Introduction

equivaler means “to be equivalent to”, and this page covers exactly one thing: equivaler in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for equivaler, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about equivaler in the present. For example: “Este bono equivale a diez euros todos los días.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.” Everything on this page uses the forms of equivaler exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

equivaler in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo equivalgo
tú equivales
él/ella/Ud. equivale
nosotros/as equivalemos
vosotros/as equivaléis
ellos/ellas/Uds. equivalen

Gerund: equivaliendo · Past participle: equivalido

The gerund is equivaliendo, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy equivaliendo” means the action of equivaler is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is equivalido, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he equivalido” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how equivaler is used.

How the present of equivaler is formed

equivaler is a -er verb. Take the stem equival and add the present endings for -er verbs: -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en, giving equivalgo, equivales, equivale, equivalemos, equivaléis and equivalen. But equivaler is irregular in the present: the forms in the table do not all follow from the infinitive, so memorise them as they are written above. The él form, equivale, shows the irregularity most clearly.

The present of equivaler rewards careful reading of the table. Two details deserve attention. First, the yo form equivalgo is the form you will use most when you talk about yourself, so say it out loud until it comes without thinking. Second, the nosotros form equivalemos and the ellos form equivalen are the ones learners confuse most often, because they are the forms used for groups. Practise the six forms in order — yo, tú, él, nosotros, vosotros, ellos — and the pattern will settle.

When to use the present of equivaler

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use equivaler in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. A habit or routine

equivaler in the present describes something done regularly. When talking about ten euros is part of your routine, the present is the right tense. Example: “Este bono equivale a diez euros cada día.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

2. A fact or general truth

General truths about ten euros also take the present. The tense states how things are, not when they happened. Example: “Este bono equivale a diez euros siempre.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

3. Something happening right now

Use the present for what is happening at this moment. It is the simplest way to describe an action in progress when you do not need the gerund. Example: “Este bono equivale a diez euros ahora mismo.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

4. A scheduled near-future event

Spanish often uses the present for plans that are already fixed, especially with a time expression. It sounds more certain than the future tense. Example: “Estos bonos equivalen a diez euros mañana.” — “These vouchers are equivalent to ten euros.”

5. Instructions and explanations

When you explain how something works — how to talk about ten euros — the present is the natural tense. Recipes, rules and directions all live in the present. Example: “Este bono equivale a diez euros normalmente.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the hardest decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is the tense. Time words help: cada día and siempre point to the present, while ayer points to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Este bono equivale a diez euros cada día.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

  • Preterite: “Este bono equivalió a diez euros ayer.” — “This voucher was equivalent to ten euros.”

  • The two sentences use the same verb and the same situation, but the tense changes what the sentence claims: a habit or a present fact versus one finished event. That difference is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Este bono equivale a diez euros siempre.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

  • Preterite: “Este bono equivalió a diez euros ayer.” — “This voucher was equivalent to ten euros.”

  • The two sentences use the same verb and the same situation, but the tense changes what the sentence claims: a habit or a present fact versus one finished event. That difference is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Este bono equivale a diez euros todos los días.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

  • Preterite: “Este bono equivalió a diez euros ayer.” — “This voucher was equivalent to ten euros.”

  • The two sentences use the same verb and the same situation, but the tense changes what the sentence claims: a habit or a present fact versus one finished event. That difference is the whole decision.

Example sentences: equivaler in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Este bono equivale a diez euros cada día.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”
  2. “Este bono equivale a diez euros cada día.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”
  3. “Este bono equivale a diez euros siempre.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”
  4. “Este bono equivale a diez euros todos los días.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”
  5. “Este bono equivale a diez euros cada semana.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”
  6. “Estos bonos equivalen a diez euros normalmente.” — “These vouchers are equivalent to ten euros.”
  7. “Este bono equivale a diez euros ahora mismo.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”
  8. “Este bono equivale a diez euros cada día.” — “This voucher is equivalent to ten euros.”

Common mistakes

Using the unchanged stem

Learners often write equivalo for the yo form, keeping the infinitive stem unchanged. The correct form is equivalgo. Because equivaler changes its stem vowel, the change appears in the stressed syllables of the present: say the correct form out loud a few times — yo equivalgo a diez euros — until the changed stem feels natural.

Confusing equivaler with cubrir

equivaler and cubrir look similar, and learners mix them up. They are different verbs with different meanings, so check which one the sentence needs before you conjugate. If you can substitute the English meaning of equivaler — be equivalent to — the sentence needs equivaler; if it needs the meaning of cubrir, use that verb instead.

Using the indicative after "espero que"

After espero que (I hope that), Spanish needs the subjunctive: Espero que yo equivalga a diez euros. Using the indicative — Espero que yo equivalgo — is one of the most frequent learner errors with equivaler. Whenever the main clause expresses a wish, doubt or emotion, switch to the subjunctive.

Using the unchanged stem

Learners often write equivalo for the yo form, keeping the infinitive stem unchanged. The correct form is equivalgo. Because equivaler changes its stem vowel, the change appears in the stressed syllables of the present: say the correct form out loud a few times — yo equivalgo a diez euros — until the changed stem feels natural.

Using the wrong tense for equivaler

The most general mistake is choosing the wrong tense altogether: using the present where Spanish needs the preterite, or the other way round. Check the time words first — ayer and la semana pasada point to the past, cada día and siempre point to the present — and then check whether the action is finished or ongoing. If you can answer those two questions, the tense usually chooses itself.

Quiz

Test yourself on the forms above. Choose the best answer, then check the key below.

1. What is the yo form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivales
  • B. equivale
  • C. equivalemos
  • D. equivalgo

2. What is the tu form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivales
  • B. equivalgo
  • C. equivale
  • D. equivalemos

3. What is the el form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivalemos
  • B. equivale
  • C. equivalgo
  • D. equivales

4. What is the nosotros form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivales
  • B. equivale
  • C. equivalemos
  • D. equivalgo

5. What is the vosotros form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivalgo
  • B. equivales
  • C. equivale
  • D. equivaléis

6. What is the ellos form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivalen
  • B. equivalgo
  • C. equivales
  • D. equivale

7. What is the yo form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivalemos
  • B. equivalgo
  • C. equivales
  • D. equivale

8. What is the el form of equivaler in the present tense?

  • A. equivales
  • B. equivalemos
  • C. equivale
  • D. equivalgo

Answer key

  1. equivalgo — The present table gives yo = equivalgo.
  2. equivales — The present table gives tu = equivales.
  3. equivale — The present table gives el = equivale.
  4. equivalemos — The present table gives nosotros = equivalemos.
  5. equivaléis — The present table gives vosotros = equivaléis.
  6. equivalen — The present table gives ellos = equivalen.
  7. equivalgo — The present table gives yo = equivalgo.
  8. equivale — The present table gives el = equivale.

Frequently asked questions

How do you form the present of equivaler?

Take the stem equival and add the present endings for -er verbs. The six forms are equivalgo, equivales, equivale, equivalemos, equivaléis and equivalen. Copy the forms from the table above rather than building them from memory until they are automatic.

When should I use the present of equivaler?

Use it for habits, facts and things happening now. The five rules in the section above cover the situations you will meet most often. If the action is a routine or a present fact, the present is the right choice.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite of equivaler?

The present form for yo is equivalgo and the preterite form is equivalí — different forms for different meanings. The present reports what happens regularly or now, while the preterite reports one finished action. The contrasted pairs above show the same situation in both tenses, so compare them side by side.

Is equivaler regular in the present?

No — equivaler is irregular in the present, so learn the six forms in the table as a set. The full conjugation of equivaler is on its main conjugation page, where every tense is covered.

Related links