Enmarcar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb enmarcar means to frame, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Enmarcar means to frame, to put a picture or a photo into a frame. It is used in homes, galleries and workshops, and it is a spelling-change verb: c becomes qu before e. Like every Spanish verb, enmarcar 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 enmarco la foto de la familia, and in the preterite you say enmarqué el diploma de la universidad. 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: enmarcar
- English: to frame
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: enmarcando
- Past participle: enmarcado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + enmarcado)
- Spelling change: Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque and the preterite first person is enmarqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for enmarcar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite first person is enmarqué. In the present tense it is regular: enmarco.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for enmarcar. 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 | enmarco |
| tú | enmarcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarca |
| nosotros/as | enmarcamos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarcan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enmarqué |
| tú | enmarcaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarcó |
| nosotros/as | enmarcamos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarcaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enmarcaba |
| tú | enmarcabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarcaba |
| nosotros/as | enmarcábamos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarcaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enmarcaré |
| tú | enmarcarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarcará |
| nosotros/as | enmarcaremos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarcarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enmarcaría |
| tú | enmarcarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarcaría |
| nosotros/as | enmarcaríamos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarcarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he enmarcado |
| tú | has enmarcado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha enmarcado |
| nosotros/as | hemos enmarcado |
| vosotros/as | habéis enmarcado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han enmarcado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había enmarcado |
| tú | habías enmarcado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había enmarcado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos enmarcado |
| vosotros/as | habíais enmarcado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían enmarcado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré enmarcado |
| tú | habrás enmarcado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá enmarcado |
| nosotros/as | habremos enmarcado |
| vosotros/as | habréis enmarcado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán enmarcado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría enmarcado |
| tú | habrías enmarcado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría enmarcado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos enmarcado |
| vosotros/as | habríais enmarcado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían enmarcado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enmarque |
| tú | enmarques |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarque |
| nosotros/as | enmarquemos |
| vosotros/as | enmarquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarquen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | enmarcara |
| tú | enmarcaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarcara |
| nosotros/as | enmarcáramos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarcaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | enmarca |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarque |
| nosotros/as | enmarquemos |
| vosotros/as | enmarcad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarquen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | enmarques |
| él/ella/Ud. | enmarque |
| nosotros/as | enmarquemos |
| vosotros/as | enmarquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | enmarquen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | enmarcando | with estar for the progressive: estoy enmarcando |
| Past participle | enmarcado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he enmarcado |
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 enmarcar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Enmarco la foto de la familia. 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. Note the spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque and the preterite first person is enmarqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For enmarcar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, enmarqué el cuadro del salón. 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 enmarcar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, enmarcaba el diploma de la universidad. 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 enmarcar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, enmarcaré el póster de la película. 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 enmarcar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Enmarcaría la foto de la familia 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 enmarcar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he enmarcado el cuadro del salón. 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 enmarcar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había enmarcado el diploma de la universidad 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 enmarcar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré enmarcado el póster de la película. 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 enmarcar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría enmarcado la foto de la familia 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. Note the spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque and the preterite first person is enmarqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For enmarcar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él enmarque el cuadro del salón. 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 enmarcar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él enmarcara el diploma de la universidad, 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. Note the spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque and the preterite first person is enmarqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For enmarcar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Enmarca el póster de la película! 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. Note the spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque and the preterite first person is enmarqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For enmarcar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No enmarques la foto de la familia. 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 enmarcar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Enmarco la foto de la familia. — I frame the family photo.
- Enmarca el cuadro del salón. — He/she frames the picture in the living room.
- Ayer, enmarqué el diploma de la universidad. — Yesterday, I framed the university diploma.
- Antes, nosotros enmarcábamos el póster de la película. — Before, we used to frame the film poster.
- Mañana, tú enmarcarás la foto de la familia. — Tomorrow, you will frame the family photo.
- Yo enmarcaría el cuadro del salón si tuviera más tiempo. — I would frame the picture in the living room if I had more time.
- Él ha enmarcado el diploma de la universidad. — He has framed the university diploma.
- Espero que él enmarque el póster de la película. — I hope he frames the film poster.
- Yo ya había enmarcado la foto de la familia antes de salir. — I had already framed the family photo before leaving.
- Ellos enmarcaban el cuadro del salón cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to frame the picture in the living room when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo enmarca la foto de la familia. — Right: Yo enmarco la foto de la familia. — The person matters: enmarca is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is enmarco. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Espero que yo enmarce el cuadro del salón. — Right: Espero que yo enmarque el cuadro del salón. — Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque, never enmarce.
- Wrong: Treating enmarcar and colgar as identical in every context. — Right: Enmarcar means to frame, while colgar means to hang something up. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: enmarcar fits sentences such as Enmarco la foto de la familia, while colgar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy enmarcado el cuadro del salón. — Right: Yo he enmarcado el cuadro del salón. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he enmarcado, has enmarcado, ha enmarcado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo enmarqué el diploma de la universidad todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo enmarcaba el diploma de la universidad todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (enmarcaba), not the preterite. The preterite (enmarqué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on enmarcar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la foto de la familia. (present tense) A. enmarco B. enmarcas C. enmarca D. enmarcamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el cuadro del salón. (preterite) A. enmarqué B. enmarcaste C. enmarcaron D. enmarcó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el diploma de la universidad. (imperfect) A. enmarcabas B. enmarcaban C. enmarcábamos D. enmarcaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el póster de la película. (future) A. enmarcaremos B. enmarcarás C. enmarcaré D. enmarcará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la foto de la familia si pudiera. (conditional) A. enmarcaría B. enmarcarías C. enmarcarían D. enmarco
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el cuadro del salón. (present subjunctive) A. enmarques B. enmarquemos C. enmarco D. enmarque
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el diploma de la universidad, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. enmarcáramos B. enmarco C. enmarcara D. enmarcaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el póster de la película. (present perfect) A. han enmarcado B. hemos enmarcado C. he enmarcado D. has enmarcado
Complete the command: ¡___ la foto de la familia! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. enmarca B. enmarque C. enmarquemos D. enmarcad
Which is the gerund of enmarcar, used with estar for the progressive? A. enmarcado B. enmarco C. enmarqué D. enmarcando
Answer key
- enmarco — The first-person present of enmarcar is enmarco. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- enmarcó — The third-person preterite of enmarcar is enmarcó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- enmarcábamos — The nosotros imperfect of enmarcar is enmarcábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- enmarcarás — The second-person future of enmarcar is enmarcarás.
- enmarcaría — The first-person conditional of enmarcar is enmarcaría, the form for what would happen.
- enmarque — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of enmarcar is enmarque.
- enmarcara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of enmarcar is enmarcara.
- hemos enmarcado — The nosotros present perfect of enmarcar is hemos enmarcado: hemos + enmarcado.
- enmarca — The affirmative tú imperative of enmarcar is enmarca.
- enmarcando — The gerund of enmarcar is enmarcando: estoy enmarcando. The participle enmarcado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does enmarcar mean in English?
Enmarcar means to frame. It is used in everyday situations such as Enmarco la foto de la familia. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is enmarcar regular or irregular?
Enmarcar is a spelling-change verb, so it is not fully regular. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the present subjunctive is enmarque and the preterite first person is enmarqué — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. The other tenses follow the regular -ar endings. Learn the changed forms from the tables above rather than applying the regular spelling.
What is the difference between enmarcar and colgar?
Enmarcar means to frame, while colgar means to hang something up. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use enmarcar when you mean to frame, as in Enmarco la foto de la familia, and use colgar for to hang something up. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I frame” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo enmarqué el cuadro del salón. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo enmarcaba el diploma de la universidad. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he enmarcado el cuadro del salón.
How do I practise enmarcar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the enmarcar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Enmarcar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for enmarcar.
- Enmarcar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for enmarcar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Barnizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with enmarcar.
- Desembarcar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with enmarcar.
- Aterrizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with enmarcar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.