Empujar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb empujar means to push, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Empujar means to push, and it is used for pushing a door, a shopping trolley, a car that will not start and, figuratively, pushing someone to do something. It is the everyday opposite of tirar in the pulling sense, and it is a fully regular -ar verb. Like every Spanish verb, empujar 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 empujo la puerta con el hombro, and in the preterite you say empujé el coche hasta el taller. 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: empujar
- English: to push
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: empujando
- Past participle: empujado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + empujado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for empujar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Empujar is fully regular: empujé, empujaba, empujaré. Do not confuse it with tirar — empujar moves things away from you.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for empujar. 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 | empujo |
| tú | empujas |
| él/ella/Ud. | empuja |
| nosotros/as | empujamos |
| vosotros/as | empujáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | empujé |
| tú | empujaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | empujó |
| nosotros/as | empujamos |
| vosotros/as | empujasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | empujaba |
| tú | empujabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | empujaba |
| nosotros/as | empujábamos |
| vosotros/as | empujabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | empujaré |
| tú | empujarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | empujará |
| nosotros/as | empujaremos |
| vosotros/as | empujaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | empujaría |
| tú | empujarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | empujaría |
| nosotros/as | empujaríamos |
| vosotros/as | empujaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he empujado |
| tú | has empujado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha empujado |
| nosotros/as | hemos empujado |
| vosotros/as | habéis empujado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han empujado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había empujado |
| tú | habías empujado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había empujado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos empujado |
| vosotros/as | habíais empujado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían empujado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré empujado |
| tú | habrás empujado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá empujado |
| nosotros/as | habremos empujado |
| vosotros/as | habréis empujado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán empujado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría empujado |
| tú | habrías empujado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría empujado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos empujado |
| vosotros/as | habríais empujado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían empujado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | empuje |
| tú | empujes |
| él/ella/Ud. | empuje |
| nosotros/as | empujemos |
| vosotros/as | empujéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | empujara |
| tú | empujaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | empujara |
| nosotros/as | empujáramos |
| vosotros/as | empujarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | empuja |
| él/ella/Ud. | empuje |
| nosotros/as | empujemos |
| vosotros/as | empujad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | empujes |
| él/ella/Ud. | empuje |
| nosotros/as | empujemos |
| vosotros/as | empujéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | empujen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | empujando | with estar for the progressive: estoy empujando |
| Past participle | empujado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he empujado |
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 empujar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Empujo la puerta con el hombro. 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 empujar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, empujé el carrito por el supermercado. 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 empujar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, empujaba el coche hasta el taller. 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 empujar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, empujaré la silla hacia la mesa. 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 empujar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Empujaría la puerta con el hombro 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 empujar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he empujado el carrito por el supermercado. 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 empujar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había empujado el coche hasta el taller 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 empujar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré empujado la silla hacia la mesa. 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 empujar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría empujado la puerta con el hombro 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 empujar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él empuje el carrito por el supermercado. 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 empujar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él empujara el coche hasta el taller, 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 empujar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Empuja la silla hacia la mesa! 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 empujar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No empujes la puerta con el hombro. 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 empujar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Empujo la puerta con el hombro. — I push the door with my shoulder.
- Empuja el carrito por el supermercado. — He/she pushes the trolley round the supermarket.
- Ayer, empujé el coche hasta el taller. — Yesterday, I pushed the car to the garage.
- Antes, nosotros empujábamos la silla hacia la mesa. — Before, we used to push the chair towards the table.
- Mañana, tú empujarás la puerta con el hombro. — Tomorrow, you will push the door with my shoulder.
- Yo empujaría el carrito por el supermercado si tuviera más tiempo. — I would push the trolley round the supermarket if I had more time.
- Él ha empujado el coche hasta el taller. — He has pushed the car to the garage.
- Espero que él empuje la silla hacia la mesa. — I hope he pushes the chair towards the table.
- Yo ya había empujado la puerta con el hombro antes de salir. — I had already pushed the door with my shoulder before leaving.
- Ellos empujaban el carrito por el supermercado cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to push the trolley round the supermarket when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo empuja la puerta con el hombro. — Right: Yo empujo la puerta con el hombro. — The person matters: empuja is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is empujo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Vosotros empujais el carrito por el supermercado. — Right: Vosotros empujáis el carrito por el supermercado. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: empujáis, not empujais. The accent marks the stressed vowel.
- Wrong: Treating empujar and tirar as identical in every context. — Right: Empujar means to push, while tirar means to pull, or to throw. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: empujar fits sentences such as Empujo la puerta con el hombro, while tirar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy empujado el carrito por el supermercado. — Right: Yo he empujado el carrito por el supermercado. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he empujado, has empujado, ha empujado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo empujé el coche hasta el taller todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo empujaba el coche hasta el taller todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (empujaba), not the preterite. The preterite (empujé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on empujar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la puerta con el hombro. (present tense) A. empujo B. empujas C. empuja D. empujamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el carrito por el supermercado. (preterite) A. empujé B. empujaste C. empujaron D. empujó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el coche hasta el taller. (imperfect) A. empujabas B. empujaban C. empujábamos D. empujaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la silla hacia la mesa. (future) A. empujaremos B. empujarás C. empujaré D. empujará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la puerta con el hombro si pudiera. (conditional) A. empujaría B. empujarías C. empujarían D. empujo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el carrito por el supermercado. (present subjunctive) A. empujes B. empujemos C. empujo D. empuje
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el coche hasta el taller, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. empujáramos B. empujo C. empujara D. empujaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la silla hacia la mesa. (present perfect) A. han empujado B. hemos empujado C. he empujado D. has empujado
Complete the command: ¡___ la puerta con el hombro! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. empuja B. empuje C. empujemos D. empujad
Which is the gerund of empujar, used with estar for the progressive? A. empujado B. empujo C. empujé D. empujando
Answer key
- empujo — The first-person present of empujar is empujo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- empujó — The third-person preterite of empujar is empujó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- empujábamos — The nosotros imperfect of empujar is empujábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- empujarás — The second-person future of empujar is empujarás.
- empujaría — The first-person conditional of empujar is empujaría, the form for what would happen.
- empuje — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of empujar is empuje.
- empujara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of empujar is empujara.
- hemos empujado — The nosotros present perfect of empujar is hemos empujado: hemos + empujado.
- empuja — The affirmative tú imperative of empujar is empuja.
- empujando — The gerund of empujar is empujando: estoy empujando. The participle empujado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does empujar mean in English?
Empujar means to push. It is used in everyday situations such as Empujo la puerta con el hombro. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is empujar regular or irregular?
Empujar is a fully regular -ar 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 empujo in the present and empujé in the preterite.
What is the difference between empujar and tirar?
Empujar means to push, while tirar means to pull, or to throw. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use empujar when you mean to push, as in Empujo la puerta con el hombro, and use tirar for to pull, or to throw. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I push” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo empujé el carrito por el supermercado. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo empujaba el coche hasta el taller. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he empujado el carrito por el supermercado.
How do I practise empujar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the empujar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Empujar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for empujar.
- Empujar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for empujar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Cargar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with empujar.
- Tirar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with empujar.
- Levantar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with empujar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.