Desplegar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb desplegar means to unfold, to deploy, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Desplegar means to unfold or spread out: desplegar el mapa, desplegar las velas. It is also the military verb for deploying troops: desplegar las tropas. Like every Spanish verb, desplegar 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 Yo despliego el mapa sobre la mesa — "I unfold the map on the table". 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.

The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: despliego, despliegas, despliega and despliegan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: desplegamos, desplegáis.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: desplegar
  • English: to unfold, to deploy
  • Verb type: stem-changing -ar verb (e → ie)
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: desplegando
  • Past participle: desplegado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + desplegado)

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

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for desplegar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem.

Present indicative

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | despliego | | tú | despliegas | | él/ella/Ud. | despliega | | nosotros/as | desplegamos | | vosotros/as | desplegáis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | despliegan |

Preterite

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | desplegué | | tú | desplegaste | | él/ella/Ud. | desplegó | | nosotros/as | desplegamos | | vosotros/as | desplegasteis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplegaron |

Imperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | desplegaba | | tú | desplegabas | | él/ella/Ud. | desplegaba | | nosotros/as | desplegábamos | | vosotros/as | desplegabais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplegaban |

Future

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | desplegaré | | tú | desplegarás | | él/ella/Ud. | desplegará | | nosotros/as | desplegaremos | | vosotros/as | desplegaréis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplegarán |

Conditional

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | desplegaría | | tú | desplegarías | | él/ella/Ud. | desplegaría | | nosotros/as | desplegaríamos | | vosotros/as | desplegaríais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplegarían |

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | despliegue | | tú | despliegues | | él/ella/Ud. | despliegue | | nosotros/as | despleguemos | | vosotros/as | despleguéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplieguen |

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | desplegara | | tú | desplegaras | | él/ella/Ud. | desplegara | | nosotros/as | desplegáramos | | vosotros/as | desplegarais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplegaran |

Imperative (affirmative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | despliega | | él/ella/Ud. | despliegue | | nosotros/as | despleguemos | | vosotros/as | desplegad | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplieguen |

Imperative (negative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | despliegues | | él/ella/Ud. | despliegue | | nosotros/as | despleguemos | | vosotros/as | despleguéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | desplieguen |

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund desplegando with estar for the progressive: está desplegando
Past participle desplegado with haber for the perfect tenses: he desplegado

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: despliego, despliegas, despliega and despliegan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: desplegamos, desplegáis. For desplegar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo despliego el mapa sobre la mesa — "I unfold the map on the table".

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 desplegar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, yo desplegué las velas del barco — "Yesterday, I unfolded the ship's sails".

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 desplegar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, yo desplegaba sus alas en el cielo — "As a child, I used to unfold its wings in the sky".

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 desplegar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, yo desplegaré una pancarta en la plaza — "Tomorrow, I will unfold a banner in the square".

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 desplegar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo desplegaría el mapa sobre la mesa si pudiera — "I would unfold the map on the table if I could".

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 desplegar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, yo he desplegado las velas del barco — "Today, I have unfolded the ship's sails".

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 desplegar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo ya había desplegado sus alas en el cielo antes de salir — "I already had unfolded its wings in the sky before leaving".

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 desplegar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, yo habré desplegado una pancarta en la plaza — "By tomorrow, I will have unfolded a banner in the square".

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 desplegar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría desplegado el mapa sobre la mesa con más tiempo — "I would have unfolded the map on the table with more time".

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: despliego, despliegas, despliega and despliegan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: desplegamos, desplegáis. For desplegar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él despliegue las velas del barco — "I hope he unfolds the ship's sails".

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past. The -ra forms are 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 desplegar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo desplegara sus alas en el cielo, todo cambiaría — "If I unfolded its wings in the sky, everything would change".

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: despliego, despliegas, despliega and despliegan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: desplegamos, desplegáis. For desplegar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Despliega una pancarta en la plaza. — "Unfold a banner in the square.".

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: despliego, despliegas, despliega and despliegan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: desplegamos, desplegáis. For desplegar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No despliegues el mapa sobre la mesa. — "Do not unfold the map on the table.".

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with desplegar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Yo despliego el mapa sobre la mesa — "I unfold the map on the table"
  2. Mi amigo despliega las velas del barco — "My friend unfolds the ship's sails"
  3. Ayer, yo desplegué sus alas en el cielo — "Yesterday, I unfolded its wings in the sky"
  4. Antes, nosotros desplegábamos una pancarta en la plaza — "Before, we used to unfold a banner in the square"
  5. Mañana, tú desplegarás el abanico con un gesto — "Tomorrow, you will unfold the fan with a gesture"
  6. Yo desplegaría el mapa sobre la mesa si tuviera más tiempo — "I would unfold the map on the table if I had more time"
  7. Él ha desplegado las velas del barco — "He has unfolded the ship's sails"
  8. Espero que él despliegue sus alas en el cielo — "I hope he unfolds its wings in the sky"
  9. Yo ya había desplegado una pancarta en la plaza antes de salir — "I already had unfolded a banner in the square before leaving"
  10. Ellos desplegaban el abanico con un gesto cuando eran jóvenes — "They used to unfold the fan with a gesture when they were young"

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo desplego las velas del barco. — Right: Yo despliego las velas del barco. — desplegar is a stem-changing verb (e → ie): the stem vowel changes in the stressed present forms, so the yo form is despliego, not desplego.
  2. Wrong: Espero que él despliega las velas del barco — Right: Espero que él despliegue las velas del barco — After espero que, Spanish requires the subjunctive: Espero que él despliegue las velas del barco — not the indicative Espero que él despliega las velas del barco.
  3. Wrong: Ayer, yo despliego sus alas en el cielo — Right: Ayer, yo desplegué sus alas en el cielo — Ayer points to a finished action in the past, so it needs the preterite: Ayer, yo desplegué sus alas en el cielo.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo desplegué una pancarta en la plaza todos los días — Right: De niño, yo desplegaba una pancarta en la plaza todos los días — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect, not the preterite: De niño, yo desplegaba una pancarta en la plaza todos los días.
  5. Wrong: Yo despliego en el mapa sobre la mesa. — Right: Yo despliego el mapa sobre la mesa. — desplegar takes this complement directly, with no preposition: Yo despliego el mapa sobre la mesa.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ el mapa sobre la mesa — "I unfold the map on the table" (present) A. despliegas B. despliega C. desplegamos D. despliego

  2. Complete the sentence: Él ______ las velas del barco — "He unfolded the ship's sails" (preterite) A. desplegué B. desplegaste C. desplegamos D. desplegó

  3. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ sus alas en el cielo — "We used to unfold its wings in the sky" (imperfect) A. desplegaba B. desplegabas C. desplegabais D. desplegábamos

  4. Complete the sentence: Tú ______ una pancarta en la plaza — "You will unfold a banner in the square" (future) A. desplegarás B. desplegaré C. desplegará D. desplegaremos

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ el abanico con un gesto — "I would unfold the fan with a gesture" (conditional) A. desplegarías B. desplegaríamos C. desplegaríais D. desplegaría

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ______ el mapa sobre la mesa — "I hope he unfolds the map on the table" (present subjunctive) A. despliegues B. despleguemos C. despleguéis D. despliegue

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ______ las velas del barco, todo cambiaría — "If I unfolded the ship's sails, everything would change" (imperfect subjunctive) A. desplegaras B. desplegáramos C. desplegarais D. desplegara

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ sus alas en el cielo — "We have unfolded its wings in the sky" (present perfect) A. he desplegado B. has desplegado C. ha desplegado D. hemos desplegado

  9. Complete the sentence: No ______ una pancarta en la plaza. — "Do not unfold a banner in the square." (negative imperative) A. despliegues B. despliegue C. despleguemos D. despleguéis

  10. Which is the gerund of desplegar, used with estar for the progressive? A. desplegado B. despliego C. desplegué D. desplegando

Answer key

  1. despliego — The present form for yo is despliego.
  2. desplegó — The preterite form for él/ella/Ud. is desplegó.
  3. desplegábamos — The imperfect form for nosotros/as is desplegábamos.
  4. desplegarás — The future form for tú is desplegarás.
  5. desplegaría — The conditional form for yo is desplegaría.
  6. despliegue — The present subjunctive form for él/ella/Ud. is despliegue.
  7. desplegara — The imperfect subjunctive form for yo is desplegara.
  8. hemos desplegado — The present perfect form for nosotros/as is hemos desplegado.
  9. despliegues — The negative imperative form is despliegues.
  10. desplegando — The gerund of desplegar is desplegando: estoy desplegando. The participle desplegado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does desplegar mean in English?

desplegar means to unfold, to deploy. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo despliego el mapa sobre la mesa — "I unfold the map on the table". The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is desplegar regular?

No. desplegar is a stem-changing -ar verb (e → ie). The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: despliego, despliegas, despliega and despliegan — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: desplegamos, desplegáis. The nosotros and vosotros forms keep the plain stem, which is the part learners most often get right by accident.

What is the gerund and the past participle of desplegar?

The gerund is desplegando and the past participle is desplegado. Use the gerund with estar for the progressive, and the participle with haber for the perfect tenses.

How do I say "I unfold" in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Ayer, yo desplegué las velas del barco — "Yesterday, I unfolded the ship's sails". For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: De niño, yo desplegaba sus alas en el cielo — "As a child, I used to unfold its wings in the sky". For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Hoy, yo he desplegado las velas del barco — "Today, I have unfolded the ship's sails".

What is the difference between desplegar and extender?

Extender is to stretch something out. Desplegar is to unfold something that was folded — a map, a sail, a fan, a banner. Desplegar means to unfold or spread out: desplegar el mapa, desplegar las velas. It is also the military verb for deploying troops: desplegar las tropas.

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