Arrodillarse Conjugation in Spanish
arrodillarse means "to kneel" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the church in the morning, the king in the ceremony, the garden to plant and beside the child's bed. This page gives you the complete conjugation of arrodillarse 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. arrodillarse 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 arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "Every day, I kneel in the church in the morning." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: arrodillarse
- English: to kneel
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: arrodillando
- Past participle: arrodillado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + arrodillado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of arrodillarse with all six persons. The gerund is arrodillando and the past participle is arrodillado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodillo |
| tú | arrodillas |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodilla |
| nosotros/as | arrodillamos |
| vosotros/as | arrodilláis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodillé |
| tú | arrodillaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodilló |
| nosotros/as | arrodillamos |
| vosotros/as | arrodillasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodillaba |
| tú | arrodillabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodillaba |
| nosotros/as | arrodillábamos |
| vosotros/as | arrodillabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodillaré |
| tú | arrodillarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodillará |
| nosotros/as | arrodillaremos |
| vosotros/as | arrodillaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodillaría |
| tú | arrodillarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodillaría |
| nosotros/as | arrodillaríamos |
| vosotros/as | arrodillaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he arrodillado |
| tú | has arrodillado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha arrodillado |
| nosotros/as | hemos arrodillado |
| vosotros/as | habéis arrodillado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han arrodillado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había arrodillado |
| tú | habías arrodillado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había arrodillado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos arrodillado |
| vosotros/as | habíais arrodillado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían arrodillado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré arrodillado |
| tú | habrás arrodillado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá arrodillado |
| nosotros/as | habremos arrodillado |
| vosotros/as | habréis arrodillado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán arrodillado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría arrodillado |
| tú | habrías arrodillado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría arrodillado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos arrodillado |
| vosotros/as | habríais arrodillado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían arrodillado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodille |
| tú | arrodilles |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodille |
| nosotros/as | arrodillemos |
| vosotros/as | arrodilléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | arrodillara |
| tú | arrodillaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodillara |
| nosotros/as | arrodilláramos |
| vosotros/as | arrodillarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | arrodilla |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodille |
| nosotros/as | arrodillemos |
| vosotros/as | arrodillad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | arrodilles |
| él/ella/Ud. | arrodille |
| nosotros/as | arrodillemos |
| vosotros/as | arrodilléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | arrodillen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about arrodillarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of arrodillarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "Every day, I kneel in the church in the morning." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me arrodillé ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "Yesterday, I knelt before the king in the ceremony." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me arrodillaba en el jardín para plantar. — "In the past, I used to kneel in the garden to plant." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos arrodillaremos junto a la cama del niño. — "Tomorrow, we will kneel beside the child's bed." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te arrodillarías en la iglesia por la mañana. — "If you could, you would kneel in the church in the morning." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he arrodillado ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "I have knelt before the king in the ceremony." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había arrodillado en el jardín para plantar. — "Before the party, I had knelt in the garden to plant." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré arrodillado junto a la cama del niño. — "By tomorrow, I will have knelt beside the child's bed." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría arrodillado en la iglesia por la mañana. — "If I had been able to, I would have knelt in the church in the morning." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se arrodille ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "I hope that he/she kneels before the king in the ceremony." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se arrodillara en el jardín para plantar, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she knelt in the garden to plant, everything would turn out better." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se arrodille junto a la cama del niño! — "Let him/her kneel beside the child's bed!" For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- 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 arrodillarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te arrodilles en la iglesia por la mañana. — "Do not kneel in the church in the morning." For arrodillarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem arrodill- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: arrodillarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with arrodillarse, 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 arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "Every day, I kneel in the church in the morning." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me arrodillé ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "Yesterday, I knelt before the king in the ceremony." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me arrodillaba en el jardín para plantar. — "In the past, I used to kneel in the garden to plant." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos arrodillaremos junto a la cama del niño. — "Tomorrow, we will kneel beside the child's bed." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te arrodillarías en la iglesia por la mañana. — "If you could, you would kneel in the church in the morning." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he arrodillado ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "I have knelt before the king in the ceremony." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se arrodille en el jardín para plantar. — "I hope that he/she kneels in the garden to plant." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se arrodillara junto a la cama del niño, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she knelt beside the child's bed, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te arrodilles en la iglesia por la mañana! — "Do not kneel in the church in the morning!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy arrodillando ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "Now, I am kneeling before the king in the ceremony." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with arrodillarse
The errors learners actually make with arrodillarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana.
- Right: Yo me arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana.
- Why: arrodillarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana.. 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 arrodillais en la iglesia por la mañana.
- Right: Vosotros os arrodilláis en la iglesia por la mañana.
- Why: The vosotros form arrodilláis 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 arrodillo ante el rey en la ceremonia.
- Right: Ayer, yo me arrodillé ante el rey en la ceremonia.
- 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 arrodillé ante el rey en la ceremonia. — "Yesterday, I knelt before the king in the ceremony."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy arrodillado en el jardín para plantar.
- Right: Me estoy arrodillando en el jardín para plantar.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund arrodillando for the progressive. The participle arrodillado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he arrodillado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos arrodilla en la iglesia por la mañana.
- Right: Nosotros nos arrodillamos en la iglesia por la mañana.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes arrodillamos, while arrodilla belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: arrodillarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on arrodillarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of arrodillarse in the present tense?
- (a) arrodillas
- (b) arrodilla
- (c) arrodillamos
- (d) arrodillo
Answer: (d) arrodillo. The yo form is arrodillo. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of arrodillarse in the present tense?
- (a) arrodilla
- (b) arrodillamos
- (c) arrodillas
- (d) arrodillo
Answer: (c) arrodillas. The tú form is arrodillas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of arrodillarse in the present tense?
- (a) arrodillamos
- (b) arrodilla
- (c) arrodillo
- (d) arrodillas
Answer: (b) arrodilla. The él/ella form is arrodilla. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of arrodillarse in the present tense?
- (a) arrodillamos
- (b) arrodillo
- (c) arrodillas
- (d) arrodilla
Answer: (a) arrodillamos. The nosotros form is arrodillamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of arrodillarse in the present tense?
- (a) arrodillo
- (b) arrodillas
- (c) arrodilla
- (d) arrodillan
Answer: (d) arrodillan. The ellos/ellas form is arrodillan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of arrodillarse?
- (a) arrodillado
- (b) arrodillo
- (c) arrodillarse
- (d) arrodillando
Answer: (d) arrodillando. The gerund is arrodillando, used for the progressive: me estoy arrodillando.
7. What is the past participle of arrodillarse?
- (a) arrodillé
- (b) arrodillarse
- (c) arrodillado
- (d) arrodillando
Answer: (c) arrodillado. The past participle is arrodillado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he arrodillado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ en la iglesia por la mañana.
- (a) arrodillamos
- (b) arrodillo
- (c) arrodillas
- (d) arrodilla
Answer: (b) arrodillo. The sentence needs the yo form arrodillo (Every day, I kneel in the church in the morning.)
9. What is the yo form of arrodillarse in the preterite?
- (a) arrodillé
- (b) arrodillaste
- (c) arrodilló
- (d) arrodillamos
Answer: (a) arrodillé. The yo preterite is arrodillé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en el jardín para plantar.
- (a) arrodillemos
- (b) arrodilléis
- (c) arrodille
- (d) arrodilles
Answer: (c) arrodille. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is arrodille.
Frequently asked questions about arrodillarse
Is arrodillarse regular?
Yes. arrodillarse is a regular -ar verb: arrodillo, arrodillé, arrodillaba, arrodillaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does arrodillarse mean, and when do I use it?
arrodillarse means "to kneel" in English. Use it when you talk about the church in the morning, the king in the ceremony, the garden to plant and beside the child's bed — for example: Yo me arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "I kneel in the church in the morning." 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 arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "I kneel in the church in the morning." 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 arrodillarse reflexive?
Yes. arrodillarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "I kneel in the church in the morning." 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 arrodillarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me arrodillo en la iglesia por la mañana. — "I kneel in the church in the morning." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me arrodillé en la iglesia por la mañana. — "Yesterday, I knelt in the church in the morning." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.