Procurar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb procurar means to try to, to get, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Procurar means to try to or to get, and it covers trying to do something (procurar llegar a tiempo) and obtaining something for someone (procurar un trabajo). It takes an infinitive for the trying sense, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, procurar 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 procuro llegar a tiempo, and in the preterite you say procuré descansar este fin de semana. 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: procurar
- English: to try to, to get
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: procurando
- Past participle: procurado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + procurado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for procurar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Procurar plus an infinitive is to try to: procuro llegar a tiempo. It is stronger than intentar in formal Spanish.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for procurar. 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 | procuro |
| tú | procuras |
| él/ella/Ud. | procura |
| nosotros/as | procuramos |
| vosotros/as | procuráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuran |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | procuré |
| tú | procuraste |
| él/ella/Ud. | procuró |
| nosotros/as | procuramos |
| vosotros/as | procurasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuraron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | procuraba |
| tú | procurabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | procuraba |
| nosotros/as | procurábamos |
| vosotros/as | procurabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuraban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | procuraré |
| tú | procurarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | procurará |
| nosotros/as | procuraremos |
| vosotros/as | procuraréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procurarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | procuraría |
| tú | procurarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | procuraría |
| nosotros/as | procuraríamos |
| vosotros/as | procuraríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procurarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he procurado |
| tú | has procurado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha procurado |
| nosotros/as | hemos procurado |
| vosotros/as | habéis procurado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han procurado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había procurado |
| tú | habías procurado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había procurado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos procurado |
| vosotros/as | habíais procurado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían procurado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré procurado |
| tú | habrás procurado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá procurado |
| nosotros/as | habremos procurado |
| vosotros/as | habréis procurado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán procurado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría procurado |
| tú | habrías procurado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría procurado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos procurado |
| vosotros/as | habríais procurado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían procurado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | procure |
| tú | procures |
| él/ella/Ud. | procure |
| nosotros/as | procuremos |
| vosotros/as | procuréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuren |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | procurara |
| tú | procuraras |
| él/ella/Ud. | procurara |
| nosotros/as | procuráramos |
| vosotros/as | procurarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuraran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | procura |
| él/ella/Ud. | procure |
| nosotros/as | procuremos |
| vosotros/as | procurad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuren |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | procures |
| él/ella/Ud. | procure |
| nosotros/as | procuremos |
| vosotros/as | procuréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | procuren |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | procurando | with estar for the progressive: estoy procurando |
| Past participle | procurado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he procurado |
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 procurar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Procuro llegar a tiempo. 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 procurar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, procuré un trabajo para su hijo. 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 procurar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, procuraba descansar este fin de semana. 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 procurar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, procuraré hablar con el director. 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 procurar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Procuraría llegar a tiempo 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 procurar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he procurado un trabajo para su hijo. 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 procurar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había procurado descansar este fin de semana 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 procurar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré procurado hablar con el director. 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 procurar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría procurado llegar a tiempo 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 procurar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él procure un trabajo para su hijo. 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 procurar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él procurara descansar este fin de semana, 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 procurar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Procura hablar con el director! 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 procurar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No procures llegar a tiempo. 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 procurar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Procuro llegar a tiempo. — I try to arrive on time.
- Procura un trabajo para su hijo. — He/she tries a job for his son.
- Ayer, procuré descansar este fin de semana. — Yesterday, I tried to rest this weekend.
- Antes, nosotros procurábamos hablar con el director. — Before, we used to try to speak to the director.
- Mañana, tú procurarás llegar a tiempo. — Tomorrow, you will try to arrive on time.
- Yo procuraría un trabajo para su hijo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would try a job for his son if I had more time.
- Él ha procurado descansar este fin de semana. — He has tried to rest this weekend.
- Espero que él procure hablar con el director. — I hope he tries to speak to the director.
- Yo ya había procurado llegar a tiempo antes de salir. — I had already tried to arrive on time before leaving.
- Ellos procuraban un trabajo para su hijo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to try a job for his son when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo procura llegar a tiempo. — Right: Yo procuro llegar a tiempo. — The person matters: procura is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is procuro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo procuro un trabajo para su hijo. — Right: Ayer yo procuré un trabajo para su hijo. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: procuro is happening now, while procuré is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating procurar and intentar as identical in every context. — Right: Procurar means to try to, to get, while intentar means to try. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: procurar fits sentences such as Procuro llegar a tiempo, while intentar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy procurado un trabajo para su hijo. — Right: Yo he procurado un trabajo para su hijo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he procurado, has procurado, ha procurado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo procuré descansar este fin de semana todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo procuraba descansar este fin de semana todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (procuraba), not the preterite. The preterite (procuré) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on procurar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ llegar a tiempo. (present tense) A. procuro B. procuras C. procura D. procuramos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ un trabajo para su hijo. (preterite) A. procuré B. procuraste C. procuramos D. procuró
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ descansar este fin de semana. (imperfect) A. procurabas B. procuro C. procurábamos D. procuraba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ hablar con el director. (future) A. procuraremos B. procurarás C. procuraré D. procurará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ llegar a tiempo si pudiera. (conditional) A. procuraría B. procurarías C. procuraríamos D. procuro
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ un trabajo para su hijo. (present subjunctive) A. procures B. procuremos C. procuro D. procure
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ descansar este fin de semana, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. procuráramos B. procuro C. procurara D. procuraras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ hablar con el director. (present perfect) A. ha procurado B. hemos procurado C. he procurado D. has procurado
Complete the command: ¡___ llegar a tiempo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. procura B. procure C. procuremos D. procurad
Which is the gerund of procurar, used with estar for the progressive? A. procurado B. procuro C. procuré D. procurando
Answer key
- procuro — The yo present tense of procurar is procuro.
- procuró — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of procurar is procuró.
- procurábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of procurar is procurábamos.
- procurarás — The tú future of procurar is procurarás.
- procuraría — The yo conditional of procurar is procuraría.
- procure — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of procurar is procure.
- procurara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of procurar is procurara.
- hemos procurado — The nosotros/as present perfect of procurar is hemos procurado.
- procura — The affirmative tú imperative of procurar is procura.
- procurando — The gerund of procurar is procurando: estoy procurando. The participle procurado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does procurar mean in English?
Procurar means to try to, to get. It is used in everyday situations such as Procuro llegar a tiempo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is procurar regular or irregular?
Procurar 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 procuro in the present and procuré in the preterite.
What is the difference between procurar and intentar?
Procurar means to try to, to get, while intentar means to try. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use procurar when you mean to try to, to get, as in Procuro llegar a tiempo, and use intentar for to try. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I try to” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo procuré un trabajo para su hijo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo procuraba descansar este fin de semana. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he procurado un trabajo para su hijo.
How do I practise procurar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the procurar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Procurar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for procurar.
- Procurar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for procurar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Progresar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with procurar.
- Presenciar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with procurar.
- Prolongar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with procurar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.