Alterarse Conjugation in Spanish
alterarse means "to get upset" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the street noise, the exam news, the bus delay and the argument at home. This page gives you the complete conjugation of alterarse in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. alterarse is a Reflexive regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "Every day, I get upset at the street noise." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: alterarse
- English: to get upset
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: alterando
- Past participle: alterado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + alterado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of alterarse with all six persons. The gerund is alterando and the past participle is alterado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | altero |
| tú | alteras |
| él/ella/Ud. | altera |
| nosotros/as | alteramos |
| vosotros/as | alteráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteran |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alteré |
| tú | alteraste |
| él/ella/Ud. | alteró |
| nosotros/as | alteramos |
| vosotros/as | alterasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteraron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alteraba |
| tú | alterabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alteraba |
| nosotros/as | alterábamos |
| vosotros/as | alterabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteraban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alteraré |
| tú | alterarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | alterará |
| nosotros/as | alteraremos |
| vosotros/as | alteraréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alterarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alteraría |
| tú | alterarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | alteraría |
| nosotros/as | alteraríamos |
| vosotros/as | alteraríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alterarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he alterado |
| tú | has alterado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha alterado |
| nosotros/as | hemos alterado |
| vosotros/as | habéis alterado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han alterado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había alterado |
| tú | habías alterado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había alterado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos alterado |
| vosotros/as | habíais alterado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían alterado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré alterado |
| tú | habrás alterado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá alterado |
| nosotros/as | habremos alterado |
| vosotros/as | habréis alterado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán alterado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría alterado |
| tú | habrías alterado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría alterado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos alterado |
| vosotros/as | habríais alterado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían alterado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | altere |
| tú | alteres |
| él/ella/Ud. | altere |
| nosotros/as | alteremos |
| vosotros/as | alteréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteren |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alterara |
| tú | alteraras |
| él/ella/Ud. | alterara |
| nosotros/as | alteráramos |
| vosotros/as | alterarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteraran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | altera |
| él/ella/Ud. | altere |
| nosotros/as | alteremos |
| vosotros/as | alterad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteren |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alteres |
| él/ella/Ud. | altere |
| nosotros/as | alteremos |
| vosotros/as | alteréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alteren |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about alterarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of alterarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "Every day, I get upset at the street noise." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of alterarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me alteré con la noticia del examen. — "Yesterday, I got upset at the exam news." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of alterarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me alteraba por el retraso del autobús. — "In the past, I used to get upset over the bus delay." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of alterarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos alteraremos durante la discusión en casa. — "Tomorrow, we will get upset during the argument at home." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of alterarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te alterarías por el ruido de la calle. — "If you could, you would get upset at the street noise." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of alterarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he alterado con la noticia del examen. — "I have got upset at the exam news." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of alterarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había alterado por el retraso del autobús. — "Before the party, I had got upset over the bus delay." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of alterarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré alterado durante la discusión en casa. — "By tomorrow, I will have got upset during the argument at home." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of alterarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría alterado por el ruido de la calle. — "If I had been able to, I would have got upset at the street noise." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of alterarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se altere con la noticia del examen. — "I hope that he/she gets upset at the exam news." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of alterarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se alterara por el retraso del autobús, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she got upset over the bus delay, everything would turn out better." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of alterarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se altere durante la discusión en casa! — "Let him/her get upset during the argument at home!" For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of alterarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te alteres por el ruido de la calle. — "Do not get upset at the street noise." For alterarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem alter- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: alterarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with alterarse, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "Every day, I get upset at the street noise." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me alteré con la noticia del examen. — "Yesterday, I got upset at the exam news." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me alteraba por el retraso del autobús. — "In the past, I used to get upset over the bus delay." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos alteraremos durante la discusión en casa. — "Tomorrow, we will get upset during the argument at home." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te alterarías por el ruido de la calle. — "If you could, you would get upset at the street noise." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he alterado con la noticia del examen. — "I have got upset at the exam news." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se altere por el retraso del autobús. — "I hope that he/she gets upset over the bus delay." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se alterara durante la discusión en casa, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she got upset during the argument at home, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te alteres por el ruido de la calle! — "Do not get upset at the street noise!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy alterando con la noticia del examen. — "Now, I am geting upset at the exam news." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with alterarse
The errors learners actually make with alterarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo altero por el ruido de la calle.
- Right: Yo me altero por el ruido de la calle.
- Why: alterarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me altero por el ruido de la calle.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os alterais por el ruido de la calle.
- Right: Vosotros os alteráis por el ruido de la calle.
- Why: The vosotros form alteráis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo me altero con la noticia del examen.
- Right: Ayer, yo me alteré con la noticia del examen.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo me alteré con la noticia del examen. — "Yesterday, I got upset at the exam news."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy alterado por el retraso del autobús.
- Right: Me estoy alterando por el retraso del autobús.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund alterando for the progressive. The participle alterado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he alterado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos altera por el ruido de la calle.
- Right: Nosotros nos alteramos por el ruido de la calle.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes alteramos, while altera belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: alterarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on alterarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of alterarse in the present tense?
- (a) altero
- (b) alteras
- (c) altera
- (d) alteramos
Answer: (a) altero. The yo form is altero. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of alterarse in the present tense?
- (a) altero
- (b) altera
- (c) alteramos
- (d) alteras
Answer: (d) alteras. The tú form is alteras. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of alterarse in the present tense?
- (a) alteras
- (b) alteramos
- (c) altera
- (d) altero
Answer: (c) altera. The él/ella form is altera. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of alterarse in the present tense?
- (a) altera
- (b) alteramos
- (c) altero
- (d) alteras
Answer: (b) alteramos. The nosotros form is alteramos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of alterarse in the present tense?
- (a) alteran
- (b) altero
- (c) alteras
- (d) altera
Answer: (a) alteran. The ellos/ellas form is alteran. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of alterarse?
- (a) alterando
- (b) alterado
- (c) altero
- (d) alterarse
Answer: (a) alterando. The gerund is alterando, used for the progressive: me estoy alterando.
7. What is the past participle of alterarse?
- (a) alterando
- (b) alteré
- (c) alterarse
- (d) alterado
Answer: (d) alterado. The past participle is alterado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he alterado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ por el ruido de la calle.
- (a) altera
- (b) alteramos
- (c) altero
- (d) alteras
Answer: (c) altero. The sentence needs the yo form altero (Every day, I get upset at the street noise.)
9. What is the yo form of alterarse in the preterite?
- (a) alteramos
- (b) alteré
- (c) alteraste
- (d) alteró
Answer: (b) alteré. The yo preterite is alteré. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ por el retraso del autobús.
- (a) alteres
- (b) alteremos
- (c) alteréis
- (d) altere
Answer: (d) altere. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is altere.
Frequently asked questions about alterarse
Is alterarse regular?
Yes. alterarse is a regular -ar verb: altero, alteré, alteraba, alteraré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does alterarse mean, and when do I use it?
alterarse means "to get upset" in English. Use it when you talk about the street noise, the exam news, the bus delay and the argument at home — for example: Yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "I get upset at the street noise." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "I get upset at the street noise." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is alterarse reflexive?
Yes. alterarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "I get upset at the street noise." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with alterarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me altero por el ruido de la calle. — "I get upset at the street noise." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me alteré por el ruido de la calle. — "Yesterday, I got upset at the street noise." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.