Introduction
Precisar means “to need, to specify”, and it is one of the verbs you will use again and again in Spanish. Precisar means to need or to specify, and it has two uses: precisar algo is to need something (a formal synonym of necesitar), and precisar un dato is to give an exact detail. Context tells you which meaning is meant, and both are common in formal and work Spanish. This page shows precisar in real sentences, in short dialogues, and in the mistakes learners make most often, and it finishes with a ten-question quiz so you can test yourself. Every sentence below comes with its English translation, and every form is the correct present-tense form unless the sentence is clearly marked as past or future. For a first taste: “Preciso más tiempo para el informe.” — I need more time for the report.
Precisar in real example sentences
The twelve sentences below are grouped by how precisar is used. Read each one out loud, then read the translation. If a sentence feels useful, copy it into your own notebook with one small change — a different time, a different person, a different place — and you have a new sentence of your own.
In the present: everyday use
These sentences use precisar in the present tense, which is how you will meet it most often: routines, facts, and things happening now.
“Preciso más tiempo para el informe.” — I need more time for the report.
“¿Precisas la fecha exacta del examen?” — Do you need the exact date of the exam?
“Precisa ayuda con el proyecto.” — He/she needs help with the project.
“Nosotros precisamos los detalles del contrato.” — We need the details of the contract.
Talking about the past
The present is not the only tense you need. These sentences show precisar in the past, so you can talk about what already happened.
“Ayer, yo precisé más tiempo para el informe.” — Yesterday, I needed more time for the report. (preterite)
“Antes, él precisaba la fecha exacta del examen.” — Before, he used to need the exact date of the exam. (imperfect)
Plans and things already done
These sentences look forward, or look back at something already finished. Notice how the verb form changes while the meaning of precisar stays the same.
“Mañana, nosotros precisaremos ayuda con el proyecto.” — Tomorrow, we will need help with the project. (future)
“¿Tú has precisado los detalles del contrato?” — Have you needed the details of the contract? (present perfect)
More everyday uses
Four more present-tense sentences, covering the remaining persons, so you can see the whole table in action.
“Vosotros precisáis más tiempo para el informe.” — You need more time for the report.
“Ellos precisan la fecha exacta del examen.” — They need the exact date of the exam.
“Yo preciso ayuda con el proyecto.” — I need help with the project.
“Mi padre precisa los detalles del contrato.” — My father needs the details of the contract.
Precisar in context
Single sentences teach you the forms. Dialogues teach you when to use them. Read the short conversation below, then the paragraph that follows, and notice how precisar appears naturally, without anyone stopping to think about conjugation.
A short dialogue
Marta: “¿Tú precisas la fecha exacta del examen?” — Do you need the exact date of the exam?
Pedro: “Sí, yo preciso más tiempo para el informe.” — Yes, I need more time for the report.
Marta: “Nosotros precisamos los detalles del contrato.” — We need the details of the contract.
Pedro: “Y ellos precisan la fecha exacta del examen.” — And they need the exact date of the exam.
Marta: “Vosotros precisáis ayuda con el proyecto.” — You need help with the project.
Pedro: “Sí, y él precisa más tiempo para el informe.” — Yes, and he needs more time for the report.
A short paragraph
Precisa más tiempo para el informe, y nosotros precisamos los detalles del contrato. Yo preciso la fecha exacta del examen, y ellos precisan ayuda con el proyecto. Precisar is part of everyday life, because need, to specify is something people do in work, at home and with friends, in the present, the past and the future.
Common mistakes with precisar
These are the errors learners actually make with precisar. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.
Wrong: “Yo precisa más tiempo para el informe.” Right: “Yo preciso más tiempo para el informe.” Why: The person matters: precisa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is preciso. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
Wrong: “Ayer yo preciso la fecha exacta del examen.” Right: “Ayer yo precisé la fecha exacta del examen.” Why: The present and the preterite are different tenses: preciso is happening now, while precisé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
Wrong: “Treating precisar and necesitar as identical in every context.” Right: “Precisar means to need, to specify, while necesitar means to need.” Why: They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: precisar fits sentences such as Preciso más tiempo para el informe, while necesitar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
Wrong: “Yo soy precisado la fecha exacta del examen.” Right: “Yo he precisado la fecha exacta del examen.” Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he precisado, has precisado, ha precisado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
Wrong: “De niño, yo precisé ayuda con el proyecto todos los días.” Right: “De niño, yo precisaba ayuda con el proyecto todos los días.” Why: For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (precisaba), not the preterite. The preterite (precisé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: precisar in use
Ten questions on precisar in real sentences. Choose the correct answer for each one, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained.
1. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ______ más tiempo para el informe.” (You need more time for the report.)
- (a) precisáis
- (b) preciso
- (c) precisas
Answer: precisáis — The vosotros/as form of precisar in the present tense is precisáis.
2. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ______ la fecha exacta del examen.” (They need the exact date of the exam.)
- (a) precisas
- (b) precisan
- (c) preciso
Answer: precisan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. form of precisar in the present tense is precisan.
3. Complete the sentence (preterite): “Ayer yo ______ más tiempo para el informe.” (Yesterday I needed more time for the report.)
- (a) precisaste
- (b) precisó
- (c) precisé
Answer: precisé — In the preterite, the yo form of precisar is precisé.
4. Complete the sentence (imperfect): “Antes, él ______ la fecha exacta del examen.” (Before, he used to need the exact date of the exam.)
- (a) precisaba
- (b) preciso
- (c) precisabas
Answer: precisaba — In the imperfect, the él/ella/Ud. form of precisar is precisaba.
5. Complete the sentence (future): “Mañana, nosotros ______ ayuda con el proyecto.” (Tomorrow we will need help with the project.)
- (a) precisarás
- (b) precisaremos
- (c) precisaré
Answer: precisaremos — In the future, the nosotros/as form of precisar is precisaremos.
6. What does precisar mean in English?
- (a) to need, to specify
- (b) to irritate
- (c) to need
Answer: to need, to specify — Precisar means “to need, to specify”. The other options are the meanings of different verbs.
7. Which sentence is correct?
- (a) Yo precisa más tiempo para el informe.
- (b) Ellos precisa la fecha exacta del examen.
- (c) Yo preciso más tiempo para el informe.
Answer: Yo preciso más tiempo para el informe. — “Yo preciso más tiempo para el informe.” is correct. The other two sentences contain the mistakes explained in the section above.
8. How do you say “I need more time for the report.” in Spanish?
- (a) Mi padre precisa los detalles del contrato.
- (b) Preciso más tiempo para el informe.
- (c) Precisan más tiempo para el informe.
Answer: Preciso más tiempo para el informe. — “Preciso más tiempo para el informe.” is the correct translation.
9. What is the nosotros form of precisar in the present tense?
- (a) preciso
- (b) precisas
- (c) precisamos
Answer: precisamos — The nosotros form is precisamos.
10. Which of these sentences is in the present tense?
- (a) Mañana, nosotros precisaremos ayuda con el proyecto.
- (b) Preciso más tiempo para el informe.
- (c) Ayer, yo precisé más tiempo para el informe.
Answer: Preciso más tiempo para el informe. — “Preciso más tiempo para el informe.” is in the present tense. The other two are in the preterite and the future.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I need more time for the report' in Spanish?
Say 'Preciso más tiempo para el informe'. For a routine, add a time expression: 'Preciso más tiempo para el informe todos los días'.
How do you say 'He needs the exact date of the exam' in Spanish?
Say 'Él precisa la fecha exacta del examen'. The subject comes first, and the verb agrees with it: él takes precisa.
What is the difference between precisar and necesitar?
Precisar means to need, to specify, while necesitar means to need. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use precisar when you mean to need, to specify, as in 'Preciso más tiempo para el informe', and use necesitar for to need.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of precisar — every tense of precisar in one place.
- Precisar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Spanish verbs — the hub for every Spanish verb on VerbFlow.
- Verb quiz — test yourself on precisar and other verbs.
- Conjugation practice — drill the forms of precisar until they are automatic.