Instruir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb instruir means to instruct, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Instruir means to instruct or to train, and it is used for teaching a skill, giving instructions and training soldiers or workers: instruir a los alumnos, instruir a los soldados. It is a -uir verb: yo instruyo, él instruye, with y before the vowel endings. Like every Spanish verb, instruir 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 instruyo a los alumnos en el taller, and in the preterite you say instruí a los empleados nuevos. 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: instruir
- English: to instruct
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: instruyendo
- Past participle: instruido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + instruido)
- Pattern to learn: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for instruir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Instruir is a -uir verb: yo instruyo, él instruye, with y before the vowel endings.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for instruir. 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 | instruyo |
| tú | instruyes |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruye |
| nosotros/as | instruimos |
| vosotros/as | instruís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruyen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instruí |
| tú | instruiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruyó |
| nosotros/as | instruimos |
| vosotros/as | instruisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruyeron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instruía |
| tú | instruías |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruía |
| nosotros/as | instruíamos |
| vosotros/as | instruíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instruiré |
| tú | instruirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruirá |
| nosotros/as | instruiremos |
| vosotros/as | instruiréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instruiría |
| tú | instruirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruiría |
| nosotros/as | instruiríamos |
| vosotros/as | instruiríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he instruido |
| tú | has instruido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha instruido |
| nosotros/as | hemos instruido |
| vosotros/as | habéis instruido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han instruido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había instruido |
| tú | habías instruido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había instruido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos instruido |
| vosotros/as | habíais instruido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían instruido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré instruido |
| tú | habrás instruido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá instruido |
| nosotros/as | habremos instruido |
| vosotros/as | habréis instruido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán instruido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría instruido |
| tú | habrías instruido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría instruido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos instruido |
| vosotros/as | habríais instruido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían instruido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instruya |
| tú | instruyas |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruya |
| nosotros/as | instruyamos |
| vosotros/as | instruyáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruyan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instruyera |
| tú | instruyeras |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruyera |
| nosotros/as | instruyéramos |
| vosotros/as | instruyerais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruyeran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | instruye |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruya |
| nosotros/as | instruyamos |
| vosotros/as | instruid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruyan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | instruyas |
| él/ella/Ud. | instruya |
| nosotros/as | instruyamos |
| vosotros/as | instruyáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instruyan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | instruyendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy instruyendo |
| Past participle | instruido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he instruido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the pattern here: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. For instruir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Instruyo a los alumnos en el taller. 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. For instruir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, instruí a los soldados en el cuartel. 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 instruir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, instruía a los empleados nuevos. 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 instruir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, instruiré al perro con paciencia. 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 instruir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Instruiría a los alumnos en el taller 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 instruir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he instruido a los soldados en el cuartel. 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 instruir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había instruido a los empleados nuevos 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 instruir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré instruido al perro con paciencia. 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 instruir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría instruido a los alumnos en el taller 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. For instruir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él instruya a los soldados en el cuartel. 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 instruir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él instruyera a los empleados nuevos, 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. For instruir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Instruye al perro con paciencia! 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. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. For instruir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No instruyas a los alumnos en el taller. 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 instruir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Instruyo a los alumnos en el taller. — I instruct the students in the workshop.
- Instruye a los soldados en el cuartel. — He/she instructs the soldiers in the barracks.
- Ayer, instruí a los empleados nuevos. — Yesterday, I instructed the new employees.
- Antes, nosotros instruíamos al perro con paciencia. — Before, we used to instruct the dog with patience.
- Mañana, tú instruirás a los alumnos en el taller. — Tomorrow, you will instruct the students in the workshop.
- Yo instruiría a los soldados en el cuartel si tuviera más tiempo. — I would instruct the soldiers in the barracks if I had more time.
- Él ha instruido a los empleados nuevos. — He has instructed the new employees.
- Espero que él instruya al perro con paciencia. — I hope he instructs the dog with patience.
- Yo ya había instruido a los alumnos en el taller antes de salir. — I had already instructed the students in the workshop before leaving.
- Ellos instruían a los soldados en el cuartel cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to instruct the soldiers in the barracks when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo instruye a los alumnos en el taller. — Right: Yo instruyo a los alumnos en el taller. — The person matters: instruye is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is instruyo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo instruo a los soldados en el cuartel. — Right: Yo instruyo a los soldados en el cuartel. — Instruir is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. The form instruyo follows that pattern, not the plain stem plus -o.
- Wrong: Treating instruir and enseñar as identical in every context. — Right: Instruir means to instruct, while enseñar means to teach. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: instruir fits sentences such as Instruyo a los alumnos en el taller, while enseñar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy instruido a los soldados en el cuartel. — Right: Yo he instruido a los soldados en el cuartel. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he instruido, has instruido, ha instruido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo instruí a los empleados nuevos todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo instruía a los empleados nuevos todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (instruía), not the preterite. The preterite (instruí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on instruir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los alumnos en el taller. (present tense) A. instruyo B. instruyes C. instruye D. instruimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ a los soldados en el cuartel. (preterite) A. instruí B. instruiste C. instruimos D. instruyó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a los empleados nuevos. (imperfect) A. instruías B. instruyo C. instruíamos D. instruía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ al perro con paciencia. (future) A. instruiremos B. instruirás C. instruiré D. instruirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los alumnos en el taller si pudiera. (conditional) A. instruiría B. instruirías C. instruiríamos D. instruyo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a los soldados en el cuartel. (present subjunctive) A. instruyas B. instruyamos C. instruyo D. instruya
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a los empleados nuevos, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. instruyéramos B. instruyo C. instruyera D. instruyeras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ al perro con paciencia. (present perfect) A. ha instruido B. hemos instruido C. he instruido D. has instruido
Complete the command: ¡___ a los alumnos en el taller! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. instruye B. instruya C. instruyamos D. instruid
Which is the gerund of instruir, used with estar for the progressive? A. instruido B. instruyo C. instruí D. instruyendo
Answer key
- instruyo — The yo present tense of instruir is instruyo.
- instruyó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of instruir is instruyó.
- instruíamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of instruir is instruíamos.
- instruirás — The tú future of instruir is instruirás.
- instruiría — The yo conditional of instruir is instruiría.
- instruya — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of instruir is instruya.
- instruyera — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of instruir is instruyera.
- hemos instruido — The nosotros/as present perfect of instruir is hemos instruido.
- instruye — The affirmative tú imperative of instruir is instruye.
- instruyendo — The gerund of instruir is instruyendo: estoy instruyendo. The participle instruido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does instruir mean in English?
Instruir means to instruct. It is used in everyday situations such as Instruyo a los alumnos en el taller. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is instruir regular or irregular?
Instruir is a spelling-change verb: it is a -uir verb: the stem vowel i becomes y before a vowel ending, so the present is instruyo and instruye, and the gerund is instruyendo. The endings are regular, so once you know the pattern you can produce every form on this page, including instruyo in the present and instruí in the preterite.
What is the difference between instruir and enseñar?
Instruir means to instruct, while enseñar means to teach. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use instruir when you mean to instruct, as in Instruyo a los alumnos en el taller, and use enseñar for to teach. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I instruct” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo instruí a los soldados en el cuartel. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo instruía a los empleados nuevos. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he instruido a los soldados en el cuartel.
How do I practise instruir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the instruir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Instruir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for instruir.
- Instruir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for instruir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Ingerir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with instruir.
- Intuir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with instruir.
- Inducir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with instruir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.