Ilustrar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb ilustrar means to illustrate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Ilustrar means to illustrate, to add pictures to a book or to explain something with an example. It is a fully regular verb used in publishing, teaching and design, and it takes the thing illustrated as its object. Like every Spanish verb, ilustrar 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 ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos, and in the preterite you say ilustré el artículo con un ejemplo claro. 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: ilustrar
- English: to illustrate
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: ilustrando
- Past participle: ilustrado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + ilustrado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for ilustrar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Ilustrar is fully regular: ilustro, ilustra. It is about pictures that explain or decorate a text, not just drawing for its own sake.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for ilustrar. 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 | ilustro |
| tú | ilustras |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustra |
| nosotros/as | ilustramos |
| vosotros/as | ilustráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustran |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ilustré |
| tú | ilustraste |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustró |
| nosotros/as | ilustramos |
| vosotros/as | ilustrasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustraron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ilustraba |
| tú | ilustrabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustraba |
| nosotros/as | ilustrábamos |
| vosotros/as | ilustrabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustraban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ilustraré |
| tú | ilustrarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustrará |
| nosotros/as | ilustraremos |
| vosotros/as | ilustraréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustrarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ilustraría |
| tú | ilustrarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustraría |
| nosotros/as | ilustraríamos |
| vosotros/as | ilustraríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustrarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he ilustrado |
| tú | has ilustrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha ilustrado |
| nosotros/as | hemos ilustrado |
| vosotros/as | habéis ilustrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han ilustrado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había ilustrado |
| tú | habías ilustrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había ilustrado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos ilustrado |
| vosotros/as | habíais ilustrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían ilustrado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré ilustrado |
| tú | habrás ilustrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá ilustrado |
| nosotros/as | habremos ilustrado |
| vosotros/as | habréis ilustrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán ilustrado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría ilustrado |
| tú | habrías ilustrado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría ilustrado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos ilustrado |
| vosotros/as | habríais ilustrado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían ilustrado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ilustre |
| tú | ilustres |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustre |
| nosotros/as | ilustremos |
| vosotros/as | ilustréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustren |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | ilustrara |
| tú | ilustraras |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustrara |
| nosotros/as | ilustráramos |
| vosotros/as | ilustrarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustraran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | ilustra |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustre |
| nosotros/as | ilustremos |
| vosotros/as | ilustrad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustren |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | ilustres |
| él/ella/Ud. | ilustre |
| nosotros/as | ilustremos |
| vosotros/as | ilustréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | ilustren |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | ilustrando | with estar for the progressive: estoy ilustrando |
| Past participle | ilustrado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he ilustrado |
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 ilustrar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos. 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 ilustrar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, ilustré la historia con fotografías. 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 ilustrar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, ilustraba el artículo con un ejemplo claro. 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 ilustrar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, ilustraré el cuento para los niños. 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 ilustrar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Ilustraría el libro infantil con dibujos 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 ilustrar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he ilustrado la historia con fotografías. 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 ilustrar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había ilustrado el artículo con un ejemplo claro 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 ilustrar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré ilustrado el cuento para los niños. 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 ilustrar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría ilustrado el libro infantil con dibujos 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 ilustrar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él ilustre la historia con fotografías. 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 ilustrar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él ilustrara el artículo con un ejemplo claro, 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 ilustrar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Ilustra el cuento para los niños! 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 ilustrar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No ilustres el libro infantil con dibujos. 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 ilustrar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos. — I illustrate the children's book with drawings.
- Ilustra la historia con fotografías. — He/she illustrates the story with photographs.
- Ayer, ilustré el artículo con un ejemplo claro. — Yesterday, I illustrated the article with a clear example.
- Antes, nosotros ilustrábamos el cuento para los niños. — Before, we used to illustrate the tale for the children.
- Mañana, tú ilustrarás el libro infantil con dibujos. — Tomorrow, you will illustrate the children's book with drawings.
- Yo ilustraría la historia con fotografías si tuviera más tiempo. — I would illustrate the story with photographs if I had more time.
- Él ha ilustrado el artículo con un ejemplo claro. — He has illustrated the article with a clear example.
- Espero que él ilustre el cuento para los niños. — I hope he illustrates the tale for the children.
- Yo ya había ilustrado el libro infantil con dibujos antes de salir. — I had already illustrated the children's book with drawings before leaving.
- Ellos ilustraban la historia con fotografías cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to illustrate the story with photographs when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo ilustra el libro infantil con dibujos. — Right: Yo ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos. — The person matters: ilustra is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is ilustro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo ilustro la historia con fotografías. — Right: Ayer yo ilustré la historia con fotografías. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: ilustro is happening now, while ilustré is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating ilustrar and dibujar as identical in every context. — Right: Ilustrar means to illustrate, while dibujar means to draw. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: ilustrar fits sentences such as Ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos, while dibujar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy ilustrado la historia con fotografías. — Right: Yo he ilustrado la historia con fotografías. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he ilustrado, has ilustrado, ha ilustrado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo ilustré el artículo con un ejemplo claro todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo ilustraba el artículo con un ejemplo claro todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (ilustraba), not the preterite. The preterite (ilustré) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on ilustrar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el libro infantil con dibujos. (present tense) A. ilustro B. ilustras C. ilustra D. ilustramos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la historia con fotografías. (preterite) A. ilustré B. ilustraste C. ilustraron D. ilustró
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el artículo con un ejemplo claro. (imperfect) A. ilustrabas B. ilustraban C. ilustrábamos D. ilustraba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el cuento para los niños. (future) A. ilustraremos B. ilustrarás C. ilustraré D. ilustrará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el libro infantil con dibujos si pudiera. (conditional) A. ilustraría B. ilustrarías C. ilustrarían D. ilustro
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la historia con fotografías. (present subjunctive) A. ilustres B. ilustremos C. ilustro D. ilustre
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el artículo con un ejemplo claro, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. ilustráramos B. ilustro C. ilustrara D. ilustraras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el cuento para los niños. (present perfect) A. han ilustrado B. hemos ilustrado C. he ilustrado D. has ilustrado
Complete the command: ¡___ el libro infantil con dibujos! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. ilustra B. ilustre C. ilustremos D. ilustrad
Which is the gerund of ilustrar, used with estar for the progressive? A. ilustrado B. ilustro C. ilustré D. ilustrando
Answer key
- ilustro — The first-person present of ilustrar is ilustro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- ilustró — The third-person preterite of ilustrar is ilustró, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- ilustrábamos — The nosotros imperfect of ilustrar is ilustrábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- ilustrarás — The second-person future of ilustrar is ilustrarás.
- ilustraría — The first-person conditional of ilustrar is ilustraría, the form for what would happen.
- ilustre — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of ilustrar is ilustre.
- ilustrara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of ilustrar is ilustrara.
- hemos ilustrado — The nosotros present perfect of ilustrar is hemos ilustrado: hemos + ilustrado.
- ilustra — The affirmative tú imperative of ilustrar is ilustra.
- ilustrando — The gerund of ilustrar is ilustrando: estoy ilustrando. The participle ilustrado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does ilustrar mean in English?
Ilustrar means to illustrate. It is used in everyday situations such as Ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is ilustrar regular or irregular?
Ilustrar 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 ilustro in the present and ilustré in the preterite.
What is the difference between ilustrar and dibujar?
Ilustrar means to illustrate, while dibujar means to draw. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use ilustrar when you mean to illustrate, as in Ilustro el libro infantil con dibujos, and use dibujar for to draw. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I illustrate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo ilustré la historia con fotografías. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo ilustraba el artículo con un ejemplo claro. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he ilustrado la historia con fotografías.
How do I practise ilustrar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the ilustrar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Ilustrar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for ilustrar.
- Ilustrar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for ilustrar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Decorar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with ilustrar.
- Filmar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with ilustrar.
- Tallar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with ilustrar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.