Introduction

Rebajar means “to reduce”, and this page covers exactly one thing: rebajar 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 rebajar, 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 rebajar in the present. Rebajar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo rebajo el precio” — "I reduce the price". Everything on this page uses the forms of rebajar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Rebajar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo rebajo
tú rebajas
él/ella/Ud. rebaja
nosotros/as rebajamos
vosotros/as rebajáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rebajan

Gerund: rebajando · Past participle: rebajado

The gerund is rebajando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy rebajando” means the action of rebajar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is rebajado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he rebajado” 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 rebajar is used.

How the present of rebajar is formed

Rebajar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem rebaj and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving rebajo, rebajas, rebaja, rebajamos, rebajáis, rebajan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, rebajáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of rebajar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form rebajáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form rebajo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of rebajar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use rebajar 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, rebajar goes in the present. Example: “Yo rebajo los precios en enero” — "I reduce prices in January".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about rebajar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él rebaja un diez por ciento” — "He reduces by ten per cent".

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 rebajo can mean both "I reduce" and "I am reducing". Example: “Yo rebajo el precio” — "I reduce the price".

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 rebajamos los precios en enero” — "We reduce prices in January".

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 rebajar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él rebaja un diez por ciento” — "He reduces by ten per cent".

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 rebajo el precio” — "I reduce the price".

  • Preterite: “Yo rebajé el precio” — "I reduced the price".

  • 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 rebaja los precios en enero” — "He reduces prices in January".

  • Preterite: “Él rebajó los precios en enero” — "He reduced prices in January".

  • 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: “Nosotros rebajamos un diez por ciento” — "We reduce by ten per cent".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros rebajamos un diez por ciento” — "We reduced by ten per cent".

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

Example sentences: rebajar 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 rebajo los precios en enero” — "I reduce prices in January"

  2. “Tú rebajas un diez por ciento” — "You reduce by ten per cent"

  3. “Él rebaja el precio” — "He reduces the price"

  4. “Nosotros rebajamos los precios en enero” — "We reduce prices in January"

  5. “Vosotros rebajáis un diez por ciento” — "You reduce by ten per cent"

  6. “Ellos rebajan el precio” — "They reduce the price"

  7. “Yo rebajo los precios en enero” — "I reduce prices in January"

  8. “Él rebaja un diez por ciento” — "He reduces by ten per cent"

Common mistakes with rebajar 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 rebaja el precio” Right: “Ellos rebajan el precio” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form rebajan. The singular rebaja belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

  • Wrong: “Yo rebaja el precio.” Right: “Yo rebajo el precio” Why: Yo needs the yo form rebajo. The él form rebaja belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

Quiz: rebajar 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 ___ un diez por ciento.” (yo form)

A. rebajas B. rebajo C. rebajáis D. rebaja

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

A. rebajas B. rebajo C. rebaja D. rebajáis

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ los precios en enero.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. rebajáis B. rebaja C. rebajas D. rebajamos

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ un diez por ciento.” (nosotros/as form)

A. rebajamos B. rebajáis C. rebaja D. rebajo

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

A. rebajo B. rebaja C. rebajáis D. rebajamos

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ los precios en enero.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. rebajo B. rebajan C. rebajamos D. rebajas

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 rebajo B. Todos los días, yo rebajé

Answer key

  1. rebajo — The yo present of rebajar is rebajo.
  2. rebajas — The tú present of rebajar is rebajas.
  3. rebaja — The él/ella/Ud. present of rebajar is rebaja.
  4. rebajamos — The nosotros/as present of rebajar is rebajamos.
  5. rebajáis — The vosotros/as present of rebajar is rebajáis.
  6. rebajan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of rebajar is rebajan.
  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 rebajo — 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 rebajar?

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

How is the present of rebajar formed?

Take the stem rebaj- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving rebajo, rebajas, rebaja, rebajamos, rebajáis, rebajan.

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

The present (rebajo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (rebajé) 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 rebajar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — rebajo, rebajas, rebaja, rebajamos, rebajáis, rebajan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the rebajar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of rebajar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

Related links