Imaginarse Conjugation in Spanish
imaginarse means "to imagine" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the beach in summer, a hero in the story, a house in the country and travelling around the world. This page gives you the complete conjugation of imaginarse 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. imaginarse is a Reflexive 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 me imagino en la playa en verano. — "Every day, I imagine on the beach in summer." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: imaginarse
- English: to imagine
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: imaginando
- Past participle: imaginado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + imaginado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of imaginarse with all six persons. The gerund is imaginando and the past participle is imaginado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imagino |
| tú | imaginas |
| él/ella/Ud. | imagina |
| nosotros/as | imaginamos |
| vosotros/as | imagináis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imaginé |
| tú | imaginaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | imaginó |
| nosotros/as | imaginamos |
| vosotros/as | imaginasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imaginaba |
| tú | imaginabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | imaginaba |
| nosotros/as | imaginábamos |
| vosotros/as | imaginabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imaginaré |
| tú | imaginarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | imaginará |
| nosotros/as | imaginaremos |
| vosotros/as | imaginaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imaginaría |
| tú | imaginarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | imaginaría |
| nosotros/as | imaginaríamos |
| vosotros/as | imaginaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he imaginado |
| tú | has imaginado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha imaginado |
| nosotros/as | hemos imaginado |
| vosotros/as | habéis imaginado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han imaginado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había imaginado |
| tú | habías imaginado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había imaginado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos imaginado |
| vosotros/as | habíais imaginado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían imaginado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré imaginado |
| tú | habrás imaginado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá imaginado |
| nosotros/as | habremos imaginado |
| vosotros/as | habréis imaginado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán imaginado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría imaginado |
| tú | habrías imaginado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría imaginado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos imaginado |
| vosotros/as | habríais imaginado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían imaginado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imagine |
| tú | imagines |
| él/ella/Ud. | imagine |
| nosotros/as | imaginemos |
| vosotros/as | imaginéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | imaginara |
| tú | imaginaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | imaginara |
| nosotros/as | imagináramos |
| vosotros/as | imaginarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | imagina |
| él/ella/Ud. | imagine |
| nosotros/as | imaginemos |
| vosotros/as | imaginad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | imagines |
| él/ella/Ud. | imagine |
| nosotros/as | imaginemos |
| vosotros/as | imaginéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | imaginen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about imaginarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of imaginarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me imagino en la playa en verano. — "Every day, I imagine on the beach in summer." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me imaginé como un héroe en la historia. — "Yesterday, I imagined as a hero in the story." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me imaginaba en una casa en el campo. — "In the past, I used to imagine in a house in the country." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos imaginaremos viajando por el mundo. — "Tomorrow, we will imagine travelling around the world." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te imaginarías en la playa en verano. — "If you could, you would imagine on the beach in summer." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he imaginado como un héroe en la historia. — "I have imagined as a hero in the story." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había imaginado en una casa en el campo. — "Before the party, I had imagined in a house in the country." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré imaginado viajando por el mundo. — "By tomorrow, I will have imagined travelling around the world." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría imaginado en la playa en verano. — "If I had been able to, I would have imagined on the beach in summer." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se imagine como un héroe en la historia. — "I hope that he/she imagines as a hero in the story." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se imaginara en una casa en el campo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she imagined in a house in the country, everything would turn out better." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se imagine viajando por el mundo! — "Let him/her imagine travelling around the world!" For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- 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 imaginarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te imagines en la playa en verano. — "Do not imagine on the beach in summer." For imaginarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem imagin- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: imaginarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with imaginarse, 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 me imagino en la playa en verano. — "Every day, I imagine on the beach in summer." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me imaginé como un héroe en la historia. — "Yesterday, I imagined as a hero in the story." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me imaginaba en una casa en el campo. — "In the past, I used to imagine in a house in the country." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos imaginaremos viajando por el mundo. — "Tomorrow, we will imagine travelling around the world." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te imaginarías en la playa en verano. — "If you could, you would imagine on the beach in summer." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he imaginado como un héroe en la historia. — "I have imagined as a hero in the story." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se imagine en una casa en el campo. — "I hope that he/she imagines in a house in the country." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se imaginara viajando por el mundo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she imagined travelling around the world, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te imagines en la playa en verano! — "Do not imagine on the beach in summer!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy imaginando como un héroe en la historia. — "Now, I am imagining as a hero in the story." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with imaginarse
The errors learners actually make with imaginarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo imagino en la playa en verano.
- Right: Yo me imagino en la playa en verano.
- Why: imaginarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me imagino en la playa en verano.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os imaginais en la playa en verano.
- Right: Vosotros os imagináis en la playa en verano.
- Why: The vosotros form imagináis 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 me imagino como un héroe en la historia.
- Right: Ayer, yo me imaginé como un héroe en la historia.
- 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 me imaginé como un héroe en la historia. — "Yesterday, I imagined as a hero in the story."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy imaginado en una casa en el campo.
- Right: Me estoy imaginando en una casa en el campo.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund imaginando for the progressive. The participle imaginado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he imaginado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos imagina en la playa en verano.
- Right: Nosotros nos imaginamos en la playa en verano.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes imaginamos, while imagina belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: imaginarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on imaginarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of imaginarse in the present tense?
- (a) imaginamos
- (b) imagino
- (c) imaginas
- (d) imagina
Answer: (b) imagino. The yo form is imagino. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of imaginarse in the present tense?
- (a) imaginas
- (b) imagino
- (c) imagina
- (d) imaginamos
Answer: (a) imaginas. The tú form is imaginas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of imaginarse in the present tense?
- (a) imagino
- (b) imaginas
- (c) imaginamos
- (d) imagina
Answer: (d) imagina. The él/ella form is imagina. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of imaginarse in the present tense?
- (a) imaginas
- (b) imagina
- (c) imaginamos
- (d) imagino
Answer: (c) imaginamos. The nosotros form is imaginamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of imaginarse in the present tense?
- (a) imagina
- (b) imaginan
- (c) imagino
- (d) imaginas
Answer: (b) imaginan. The ellos/ellas form is imaginan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of imaginarse?
- (a) imaginarse
- (b) imaginando
- (c) imaginado
- (d) imagino
Answer: (b) imaginando. The gerund is imaginando, used for the progressive: me estoy imaginando.
7. What is the past participle of imaginarse?
- (a) imaginado
- (b) imaginando
- (c) imaginé
- (d) imaginarse
Answer: (a) imaginado. The past participle is imaginado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he imaginado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ en la playa en verano.
- (a) imaginas
- (b) imagina
- (c) imaginamos
- (d) imagino
Answer: (d) imagino. The sentence needs the yo form imagino (Every day, I imagine on the beach in summer.)
9. What is the yo form of imaginarse in the preterite?
- (a) imaginó
- (b) imaginamos
- (c) imaginé
- (d) imaginaste
Answer: (c) imaginé. The yo preterite is imaginé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en una casa en el campo.
- (a) imagine
- (b) imagines
- (c) imaginemos
- (d) imaginéis
Answer: (a) imagine. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is imagine.
Frequently asked questions about imaginarse
Is imaginarse regular?
Yes. imaginarse is a regular -ar verb: imagino, imaginé, imaginaba, imaginaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does imaginarse mean, and when do I use it?
imaginarse means "to imagine" in English. Use it when you talk about the beach in summer, a hero in the story, a house in the country and travelling around the world — for example: Yo me imagino en la playa en verano. — "I imagine on the beach in summer." 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 me imagino en la playa en verano. — "I imagine on the beach in summer." 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 imaginarse reflexive?
Yes. imaginarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me imagino en la playa en verano. — "I imagine on the beach in summer." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with imaginarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me imagino en la playa en verano. — "I imagine on the beach in summer." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me imaginé en la playa en verano. — "Yesterday, I imagined on the beach in summer." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.