Precisar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb precisar means to need, to specify, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. 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. Like every Spanish verb, precisar 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 preciso más tiempo para el informe, and in the preterite you say precisé ayuda con el proyecto. 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: precisar
- English: to need, to specify
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: precisando
- Past participle: precisado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + precisado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for precisar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Precisar is fully regular: precisé, precisaba, precisaré. Precisar una fecha is to state it exactly.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for precisar. 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 | preciso |
| tú | precisas |
| él/ella/Ud. | precisa |
| nosotros/as | precisamos |
| vosotros/as | precisáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precisé |
| tú | precisaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | precisó |
| nosotros/as | precisamos |
| vosotros/as | precisasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precisaba |
| tú | precisabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | precisaba |
| nosotros/as | precisábamos |
| vosotros/as | precisabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precisaré |
| tú | precisarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | precisará |
| nosotros/as | precisaremos |
| vosotros/as | precisaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precisaría |
| tú | precisarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | precisaría |
| nosotros/as | precisaríamos |
| vosotros/as | precisaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he precisado |
| tú | has precisado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha precisado |
| nosotros/as | hemos precisado |
| vosotros/as | habéis precisado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han precisado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había precisado |
| tú | habías precisado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había precisado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos precisado |
| vosotros/as | habíais precisado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían precisado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré precisado |
| tú | habrás precisado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá precisado |
| nosotros/as | habremos precisado |
| vosotros/as | habréis precisado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán precisado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría precisado |
| tú | habrías precisado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría precisado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos precisado |
| vosotros/as | habríais precisado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían precisado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precise |
| tú | precises |
| él/ella/Ud. | precise |
| nosotros/as | precisemos |
| vosotros/as | preciséis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precisara |
| tú | precisaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | precisara |
| nosotros/as | precisáramos |
| vosotros/as | precisarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | precisa |
| él/ella/Ud. | precise |
| nosotros/as | precisemos |
| vosotros/as | precisad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | precises |
| él/ella/Ud. | precise |
| nosotros/as | precisemos |
| vosotros/as | preciséis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precisen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | precisando | with estar for the progressive: estoy precisando |
| Past participle | precisado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he precisado |
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 precisar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Preciso más tiempo para el informe. 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 precisar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, precisé la fecha exacta del examen. 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 precisar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, precisaba ayuda con el proyecto. 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 precisar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, precisaré los detalles del contrato. 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 precisar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Precisaría más tiempo para el informe 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 precisar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he precisado la fecha exacta del examen. 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 precisar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había precisado ayuda con el proyecto 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 precisar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré precisado los detalles del contrato. 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 precisar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría precisado más tiempo para el informe 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 precisar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él precise la fecha exacta del examen. 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 precisar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él precisara ayuda con el proyecto, 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 precisar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Precisa los detalles del contrato! 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 precisar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No precises más tiempo para el informe. 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 precisar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Preciso más tiempo para el informe. — I need more time for the report.
- Precisa la fecha exacta del examen. — He/she needs the exact date of the exam.
- Ayer, precisé ayuda con el proyecto. — Yesterday, I needed help with the project.
- Antes, nosotros precisábamos los detalles del contrato. — Before, we used to need the details of the contract.
- Mañana, tú precisarás más tiempo para el informe. — Tomorrow, you will need more time for the report.
- Yo precisaría la fecha exacta del examen si tuviera más tiempo. — I would need the exact date of the exam if I had more time.
- Él ha precisado ayuda con el proyecto. — He has needed help with the project.
- Espero que él precise los detalles del contrato. — I hope he needs the details of the contract.
- Yo ya había precisado más tiempo para el informe antes de salir. — I had already needed more time for the report before leaving.
- Ellos precisaban la fecha exacta del examen cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to need the exact date of the exam when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo precisa más tiempo para el informe. — Right: Yo preciso más tiempo para el informe. — 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. — 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. — 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. — 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. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (precisaba), not the preterite. The preterite (precisé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on precisar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ más tiempo para el informe. (present tense) A. preciso B. precisas C. precisa D. precisamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la fecha exacta del examen. (preterite) A. precisé B. precisaste C. precisamos D. precisó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ ayuda con el proyecto. (imperfect) A. precisabas B. preciso C. precisábamos D. precisaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ los detalles del contrato. (future) A. precisaremos B. precisarás C. precisaré D. precisará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ más tiempo para el informe si pudiera. (conditional) A. precisaría B. precisarías C. precisaríamos D. preciso
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la fecha exacta del examen. (present subjunctive) A. precises B. precisemos C. preciso D. precise
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ ayuda con el proyecto, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. precisáramos B. preciso C. precisara D. precisaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ los detalles del contrato. (present perfect) A. ha precisado B. hemos precisado C. he precisado D. has precisado
Complete the command: ¡___ más tiempo para el informe! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. precisa B. precise C. precisemos D. precisad
Which is the gerund of precisar, used with estar for the progressive? A. precisado B. preciso C. precisé D. precisando
Answer key
- preciso — The yo present tense of precisar is preciso.
- precisó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of precisar is precisó.
- precisábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of precisar is precisábamos.
- precisarás — The tú future of precisar is precisarás.
- precisaría — The yo conditional of precisar is precisaría.
- precise — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of precisar is precise.
- precisara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of precisar is precisara.
- hemos precisado — The nosotros/as present perfect of precisar is hemos precisado.
- precisa — The affirmative tú imperative of precisar is precisa.
- precisando — The gerund of precisar is precisando: estoy precisando. The participle precisado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does precisar mean in English?
Precisar means to need, to specify. It is used in everyday situations such as Preciso más tiempo para el informe. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is precisar regular or irregular?
Precisar 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 preciso in the present and precisé in the preterite.
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. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I need” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo precisé la fecha exacta del examen. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo precisaba ayuda con el proyecto. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he precisado la fecha exacta del examen.
How do I practise precisar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the precisar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Precisar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for precisar.
- Precisar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for precisar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Irritar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with precisar.
- Preservar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with precisar.
- Involucrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with precisar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.