Desmenuzar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb desmenuzar means to crumble — it also means to shred, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Desmenuzar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb, so the tables below show you exactly how it behaves in every tense. It has a spelling change (z → c before e), which keeps the pronunciation of the stem the same when the ending changes. On this page you will find the full conjugation of desmenuzar in all thirteen tenses, notes on when to use each one, example sentences, the mistakes learners make most often, a ten-question quiz and answers to the questions students ask about this verb. For example, in the present tense you say Yo desmenuzo el queso — "I crumble the cheese" — and in the preterite you say Yo desmenucé el pan — "I crumbled the bread". 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: desmenuzar
  • English: to crumble, to shred
  • Verb type: spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: desmenuzando
  • Past participle: desmenuzado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + desmenuzado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for desmenuzar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for desmenuzar. 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.

Gerund: desmenuzando · Past participle: desmenuzado

Present indicative

Person Form
yo desmenuzo
tú desmenuzas
él/ella/Ud. desmenuza
nosotros/as desmenuzamos
vosotros/as desmenuzáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenuzan

Preterite

Person Form
yo desmenucé
tú desmenuzaste
él/ella/Ud. desmenuzó
nosotros/as desmenuzamos
vosotros/as desmenuzasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenuzaron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo desmenuzaba
tú desmenuzabas
él/ella/Ud. desmenuzaba
nosotros/as desmenuzábamos
vosotros/as desmenuzabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenuzaban

Future

Person Form
yo desmenuzaré
tú desmenuzarás
él/ella/Ud. desmenuzará
nosotros/as desmenuzaremos
vosotros/as desmenuzaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenuzarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo desmenuzaría
tú desmenuzarías
él/ella/Ud. desmenuzaría
nosotros/as desmenuzaríamos
vosotros/as desmenuzaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenuzarían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo desmenuce
tú desmenuces
él/ella/Ud. desmenuce
nosotros/as desmenucemos
vosotros/as desmenucéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenucen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo desmenuzara
tú desmenuzaras
él/ella/Ud. desmenuzara
nosotros/as desmenuzáramos
vosotros/as desmenuzarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenuzaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú desmenuza
él/ella/Ud. desmenuce
nosotros/as desmenucemos
vosotros/as desmenuzad
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenucen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú desmenuces
él/ella/Ud. desmenuce
nosotros/as desmenucemos
vosotros/as desmenucéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. desmenucen

Gerund and past participle

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

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. It is the tense you will use most often in everyday conversation, for habits with words like todos los días and for statements that are true in general. For desmenuzar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo desmenuzo el pan — "I crumble the bread". Learn the present indicative 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 in the past — things that started and ended, often with time words like ayer, anoche or la semana pasada. The preterite moves a story forward, one completed event at a time. For desmenuzar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Yo desmenucé con las manos — "I crumbled with my hands". 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. Spelling change in the preterite: the yo form is desmenucé (z → c before e), so the sound of the stem stays the same.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with words like antes, de niño or mientras. It describes how things used to be, not one finished event. For desmenuzar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo desmenuzaba el queso — "I used to crumble the cheese". 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. It talks about what will happen, not what is happening now. For desmenuzar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Yo desmenuzaré el pan — "I will crumble the bread". 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 in si clauses. It softens a request and describes imagined situations. For desmenuzar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo desmenuzaría con las manos — "I would crumble with my hands". 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. It connects the past with the present moment. For desmenuzar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo he desmenuzado el queso — "I have crumbled the cheese". 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. It is the past of the past, and it usually appears with antes de or ya. For desmenuzar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo había desmenuzado el pan — "I had crumbled the bread". 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, often with para mañana or para el viernes. For desmenuzar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habré desmenuzado con las manos — "I will have crumbled with my hands". 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. It looks back at a past that never happened. For desmenuzar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría desmenuzado el queso — "I would have crumbled the cheese". 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. The subjunctive does not state a fact; it states an attitude towards the action. For desmenuzar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él desmenuce el pan — "I hope he crumbles the bread". 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. The subjunctive keeps the spelling change: desmenuce, desmenuces, desmenuce all show z → c before e, just like the preterite yo form.

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 desmenuzar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo desmenuzara con las manos, todo cambiaría — "If I crumbled with my hands, everything would change". Learn the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) 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. It tells someone to do something, and it has no yo form. For desmenuzar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Desmenuce el queso — "Let him crumble the cheese". Learn the imperative (affirmative) 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. It uses the subjunctive forms, so it looks different from the affirmative commands. For desmenuzar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No desmenuces el pan — "Don't crumble the bread". Learn the imperative (negative) 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 desmenuzar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Yo desmenuzo con las manos — "I crumble with my hands"
  2. Él desmenuza el queso — "He crumbles the cheese"
  3. Yo desmenucé el pan — "I crumbled the bread"
  4. Yo desmenuzaba con las manos — "I used to crumble with my hands"
  5. Tú desmenuzarás el queso — "You will crumble the cheese"
  6. Yo desmenuzaría el pan — "I would crumble the bread"
  7. Él ha desmenuzado con las manos — "He has crumbled with my hands"
  8. Espero que él desmenuce el queso — "I hope he crumbles the cheese"
  9. Yo había desmenuzado el pan — "I had crumbled the bread"
  10. Ellos desmenuzaban con las manos — "They used to crumble with my hands"

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Ellos desmenuza el queso — Right: Ellos desmenuzan el queso — Ellos needs the ellos form desmenuzan. The singular desmenuza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.
  2. Wrong: Ayer, yo desmenuzo — Right: Ayer, yo desmenucé — The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to desmenucé, with the spelling change z → c before e.
  3. Wrong: De niño, yo desmenucé todos los días. — Right: Todos los días, yo desmenuzaba — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (desmenuzaba), not the preterite. The preterite (desmenucé) is for one finished action.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy desmenuzado el pan. — Right: Yo he desmenuzado el pan. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he desmenuzado, has desmenuzado, ha desmenuzado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: Espero que él desmenuza el queso. — Right: Espero que él desmenuce el queso. — After espero que, Spanish needs the subjunctive: desmenuce. The indicative desmenuza is wrong here.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el queso. (present tense) A. habías desmenuzado B. hemos desmenuzado C. habrán desmenuzado D. desmenuzo

  2. Complete the sentence: Él ___ el queso. (preterite) A. desmenuzó B. desmenuzamos C. habrán desmenuzado D. habría desmenuzado

  3. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el queso. (imperfect) A. desmenuzarán B. desmenuzábamos C. habríais desmenuzado D. desmenuzaré

  4. Complete the sentence: Tú ___ el queso. (future) A. desmenuzasteis B. ha desmenuzado C. desmenuzarás D. desmenuzó

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el queso. (conditional) A. he desmenuzado B. desmenucemos C. desmenuzaría D. desmenuzabais

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el queso. (present subjunctive) A. ha desmenuzado B. desmenuce C. desmenucen D. hemos desmenuzado

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el queso, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. desmenuzaban B. desmenuzarán C. habíamos desmenuzado D. desmenuzara

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el queso. (present perfect) A. desmenuzaréis B. desmenuzaste C. hemos desmenuzado D. desmenuces

  9. Complete the command: No ___ el queso. (negative imperative, tú) A. desmenuces B. desmenucemos C. desmenucen D. desmenuce

  10. Which is the gerund of desmenuzar, used with estar for the progressive? A. desmenuzado B. desmenuzo C. desmenuzando D. desmenuzaba

Answer key

  1. desmenuzo — The yo present tense of desmenuzar is desmenuzo.
  2. desmenuzó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of desmenuzar is desmenuzó.
  3. desmenuzábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of desmenuzar is desmenuzábamos.
  4. desmenuzarás — The tú future of desmenuzar is desmenuzarás.
  5. desmenuzaría — The yo conditional of desmenuzar is desmenuzaría.
  6. desmenuce — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of desmenuzar is desmenuce.
  7. desmenuzara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of desmenuzar is desmenuzara.
  8. hemos desmenuzado — The nosotros/as present perfect of desmenuzar is hemos desmenuzado.
  9. desmenuces — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: desmenuces.
  10. desmenuzando — The gerund of desmenuzar is desmenuzando: estoy desmenuzando. The participle desmenuzado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does desmenuzar mean in English?

Desmenuzar means to crumble, to shred. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo desmenuzo el queso. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is desmenuzar regular?

Mostly. Desmenuzar follows the regular -ar endings, but it has a spelling change (z → c before e). The tables on this page show every form, so you can see exactly where the spelling changes.

What is the gerund and the past participle of desmenuzar?

The gerund is desmenuzando, used with estar for the progressive: estoy desmenuzando. The past participle is desmenuzado, used with haber in the perfect tenses: he desmenuzado.

How do I say “I crumble” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo desmenucé el pan. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: Yo desmenuzaba con las manos. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Yo he desmenuzado el queso.

How do I practise desmenuzar?

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

Related links