Introduction

Razonar means “to reason”, and this page covers exactly one thing: razonar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for razonar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about razonar in the present. Razonar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo razono con calma” — "I reason calmly". Everything on this page uses the forms of razonar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Razonar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo razono
tú razonas
él/ella/Ud. razona
nosotros/as razonamos
vosotros/as razonáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. razonan

Gerund: razonando · Past participle: razonado

The gerund is razonando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy razonando” means the action of razonar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is razonado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he razonado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how razonar is used.

How the present of razonar is formed

Razonar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem razon and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving razono, razonas, razona, razonamos, razonáis, razonan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, razonáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of razonar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form razonáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form razono is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of razonar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use razonar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, razonar goes in the present. Example: “Yo razono sobre el problema” — "I reason about the problem".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about razonar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Antes de decidir, él razona” — "Before deciding, he reasons".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so razono can mean both "I reason" and "I am reasoning". Example: “Yo razono con calma” — "I reason calmly".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros razonamos sobre el problema” — "We reason about the problem".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with razonar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Antes de decidir, él razona” — "Before deciding, he reasons".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo razono con calma” — "I reason calmly".

  • Preterite: “Yo razoné con calma” — "I reasoned calmly".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él razona sobre el problema” — "He reasons about the problem".

  • Preterite: “Él razonó sobre el problema” — "He reasoned about the problem".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Antes de decidir, nosotros razonamos” — "Before deciding, we reason".

  • Preterite: “Antes de decidir, nosotros razonamos” — "Before deciding, we reasoned".

  • The two sentences look identical: razonamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: razonar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo razono sobre el problema” — "I reason about the problem"

  2. “Antes de decidir, tú razonas” — "Before deciding, you reason"

  3. “Él razona con calma” — "He reasons calmly"

  4. “Nosotros razonamos sobre el problema” — "We reason about the problem"

  5. “Antes de decidir, vosotros razonáis” — "Before deciding, you reason"

  6. “Ellos razonan con calma” — "They reason calmly"

  7. “Yo razono sobre el problema” — "I reason about the problem"

  8. “Antes de decidir, él razona” — "Before deciding, he reasons"

Common mistakes with razonar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos razona con calma” Right: “Ellos razonan con calma” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form razonan. The singular razona belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo razoné” Right: “Todos los días, yo razono” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (razoné) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo razona con calma.” Right: “Yo razono con calma” Why: Yo needs the yo form razono. The él form razona belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo razono” Right: “Ayer, yo razoné” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to razoné.

Quiz: razonar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ con calma.” (yo form)

A. razonas B. razonáis C. razono D. razona

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ sobre el problema.” (tú form)

A. razonamos B. razono C. razonan D. razonas

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ con calma.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. razona B. razono C. razonas D. razonamos

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ sobre el problema.” (nosotros/as form)

A. razonáis B. razonamos C. razona D. razonas

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ con calma.” (vosotros/as form)

A. razonáis B. razonamos C. razonan D. razono

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ sobre el problema.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. razona B. razonan C. razonas D. razonamos

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo razono B. Todos los días, yo razoné

Answer key

  1. razono — The yo present of razonar is razono.
  2. razonas — The tú present of razonar is razonas.
  3. razona — The él/ella/Ud. present of razonar is razona.
  4. razonamos — The nosotros/as present of razonar is razonamos.
  5. razonáis — The vosotros/as present of razonar is razonáis.
  6. razonan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of razonar is razonan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo razono — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of razonar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo razono con calma. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of razonar formed?

Take the stem razon- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving razono, razonas, razona, razonamos, razonáis, razonan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for razonar?

The present (razono) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (razoné) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise razonar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — razono, razonas, razona, razonamos, razonáis, razonan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the razonar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of razonar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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