Introduction

Brotar means “to sprout”, and this page covers exactly one thing: brotar 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 brotar, 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 brotar in the present. Brotar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “En primavera, yo broto” — "In spring, I sprout". Everything on this page uses the forms of brotar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Brotar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo broto
tú brotas
él/ella/Ud. brota
nosotros/as brotamos
vosotros/as brotáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. brotan

Gerund: brotando · Past participle: brotado

The gerund is brotando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy brotando” means the action of brotar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is brotado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he brotado” 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 brotar is used.

How the present of brotar is formed

Brotar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem brot and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving broto, brotas, brota, brotamos, brotáis, brotan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, brotáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of brotar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form brotáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form broto is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of brotar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use brotar 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, brotar goes in the present. Example: “Yo broto las flores” — "I sprout the flowers".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about brotar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él brota de la tierra” — "He sprouts from the ground".

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 broto can mean both "I sprout" and "I am sprouting". Example: “En primavera, yo broto” — "In spring, I sprout".

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: “Nosotros brotamos las flores” — "We sprout the flowers".

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 brotar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él brota de la tierra” — "He sprouts from the ground".

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: “En primavera, yo broto” — "In spring, I sprout".

  • Preterite: “En primavera, yo broté” — "In spring, I sprouted".

  • 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: “Él brota las flores” — "He sprouts the flowers".

  • Preterite: “Él brotó las flores” — "He sprouted the flowers".

  • 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 brotamos de la tierra” — "We sprout from the ground".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros brotamos de la tierra” — "We sprouted from the ground".

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

Example sentences: brotar 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. “Yo broto las flores” — "I sprout the flowers"

  2. “Tú brotas de la tierra” — "You sprout from the ground"

  3. “En primavera, él brota” — "In spring, he sprouts"

  4. “Nosotros brotamos las flores” — "We sprout the flowers"

  5. “Vosotros brotáis de la tierra” — "You sprout from the ground"

  6. “En primavera, ellos brotan” — "In spring, they sprout"

  7. “Yo broto las flores” — "I sprout the flowers"

  8. “Él brota de la tierra” — "He sprouts from the ground"

Common mistakes with brotar 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 brota en primavera” Right: “En primavera, ellos brotan” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form brotan. The singular brota belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

  • Wrong: “Yo brota en primavera.” Right: “En primavera, yo broto” Why: Yo needs the yo form broto. The él form brota belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

Quiz: brotar 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 ___ las flores.” (yo form)

A. brotamos B. brotáis C. broto D. brotan

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

A. brotáis B. brotas C. brotamos D. brotan

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

A. brota B. brotáis C. brotas D. brotamos

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

A. brotamos B. brota C. brotan D. broto

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

A. brotas B. brota C. brotamos D. brotáis

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

A. brotas B. brotan C. brotáis D. brotamos

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 broto B. Todos los días, yo broté

Answer key

  1. broto — The yo present of brotar is broto.
  2. brotas — The tú present of brotar is brotas.
  3. brota — The él/ella/Ud. present of brotar is brota.
  4. brotamos — The nosotros/as present of brotar is brotamos.
  5. brotáis — The vosotros/as present of brotar is brotáis.
  6. brotan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of brotar is brotan.
  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 broto — 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 brotar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: En primavera, yo broto. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of brotar formed?

Take the stem brot- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving broto, brotas, brota, brotamos, brotáis, brotan.

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

The present (broto) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (broté) 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 brotar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — broto, brotas, brota, brotamos, brotáis, brotan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the brotar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of brotar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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