Ensanchar Conjugation in Spanish
ensanchar means "to widen" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the village road, the school corridor, his son's shirt and the hole in the wall. This page gives you the complete conjugation of ensanchar in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. ensanchar is a regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "Every day, I widen the village road." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: ensanchar
- English: to widen
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Gerund: ensanchando
- Past participle: ensanchado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + ensanchado)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of ensanchar with all six persons. The gerund is ensanchando and the past participle is ensanchado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensancho |
| tú | ensanchas |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensancha |
| nosotros/as | ensanchamos |
| vosotros/as | ensancháis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensanchan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensanché |
| tú | ensanchaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanchó |
| nosotros/as | ensanchamos |
| vosotros/as | ensanchasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensancharon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensanchaba |
| tú | ensanchabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanchaba |
| nosotros/as | ensanchábamos |
| vosotros/as | ensanchabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensanchaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensancharé |
| tú | ensancharás |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanchará |
| nosotros/as | ensancharemos |
| vosotros/as | ensancharéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensancharán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensancharía |
| tú | ensancharías |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensancharía |
| nosotros/as | ensancharíamos |
| vosotros/as | ensancharíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensancharían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he ensanchado |
| tú | has ensanchado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha ensanchado |
| nosotros/as | hemos ensanchado |
| vosotros/as | habéis ensanchado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han ensanchado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había ensanchado |
| tú | habías ensanchado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había ensanchado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos ensanchado |
| vosotros/as | habíais ensanchado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían ensanchado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré ensanchado |
| tú | habrás ensanchado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá ensanchado |
| nosotros/as | habremos ensanchado |
| vosotros/as | habréis ensanchado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán ensanchado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría ensanchado |
| tú | habrías ensanchado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría ensanchado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos ensanchado |
| vosotros/as | habríais ensanchado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían ensanchado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensanche |
| tú | ensanches |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanche |
| nosotros/as | ensanchemos |
| vosotros/as | ensanchéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensanchen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ensanchara |
| tú | ensancharas |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanchara |
| nosotros/as | ensancháramos |
| vosotros/as | ensancharais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensancharan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | ensancha |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanche |
| nosotros/as | ensanchemos |
| vosotros/as | ensanchad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensanchen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | ensanches |
| él/ella/Ud. | ensanche |
| nosotros/as | ensanchemos |
| vosotros/as | ensanchéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ensanchen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about ensanchar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of ensanchar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "Every day, I widen the village road." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of ensanchar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo ensanché el pasillo de la escuela. — "Yesterday, I widened the school corridor." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of ensanchar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo ensanchaba la camisa de su hijo. — "In the past, I used to widen his son's shirt." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of ensanchar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros ensancharemos el agujero en la pared. — "Tomorrow, we will widen the hole in the wall." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of ensanchar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú ensancharías la carretera del pueblo. — "If you could, you would widen the village road." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of ensanchar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he ensanchado el pasillo de la escuela. — "I have widened the school corridor." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of ensanchar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había ensanchado la camisa de su hijo. — "Before the party, I had widened his son's shirt." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of ensanchar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré ensanchado el agujero en la pared. — "By tomorrow, I will have widened the hole in the wall." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of ensanchar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría ensanchado la carretera del pueblo. — "If I had been able to, I would have widened the village road." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of ensanchar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él ensanche el pasillo de la escuela. — "I hope that he/she widens the school corridor." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of ensanchar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él ensanchara la camisa de su hijo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she widened his son's shirt, everything would turn out better." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of ensanchar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Ensancha el agujero en la pared! — "Widen the hole in the wall!" For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of ensanchar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No ensanches la carretera del pueblo. — "Do not widen the village road." For ensanchar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem ensanch- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: ensanchar in real sentences
Ten sentences with ensanchar, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "Every day, I widen the village road." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo ensanché el pasillo de la escuela. — "Yesterday, I widened the school corridor." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo ensanchaba la camisa de su hijo. — "In the past, I used to widen his son's shirt." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros ensancharemos el agujero en la pared. — "Tomorrow, we will widen the hole in the wall." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú ensancharías la carretera del pueblo. — "If you could, you would widen the village road." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he ensanchado el pasillo de la escuela. — "I have widened the school corridor." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él ensanche la camisa de su hijo. — "I hope that he/she widens his son's shirt." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él ensanchara el agujero en la pared, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she widened the hole in the wall, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Ensancha la carretera del pueblo! — "Widen the village road!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy ensanchando el pasillo de la escuela. — "Now, I am widening the school corridor." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with ensanchar
The errors learners actually make with ensanchar, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Adding a reflexive pronoun that does not belong
- Wrong: Yo me ensancho la carretera del pueblo.
- Right: Yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo.
- Why: ensanchar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros ensanchais la carretera del pueblo.
- Right: Vosotros ensancháis la carretera del pueblo.
- Why: The vosotros form ensancháis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo ensancho el pasillo de la escuela.
- Right: Ayer, yo ensanché el pasillo de la escuela.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo ensanché el pasillo de la escuela. — "Yesterday, I widened the school corridor."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy ensanchado la camisa de su hijo.
- Right: Estoy ensanchando la camisa de su hijo.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund ensanchando for the progressive. The participle ensanchado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he ensanchado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros ensancha la carretera del pueblo.
- Right: Nosotros ensanchamos la carretera del pueblo.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes ensanchamos, while ensancha belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: ensanchar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on ensanchar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of ensanchar in the present tense?
- (a) ensancha
- (b) ensanchamos
- (c) ensancho
- (d) ensanchas
Answer: (c) ensancho. The yo form is ensancho. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of ensanchar in the present tense?
- (a) ensanchamos
- (b) ensanchas
- (c) ensancho
- (d) ensancha
Answer: (b) ensanchas. The tú form is ensanchas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of ensanchar in the present tense?
- (a) ensancha
- (b) ensancho
- (c) ensanchas
- (d) ensanchamos
Answer: (a) ensancha. The él/ella form is ensancha. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of ensanchar in the present tense?
- (a) ensancho
- (b) ensanchas
- (c) ensancha
- (d) ensanchamos
Answer: (d) ensanchamos. The nosotros form is ensanchamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of ensanchar in the present tense?
- (a) ensanchas
- (b) ensancha
- (c) ensanchan
- (d) ensancho
Answer: (c) ensanchan. The ellos/ellas form is ensanchan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of ensanchar?
- (a) ensancho
- (b) ensanchar
- (c) ensanchando
- (d) ensanchado
Answer: (c) ensanchando. The gerund is ensanchando, used for the progressive: estoy ensanchando.
7. What is the past participle of ensanchar?
- (a) ensanchar
- (b) ensanchado
- (c) ensanchando
- (d) ensanché
Answer: (b) ensanchado. The past participle is ensanchado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he ensanchado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ la carretera del pueblo.
- (a) ensancho
- (b) ensanchas
- (c) ensancha
- (d) ensanchamos
Answer: (a) ensancho. The sentence needs the yo form ensancho (Every day, I widen the village road.)
9. What is the yo form of ensanchar in the preterite?
- (a) ensanchaste
- (b) ensanchó
- (c) ensanchamos
- (d) ensanché
Answer: (d) ensanché. The yo preterite is ensanché. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la camisa de su hijo.
- (a) ensanchéis
- (b) ensanche
- (c) ensanches
- (d) ensanchemos
Answer: (b) ensanche. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is ensanche.
Frequently asked questions about ensanchar
Is ensanchar regular?
Yes. ensanchar is a regular -ar verb: ensancho, ensanché, ensanchaba, ensancharé. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does ensanchar mean, and when do I use it?
ensanchar means "to widen" in English. Use it when you talk about the village road, the school corridor, his son's shirt and the hole in the wall — for example: Yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "I widen the village road." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "I widen the village road." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is there a reflexive form of ensanchar?
No. ensanchar is not reflexive, so it is used without a pronoun: Yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "I widen the village road." Adding me, te or se would change the meaning, so keep the verb plain unless you mean the reflexive partner.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with ensanchar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo ensancho la carretera del pueblo. — "I widen the village road." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo ensanché la carretera del pueblo. — "Yesterday, I widened the village road." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.