Inferir Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb inferir means to infer, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Inferir means to infer or to deduce something from evidence: inferir la respuesta de los datos. It is a formal verb, common in academic and logical writing. Like every Spanish verb, inferir 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 Yo infiero la respuesta de los datos — "I infer the answer from the data". 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.

The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: infiero, infieres, infiere and infieren — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: inferimos, inferís. In the preterite the third-person forms change too: infirió, infirieron, and the gerund is infiriendo.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: inferir
  • English: to infer
  • Verb type: stem-changing -ir verb (e → ie)
  • Ending: -ir
  • Gerund: infiriendo
  • Past participle: inferido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + inferido)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for inferir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for inferir. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem.

Present indicative

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | infiero | | tú | infieres | | él/ella/Ud. | infiere | | nosotros/as | inferimos | | vosotros/as | inferís | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | infieren |

Preterite

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | inferí | | tú | inferiste | | él/ella/Ud. | infirió | | nosotros/as | inferimos | | vosotros/as | inferisteis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | infirieron |

Imperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | infería | | tú | inferías | | él/ella/Ud. | infería | | nosotros/as | inferíamos | | vosotros/as | inferíais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | inferían |

Future

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | inferiré | | tú | inferirás | | él/ella/Ud. | inferirá | | nosotros/as | inferiremos | | vosotros/as | inferiréis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | inferirán |

Conditional

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | inferiría | | tú | inferirías | | él/ella/Ud. | inferiría | | nosotros/as | inferiríamos | | vosotros/as | inferiríais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | inferirían |

Present perfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | he inferido | | tú | has inferido | | él/ella/Ud. | ha inferido | | nosotros/as | hemos inferido | | vosotros/as | habéis inferido | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | han inferido |

Pluperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | había inferido | | tú | habías inferido | | él/ella/Ud. | había inferido | | nosotros/as | habíamos inferido | | vosotros/as | habíais inferido | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían inferido |

Future perfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | habré inferido | | tú | habrás inferido | | él/ella/Ud. | habrá inferido | | nosotros/as | habremos inferido | | vosotros/as | habréis inferido | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán inferido |

Conditional perfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | habría inferido | | tú | habrías inferido | | él/ella/Ud. | habría inferido | | nosotros/as | habríamos inferido | | vosotros/as | habríais inferido | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían inferido |

Present subjunctive

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | infiera | | tú | infieras | | él/ella/Ud. | infiera | | nosotros/as | infiramos | | vosotros/as | infiráis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | infieran |

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | infiriera | | tú | infirieras | | él/ella/Ud. | infiriera | | nosotros/as | infiriéramos | | vosotros/as | infirierais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | infirieran |

Imperative (affirmative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | infiere | | él/ella/Ud. | infiera | | nosotros/as | infiramos | | vosotros/as | inferid | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | infieran |

Imperative (negative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | infieras | | él/ella/Ud. | infiera | | nosotros/as | infiramos | | vosotros/as | infiráis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | infieran |

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund infiriendo with estar for the progressive: está infiriendo
Past participle inferido with haber for the perfect tenses: he inferido

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: infiero, infieres, infiere and infieren — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: inferimos, inferís. In the preterite the third-person forms change too: infirió, infirieron, and the gerund is infiriendo. For inferir, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo infiero la respuesta de los datos — "I infer the answer from the data".

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. In this tense the stem changes in the third person: infirió, infirieron. The gerund changes too: infiriendo. For inferir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, yo inferí su intención por sus gestos — "Yesterday, I inferred his intention from his gestures".

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 inferir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, yo infería la verdad de sus palabras — "As a child, I used to infer the truth from his words".

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 inferir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, yo inferiré el resultado del experimento — "Tomorrow, I will infer the result of the experiment".

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 inferir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo inferiría la respuesta de los datos si pudiera — "I would infer the answer from the data if I could".

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 inferir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, yo he inferido su intención por sus gestos — "Today, I have inferred his intention from his gestures".

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 inferir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo ya había inferido la verdad de sus palabras antes de salir — "I already had inferred the truth from his words before leaving".

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 inferir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, yo habré inferido el resultado del experimento — "By tomorrow, I will have inferred the result of the experiment".

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 inferir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría inferido la respuesta de los datos con más tiempo — "I would have inferred the answer from the data with more time".

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: infiero, infieres, infiere and infieren — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: inferimos, inferís. In the preterite the third-person forms change too: infirió, infirieron, and the gerund is infiriendo. For inferir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él infiera su intención por sus gestos — "I hope he infers his intention from his gestures".

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past. The -ra forms are shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is irregular — see the table above. For inferir, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo infiriera la verdad de sus palabras, todo cambiaría — "If I inferred the truth from his words, everything would change".

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: infiero, infieres, infiere and infieren — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: inferimos, inferís. In the preterite the third-person forms change too: infirió, infirieron, and the gerund is infiriendo. For inferir, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Infiere el resultado del experimento. — "Infer the result of the experiment.".

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: infiero, infieres, infiere and infieren — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: inferimos, inferís. In the preterite the third-person forms change too: infirió, infirieron, and the gerund is infiriendo. For inferir, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No infieras la respuesta de los datos. — "Do not infer the answer from the data.".

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with inferir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Yo infiero la respuesta de los datos — "I infer the answer from the data"
  2. Mi amigo infiere su intención por sus gestos — "My friend infers his intention from his gestures"
  3. Ayer, yo inferí la verdad de sus palabras — "Yesterday, I inferred the truth from his words"
  4. Antes, nosotros inferíamos el resultado del experimento — "Before, we used to infer the result of the experiment"
  5. Mañana, tú inferirás una conclusión lógica — "Tomorrow, you will infer a logical conclusion"
  6. Yo inferiría la respuesta de los datos si tuviera más tiempo — "I would infer the answer from the data if I had more time"
  7. Él ha inferido su intención por sus gestos — "He has inferred his intention from his gestures"
  8. Espero que él infiera la verdad de sus palabras — "I hope he infers the truth from his words"
  9. Yo ya había inferido el resultado del experimento antes de salir — "I already had inferred the result of the experiment before leaving"
  10. Ellos inferían una conclusión lógica cuando eran jóvenes — "They used to infer a logical conclusion when they were young"

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo infero su intención por sus gestos. — Right: Yo infiero su intención por sus gestos. — inferir is a stem-changing verb (e → ie): the stem vowel changes in the stressed present forms, so the yo form is infiero, not infero.
  2. Wrong: Espero que él infiere su intención por sus gestos — Right: Espero que él infiera su intención por sus gestos — After espero que, Spanish requires the subjunctive: Espero que él infiera su intención por sus gestos — not the indicative Espero que él infiere su intención por sus gestos.
  3. Wrong: Ayer, yo infiero la verdad de sus palabras — Right: Ayer, yo inferí la verdad de sus palabras — Ayer points to a finished action in the past, so it needs the preterite: Ayer, yo inferí la verdad de sus palabras.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo inferí el resultado del experimento todos los días — Right: De niño, yo infería el resultado del experimento todos los días — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect, not the preterite: De niño, yo infería el resultado del experimento todos los días.
  5. Wrong: Yo infiero en la respuesta de los datos. — Right: Yo infiero la respuesta de los datos. — inferir takes this complement directly, with no preposition: Yo infiero la respuesta de los datos.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on inferir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ la respuesta de los datos — "I infer the answer from the data" (present) A. infieres B. infiere C. inferimos D. infiero

  2. Complete the sentence: Él ______ su intención por sus gestos — "He inferred his intention from his gestures" (preterite) A. inferimos B. infirió C. inferí D. inferiste

  3. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ la verdad de sus palabras — "We used to infer the truth from his words" (imperfect) A. inferías B. inferíais C. inferíamos D. infería

  4. Complete the sentence: Tú ______ el resultado del experimento — "You will infer the result of the experiment" (future) A. inferirá B. inferiremos C. inferirás D. inferiré

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ una conclusión lógica — "I would infer a logical conclusion" (conditional) A. inferirías B. inferiríamos C. inferiríais D. inferiría

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ______ la respuesta de los datos — "I hope he infers the answer from the data" (present subjunctive) A. infieras B. infiramos C. infiráis D. infiera

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ______ su intención por sus gestos, todo cambiaría — "If I inferred his intention from his gestures, everything would change" (imperfect subjunctive) A. infirierais B. infiriera C. infirieras D. infiriéramos

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ la verdad de sus palabras — "We have inferred the truth from his words" (present perfect) A. hemos inferido B. he inferido C. has inferido D. ha inferido

  9. Complete the sentence: No ______ el resultado del experimento. — "Do not infer the result of the experiment." (negative imperative) A. infiramos B. infiráis C. infieras D. infiera

  10. Which is the gerund of inferir, used with estar for the progressive? A. inferido B. infiero C. inferí D. infiriendo

Answer key

  1. infiero — The present form for yo is infiero.
  2. infirió — The preterite form for él/ella/Ud. is infirió.
  3. inferíamos — The imperfect form for nosotros/as is inferíamos.
  4. inferirás — The future form for tú is inferirás.
  5. inferiría — The conditional form for yo is inferiría.
  6. infiera — The present subjunctive form for él/ella/Ud. is infiera.
  7. infiriera — The imperfect subjunctive form for yo is infiriera.
  8. hemos inferido — The present perfect form for nosotros/as is hemos inferido.
  9. infieras — The negative imperative form is infieras.
  10. infiriendo — The gerund of inferir is infiriendo: estoy infiriendo. The participle inferido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does inferir mean in English?

inferir means to infer. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo infiero la respuesta de los datos — "I infer the answer from the data". The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is inferir regular?

No. inferir is a stem-changing -ir verb (e → ie). The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: infiero, infieres, infiere and infieren — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: inferimos, inferís. In the preterite the third-person forms change too: infirió, infirieron, and the gerund is infiriendo. The nosotros and vosotros forms keep the plain stem, which is the part learners most often get right by accident.

What is the gerund and the past participle of inferir?

The gerund is infiriendo and the past participle is inferido. Use the gerund with estar for the progressive, and the participle with haber for the perfect tenses.

How do I say "I infer" in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Ayer, yo inferí su intención por sus gestos — "Yesterday, I inferred his intention from his gestures". For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: De niño, yo infería la verdad de sus palabras — "As a child, I used to infer the truth from his words". For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Hoy, yo he inferido su intención por sus gestos — "Today, I have inferred his intention from his gestures".

What is the difference between inferir and deducir?

Deducir is the near-synonym for drawing a conclusion from evidence. Inferir is used in the same contexts, often in academic writing. Inferir means to infer or to deduce something from evidence: inferir la respuesta de los datos. It is a formal verb, common in academic and logical writing.

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