buenas notas. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él alabara la comida de la abuela, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Alaba a Dios en la iglesia! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alabar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No alabes el trabajo de su equipo. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with alabar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Alabo el trabajo de su equipo. — I praise the team's work.
- Alaba a su hijo por las buenas notas. — He/she praises his son for his good marks.
- Ayer, alabé la comida de la abuela. — Yesterday, I praised grandmother's cooking.
- Antes, nosotros alabábamos a Dios en la iglesia. — Before, we used to praise God in church.
- Mañana, tú alabarás el trabajo de su equipo. — Tomorrow, you will praise the team's work.
- Yo alabaría a su hijo por las buenas notas si tuviera más tiempo. — I would praise his son for his good marks if I had more time.
- Él ha alabado la comida de la abuela. — He has praised grandmother's cooking.
- Espero que él alabe a Dios en la iglesia. — I hope he praises God in church.
- Yo ya había alabado el trabajo de su equipo antes de salir. — I had already praised the team's work before leaving.
- Ellos alababan a su hijo por las buenas notas cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to praise his son for his good marks when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo alaba el trabajo de su equipo. — Right: Yo alabo el trabajo de su equipo. — The person matters: alaba is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is alabo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo alabo a su hijo por las buenas notas. — Right: Ayer yo alabé a su hijo por las buenas notas. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: alabo is happening now, while alabé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating alabar and elogiar as identical in every context. — Right: Alabar means to praise, while elogiar means to praise formally. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: alabar fits sentences such as Alabo el trabajo de su equipo, while elogiar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy alabado a su hijo por las buenas notas. — Right: Yo he alabado a su hijo por las buenas notas. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he alabado, has alabado, ha alabado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo alabé la comida de la abuela todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo alababa la comida de la abuela todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (alababa), not the preterite. The preterite (alabé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on alabar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el trabajo de su equipo. (present tense) A. alabo B. alabas C. alaba D. alabamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ a su hijo por las buenas notas. (preterite) A. alabé B. alabaste C. alabaron D. alabó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la comida de la abuela. (imperfect) A. alababas B. alababan C. alabábamos D. alababa
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a Dios en la iglesia. (future) A. alabaremos B. alabarás C. alabaré D. alabará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el trabajo de su equipo si pudiera. (conditional) A. alabaría B. alabarías C. alabarían D. alabo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a su hijo por las buenas notas. (present subjunctive) A. alabes B. alabemos C. alabo D. alabe
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la comida de la abuela, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. alabáramos B. alabo C. alabara D. alabaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a Dios en la iglesia. (present perfect) A. han alabado B. hemos alabado C. he alabado D. has alabado
Complete the command: ¡___ el trabajo de su equipo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. alaba B. alabe C. alabemos D. alabad
Which is the gerund of alabar, used with estar for the progressive? A. alabado B. alabo C. alabé D. alabando
Answer key
- alabo — The first-person present of alabar is alabo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- alabó — The third-person preterite of alabar is alabó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- alabábamos — The nosotros imperfect of alabar is alabábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- alabarás — The second-person future of alabar is alabarás.
- alabaría — The first-person conditional of alabar is alabaría, the form for what would happen.
- alabe — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of alabar is alabe.
- alabara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of alabar is alabara.
- hemos alabado — The nosotros present perfect of alabar is hemos alabado: hemos + alabado.
- alaba — The affirmative tú imperative of alabar is alaba.
- alabando — The gerund of alabar is alabando: estoy alabando. The participle alabado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does alabar mean in English?
Alabar means to praise. It is used in everyday situations such as Alabo el trabajo de su equipo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is alabar regular or irregular?
Alabar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including alabo in the present and alabé in the preterite.
What is the difference between alabar and elogiar?
Alabar means to praise, while elogiar means to praise formally. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use alabar when you mean to praise, as in Alabo el trabajo de su equipo, and use elogiar for to praise formally. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I praise” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo alabé a su hijo por las buenas notas. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo alababa la comida de la abuela. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he alabado a su hijo por las buenas notas.
How do I practise alabar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the alabar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Alabar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for alabar.
- Alabar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for alabar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Alarmar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alabar.
- Ajustar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alabar.
- Alegar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alabar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.