Barrer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb barrer means to sweep, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Barrer means to sweep, and it is used for sweeping floors, patios and gardens with a broom. It is a regular -er verb, and it is a household staple that appears in chore lists and in the expression barrer para casa, to look after number one. Like every Spanish verb, barrer 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 barro el suelo de la cocina, and in the preterite you say barrí cada mañana antes de abrir. 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: barrer
  • English: to sweep
  • Verb type: regular -er verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: barriendo
  • Past participle: barrido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + barrido)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for barrer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Barrer is a regular -er verb: barrí, barría, barreré. Remember the double r in the stem.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for barrer. 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 barro
tú barres
él/ella/Ud. barre
nosotros/as barremos
vosotros/as barréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. barren

Preterite

Person Form
yo barrí
tú barriste
él/ella/Ud. barrió
nosotros/as barrimos
vosotros/as barristeis
ellos/ellas/Uds. barrieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo barría
tú barrías
él/ella/Ud. barría
nosotros/as barríamos
vosotros/as barríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. barrían

Future

Person Form
yo barreré
tú barrerás
él/ella/Ud. barrerá
nosotros/as barreremos
vosotros/as barreréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. barrerán

Conditional

Person Form
yo barrería
tú barrerías
él/ella/Ud. barrería
nosotros/as barreríamos
vosotros/as barreríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. barrerían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he barrido
tú has barrido
él/ella/Ud. ha barrido
nosotros/as hemos barrido
vosotros/as habéis barrido
ellos/ellas/Uds. han barrido

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había barrido
tú habías barrido
él/ella/Ud. había barrido
nosotros/as habíamos barrido
vosotros/as habíais barrido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían barrido

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré barrido
tú habrás barrido
él/ella/Ud. habrá barrido
nosotros/as habremos barrido
vosotros/as habréis barrido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán barrido

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría barrido
tú habrías barrido
él/ella/Ud. habría barrido
nosotros/as habríamos barrido
vosotros/as habríais barrido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían barrido

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo barra
tú barras
él/ella/Ud. barra
nosotros/as barramos
vosotros/as barráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. barran

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo barriera
tú barrieras
él/ella/Ud. barriera
nosotros/as barriéramos
vosotros/as barrierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. barrieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú barre
él/ella/Ud. barra
nosotros/as barramos
vosotros/as barred
ellos/ellas/Uds. barran

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú barras
él/ella/Ud. barra
nosotros/as barramos
vosotros/as barráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. barran

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund barriendo with estar for the progressive: estoy barriendo
Past participle barrido with haber for the perfect tenses: he barrido

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 barrer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Barro el suelo de la cocina. 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 barrer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, barrí las hojas del jardín. 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 barrer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, barría cada mañana antes de abrir. 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 barrer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, barreré con la escoba nueva. 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 barrer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Barrería el suelo de la cocina 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 barrer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he barrido las hojas del jardín. 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 barrer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había barrido cada mañana antes de abrir 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 barrer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré barrido con la escoba nueva. 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 barrer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría barrido el suelo de la cocina 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 barrer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él barra las hojas del jardín. 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 barrer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él barriera cada mañana antes de abrir, 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 barrer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Barre con la escoba nueva! 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 barrer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No barras el suelo de la cocina. 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 barrer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Barro el suelo de la cocina. — I sweep the kitchen floor.
  2. Barre las hojas del jardín. — He/she sweeps the leaves in the garden.
  3. Ayer, barrí cada mañana antes de abrir. — Yesterday, I swept every morning before opening.
  4. Antes, nosotros barríamos con la escoba nueva. — Before, we used to sweep with the new broom.
  5. Mañana, tú barrerás el suelo de la cocina. — Tomorrow, you will sweep the kitchen floor.
  6. Yo barrería las hojas del jardín si tuviera más tiempo. — I would sweep the leaves in the garden if I had more time.
  7. Él ha barrido cada mañana antes de abrir. — He has swept every morning before opening.
  8. Espero que él barra con la escoba nueva. — I hope he sweeps with the new broom.
  9. Yo ya había barrido el suelo de la cocina antes de salir. — I had already swept the kitchen floor before leaving.
  10. Ellos barrían las hojas del jardín cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to sweep the leaves in the garden when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo barre el suelo de la cocina. — Right: Yo barro el suelo de la cocina. — The person matters: barre is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is barro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo barro las hojas del jardín. — Right: Ayer yo barrí las hojas del jardín. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: barro is happening now, while barrí is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating barrer and limpiar as identical in every context. — Right: Barrer means to sweep, while limpiar means to clean in general. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: barrer fits sentences such as Barro el suelo de la cocina, while limpiar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy barrido las hojas del jardín. — Right: Yo he barrido las hojas del jardín. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he barrido, has barrido, ha barrido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo barrí cada mañana antes de abrir todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo barría cada mañana antes de abrir todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (barría), not the preterite. The preterite (barrí) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on barrer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el suelo de la cocina. (present tense) A. barro B. barres C. barre D. barremos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ las hojas del jardín. (preterite) A. barrí B. barriste C. barrieron D. barrió

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ cada mañana antes de abrir. (imperfect) A. barrías B. barrían C. barríamos D. barría

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ con la escoba nueva. (future) A. barreremos B. barrerás C. barreré D. barrerá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el suelo de la cocina si pudiera. (conditional) A. barrería B. barrerías C. barrerían D. barro

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ las hojas del jardín. (present subjunctive) A. barras B. barramos C. barro D. barra

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ cada mañana antes de abrir, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. barriéramos B. barro C. barriera D. barrieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ con la escoba nueva. (present perfect) A. han barrido B. hemos barrido C. he barrido D. has barrido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ el suelo de la cocina! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. barre B. barra C. barramos D. barred

  10. Which is the gerund of barrer, used with estar for the progressive? A. barrido B. barro C. barrí D. barriendo

Answer key

  1. barro — The first-person present of barrer is barro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. barrió — The third-person preterite of barrer is barrió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. barríamos — The nosotros imperfect of barrer is barríamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. barrerás — The second-person future of barrer is barrerás.
  5. barrería — The first-person conditional of barrer is barrería, the form for what would happen.
  6. barra — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of barrer is barra.
  7. barriera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of barrer is barriera.
  8. hemos barrido — The nosotros present perfect of barrer is hemos barrido: hemos + barrido.
  9. barre — The affirmative tú imperative of barrer is barre.
  10. barriendo — The gerund of barrer is barriendo: estoy barriendo. The participle barrido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does barrer mean in English?

Barrer means to sweep. It is used in everyday situations such as Barro el suelo de la cocina. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is barrer regular or irregular?

Barrer is a fully regular -er 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 barro in the present and barrí in the preterite.

What is the difference between barrer and limpiar?

Barrer means to sweep, while limpiar means to clean in general. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use barrer when you mean to sweep, as in Barro el suelo de la cocina, and use limpiar for to clean in general. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I sweep” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo barrí las hojas del jardín. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo barría cada mañana antes de abrir. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he barrido las hojas del jardín.

How do I practise barrer?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the barrer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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