Introduction

Bostezar means “to yawn”, and this page covers exactly one thing: bostezar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for bostezar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about bostezar in the present. Bostezar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo bostezo en clase” — "I yawn in class". Everything on this page uses the forms of bostezar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Bostezar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo bostezo
tú bostezas
él/ella/Ud. bosteza
nosotros/as bostezamos
vosotros/as bostezáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. bostezan

Gerund: bostezando · Past participle: bostezado

The gerund is bostezando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy bostezando” means the action of bostezar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is bostezado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he bostezado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how bostezar is used.

How the present of bostezar is formed

Bostezar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb in the present. Take the stem bostez and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving bostezo, bostezas, bosteza, bostezamos, bostezáis, bostezan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, bostezáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of bostezar is regular in its endings, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form bostezáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form bostezo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of bostezar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use bostezar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, bostezar goes in the present. Example: “Por la mañana, yo bostezo” — "In the morning, I yawn".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about bostezar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él bosteza de cansancio” — "He yawns from tiredness".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so bostezo can mean both "I yawn" and "I am yawning". Example: “Yo bostezo en clase” — "I yawn in class".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Por la mañana, nosotros bostezamos” — "In the morning, we yawn".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with bostezar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él bosteza de cansancio” — "He yawns from tiredness".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo bostezo en clase” — "I yawn in class".

  • Preterite: “Yo bostecé en clase” — "I yawned in class".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Por la mañana, él bosteza” — "In the morning, he yawns".

  • Preterite: “Por la mañana, él bostezó” — "In the morning, he yawned".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros bostezamos de cansancio” — "We yawn from tiredness".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros bostezamos de cansancio” — "We yawned from tiredness".

  • The two sentences look identical: bostezamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: bostezar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Por la mañana, yo bostezo” — "In the morning, I yawn"

  2. “Tú bostezas de cansancio” — "You yawn from tiredness"

  3. “Él bosteza en clase” — "He yawns in class"

  4. “Por la mañana, nosotros bostezamos” — "In the morning, we yawn"

  5. “Vosotros bostezáis de cansancio” — "You yawn from tiredness"

  6. “Ellos bostezan en clase” — "They yawn in class"

  7. “Por la mañana, yo bostezo” — "In the morning, I yawn"

  8. “Él bosteza de cansancio” — "He yawns from tiredness"

Common mistakes with bostezar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos bosteza en clase” Right: “Ellos bostezan en clase” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form bostezan. The singular bosteza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo bostecé” Right: “Todos los días, yo bostezo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (bostecé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo bosteza en clase.” Right: “Yo bostezo en clase” Why: Yo needs the yo form bostezo. The él form bosteza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo bostezo” Right: “Ayer, yo bostecé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to bostecé.

Quiz: bostezar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ en clase.” (yo form)

A. bostezo B. bosteza C. bostezan D. bostezáis

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ de cansancio.” (tú form)

A. bostezamos B. bosteza C. bostezas D. bostezo

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ en clase.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. bostezáis B. bostezo C. bostezan D. bosteza

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ de cansancio.” (nosotros/as form)

A. bostezas B. bostezamos C. bostezan D. bostezáis

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ en clase.” (vosotros/as form)

A. bostezo B. bostezas C. bostezáis D. bostezamos

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ de cansancio.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. bostezan B. bostezáis C. bostezamos D. bostezo

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo bostezo B. Todos los días, yo bostecé

Answer key

  1. bostezo — The yo present of bostezar is bostezo.
  2. bostezas — The tú present of bostezar is bostezas.
  3. bosteza — The él/ella/Ud. present of bostezar is bosteza.
  4. bostezamos — The nosotros/as present of bostezar is bostezamos.
  5. bostezáis — The vosotros/as present of bostezar is bostezáis.
  6. bostezan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of bostezar is bostezan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo bostezo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of bostezar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo bostezo en clase. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of bostezar formed?

Take the stem bostez- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving bostezo, bostezas, bosteza, bostezamos, bostezáis, bostezan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for bostezar?

The present (bostezo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (bostecé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise bostezar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — bostezo, bostezas, bosteza, bostezamos, bostezáis, bostezan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the bostezar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of bostezar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

Related links