Introduction

Escampar means “to clear up (weather)”, and this page covers exactly one thing: escampar 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 escampar, 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 escampar in the present. Escampar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Por la tarde, escampa” — "In the afternoon, it clears up". Everything on this page uses the forms of escampar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Escampar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo escampo
tú escampas
él/ella/Ud. escampa
nosotros/as escampamos
vosotros/as escampáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. escampan

Gerund: escampando · Past participle: escampado

The gerund is escampando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy escampando” means the action of escampar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is escampado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he escampado” 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 escampar is used.

How the present of escampar is formed

Escampar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem escamp and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving escampo, escampas, escampa, escampamos, escampáis, escampan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, escampáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of escampar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form escampáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form escampo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of escampar

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

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, escampar goes in the present. Example: “Al mediodía, escampa” — "At midday, it clears up".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about escampar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Después de la lluvia, escampa” — "After the rain, it clears up".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so escampo can mean both "I clear up" and "I am clearing up". Example: “Por la tarde, escampa” — "In the afternoon, it clears up".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Al mediodía, escampa” — "At midday, it clears up".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with escampar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Después de la lluvia, escampa” — "After the rain, it clears up".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Por la tarde, escampa” — "In the afternoon, it clears up".

  • Preterite: “Por la tarde, escampó” — "In the afternoon, it cleared up".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Al mediodía, escampa” — "At midday, it clears up".

  • Preterite: “Al mediodía, escampó” — "At midday, it cleared up".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Después de la lluvia, escampa” — "After the rain, it clears up".

  • Preterite: “Después de la lluvia, escampó” — "After the rain, it cleared up".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

Example sentences: escampar 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. “Al mediodía, escampa” — "At midday, it clears up"

  2. “Después de la lluvia, escampa” — "After the rain, it clears up"

  3. “Por la tarde, escampa” — "In the afternoon, it clears up"

  4. “Al mediodía, escampa” — "At midday, it clears up"

  5. “Después de la lluvia, escampa” — "After the rain, it clears up"

  6. “Por la tarde, escampa” — "In the afternoon, it clears up"

  7. “Al mediodía, escampa” — "At midday, it clears up"

  8. “Después de la lluvia, escampa” — "After the rain, it clears up"

Common mistakes with escampar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos escampa por la tarde” Right: “escampa por la tarde” Why: This verb is impersonal: it only takes the third-person singular form escampa.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, escampó” Right: “Todos los días, escampa” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (escampé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo escampa por la tarde.” Right: “Por la tarde, escampa” Why: Yo needs the yo form escampo. The él form escampa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, escampa” Right: “Ayer, escampó” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to escampé.

Quiz: escampar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Hoy, ______ después de la lluvia.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. escampa B. ha escampado C. escampará D. escampaba

2. Complete the sentence: “Todos los días, ______ por la tarde.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. escampará B. escampa C. escampó D. escampaba

3. Complete the sentence: “En verano, ______ al mediodía.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. escamparía B. escampará C. escampa D. escampó

4. Complete the sentence: “Por la noche, ______ después de la lluvia.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. escampa B. escamparía C. ha escampado D. escampó

5. Complete the sentence: “Cuando llueve, ______ por la tarde.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. escampa B. escamparía C. escampaba D. ha escampado

6. Complete the sentence: “A menudo, ______ al mediodía.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. ha escampado B. escampará C. escamparía D. escampa

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, escampa B. Todos los días, escampó

Answer key

  1. escampa — The él/ella/Ud. present of escampar is escampa.
  2. escampa — The él/ella/Ud. present of escampar is escampa.
  3. escampa — The él/ella/Ud. present of escampar is escampa.
  4. escampa — The él/ella/Ud. present of escampar is escampa.
  5. escampa — The él/ella/Ud. present of escampar is escampa.
  6. escampa — The él/ella/Ud. present of escampar is escampa.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, escampa — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of escampar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Por la tarde, escampa. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of escampar formed?

Take the stem escamp- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving escampo, escampas, escampa, escampamos, escampáis, escampan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for escampar?

The present (escampa) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (escampó) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise escampar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — escampo, escampas, escampa, escampamos, escampáis, escampan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the escampar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of escampar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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