Introduction

Learning to conjugate reflexionar — “to reflect” — opens up a whole set of sentences you will use in real Spanish. Whether you are talking about what you do every day, what happened yesterday, or what you plan to do tomorrow, reflexionar is one of the verbs that carries those sentences, especially when the topic is about the problem. On this page you will find the full conjugation of reflexionar in all thirteen tenses, notes on when to use each one, example sentences, the mistakes learners make most often, a ten-question quiz and answers to the questions students ask about this verb. reflexionar is a regular -ar verb; the gerund is reflexionando and the past participle is reflexionado, and both appear in the tables and examples below. For example: “Yo reflexiono sobre el problema todos los días.” — “I reflect about the problem.” Read the tables first, then the notes, and finish with the quiz to check what you have learned.

Quick facts
Infinitive reflexionar
English to reflect
Verb type Regular -ar verb
Gerund reflexionando
Past participle reflexionado
Auxiliary verb haber

Full conjugation tables

Gerund: reflexionando · Past participle: reflexionado

Present Indicative

Person Form
yo reflexiono
tú reflexionas
él/ella/Ud. reflexiona
nosotros/as reflexionamos
vosotros/as reflexionáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionan

The present tense describes habits, facts and what is happening now. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexiono, as in “Yo reflexiono sobre el problema.” — “I reflect about the problem.”

Preterite

Person Form
yo reflexioné
tú reflexionaste
él/ella/Ud. reflexionó
nosotros/as reflexionamos
vosotros/as reflexionasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionaron

The preterite describes completed actions in the past — things that started and finished. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexioné, as in “Yo reflexioné sobre el problema.” — “I reflected about the problem.”

Imperfect

Person Form
yo reflexionaba
tú reflexionabas
él/ella/Ud. reflexionaba
nosotros/as reflexionábamos
vosotros/as reflexionabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionaban

The imperfect describes the past as background: habits, descriptions and actions in progress. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexionaba, as in “Yo reflexionaba sobre el problema.” — “I used to reflect about the problem.”

Future

Person Form
yo reflexionaré
tú reflexionarás
él/ella/Ud. reflexionará
nosotros/as reflexionaremos
vosotros/as reflexionaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionarán

The future tense states what will happen. It is also used for predictions and promises. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexionaré, as in “Yo reflexionaré sobre el problema.” — “I will reflect about the problem.”

Conditional

Person Form
yo reflexionaría
tú reflexionarías
él/ella/Ud. reflexionaría
nosotros/as reflexionaríamos
vosotros/as reflexionaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionarían

The conditional expresses what would happen: wishes, polite requests and hypothetical results. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexionaría, as in “Yo reflexionaría sobre el problema.” — “I would reflect about the problem.”

Present Perfect

Person Form
yo he reflexionado
tú has reflexionado
él/ella/Ud. ha reflexionado
nosotros/as hemos reflexionado
vosotros/as habéis reflexionado
ellos/ellas/Uds. han reflexionado

The present perfect connects the past with the present: something that has happened, often today or recently. For reflexionar, the yo form is he reflexionado, as in “Yo he reflexionado sobre el problema.” — “I have reflected about the problem.”

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había reflexionado
tú habías reflexionado
él/ella/Ud. había reflexionado
nosotros/as habíamos reflexionado
vosotros/as habíais reflexionado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían reflexionado

The pluperfect describes an event that happened before another past event. For reflexionar, the yo form is había reflexionado, as in “Yo había reflexionado sobre el problema.” — “I had reflected about the problem.”

Future Perfect

Person Form
yo habré reflexionado
tú habrás reflexionado
él/ella/Ud. habrá reflexionado
nosotros/as habremos reflexionado
vosotros/as habréis reflexionado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán reflexionado

The future perfect describes something that will already be finished by a future moment. For reflexionar, the yo form is habré reflexionado, as in “Yo habré reflexionado sobre el problema.” — “I will have reflected about the problem.”

Conditional Perfect

Person Form
yo habría reflexionado
tú habrías reflexionado
él/ella/Ud. habría reflexionado
nosotros/as habríamos reflexionado
vosotros/as habríais reflexionado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían reflexionado

The conditional perfect describes what would have happened under different conditions. For reflexionar, the yo form is habría reflexionado, as in “Yo habría reflexionado sobre el problema.” — “I would have reflected about the problem.”

Present Subjunctive

Person Form
yo reflexione
tú reflexiones
él/ella/Ud. reflexione
nosotros/as reflexionemos
vosotros/as reflexionéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionen

The present subjunctive is used after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and influence. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexione, as in “Espero que yo reflexione sobre el problema.” — “I hope that I reflect about the problem.”

Imperfect Subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo reflexionara
tú reflexionaras
él/ella/Ud. reflexionara
nosotros/as reflexionáramos
vosotros/as reflexionarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. reflexionaran

The imperfect subjunctive is used in the past versions of subjunctive clauses, and after "si" in hypothetical sentences. For reflexionar, the yo form is reflexionara, as in “Si yo reflexionara sobre el problema, ...” — “If I reflected about the problem, ...”

The -se variant of this tense follows the same pattern with -se instead of -ra: reflexionara becomes reflexionase, and the same change applies to every person. Both variants mean the same thing; -ra is more common in everyday speech.

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú reflexiona
Ud. reflexione
nosotros/as reflexionemos
vosotros/as reflexionad
Uds. reflexionen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú reflexiones
Ud. reflexione
nosotros/as reflexionemos
vosotros/as reflexionéis
Uds. reflexionen

The imperative is for orders, requests and advice. The affirmative tú form is reflexiona, as in “¡Reflexiona sobre el problema” — “Reflect about the problem” For the negative imperative, Spanish uses the subjunctive forms: no reflexiones. Note that the affirmative and negative forms differ, so check the table above before you give an order with reflexionar.

Example sentences

Here are ten sentences with reflexionar, covering different tenses and persons. Read each one out loud, then read the translation, and notice how the verb form changes while the meaning stays the same.

  1. “Yo reflexiono sobre el problema cada día.” — “I reflect about the problem.”
  2. “Él reflexiona sobre el problema todos los días.” — “He reflects about the problem.”
  3. “Yo reflexioné sobre el problema ayer.” — “I reflected about the problem.”
  4. “Él reflexionó sobre el problema ayer.” — “He reflected about the problem.”
  5. “Yo reflexionaba sobre el problema cuando era joven.” — “I used to reflect about the problem.”
  6. “Nosotros reflexionaremos sobre el problema mañana.” — “We will reflect about the problem.”
  7. “Si pudiera, yo reflexionaría sobre el problema.” — “If I could, i would reflect about the problem.”
  8. “Yo he reflexionado sobre el problema hoy.” — “I have reflected about the problem.”
  9. “Espero que yo reflexione sobre el problema.” — “I hope that I reflect about the problem.”
  10. “estoy reflexionando sobre el problema ahora mismo.” — “I am reflecting about the problem.”

Common mistakes

Forgetting the accent in the preterite

The yo preterite form is reflexioné, with an accent on the stressed vowel. Writing it without the accent — reflexione — is a spelling error, and in speech the stress lands in the wrong place. Preterite yo forms that end in a vowel carry that accent, so check it every time you write the preterite of reflexionar.

Mixing up present and preterite nosotros

For reflexionar, the nosotros form is the same in the present and the preterite: reflexionamos. Only the context tells you which tense is meant, so pay attention to the time words around it — cada día points to the present, ayer points to the preterite. Do not invent a different form for one of the tenses.

Using ser instead of haber in perfect tenses

Spanish perfect tenses always use haber, never ser: yo he reflexionado sobre el problema. English speakers sometimes reach for soy because English uses to be in some passives, but soy reflexionado is not the present perfect of reflexionar — it is a passive construction with a different meaning.

Confusing reflexionar with reformar

reflexionar and reformar look similar, and learners mix them up. They are different verbs with different meanings, so check which one the sentence needs before you conjugate. If you can substitute the English meaning of reflexionar — reflect — the sentence needs reflexionar; if it needs the meaning of reformar, use that verb instead.

Using the indicative after "espero que"

After espero que (I hope that), Spanish needs the subjunctive: Espero que yo reflexione sobre el problema. Using the indicative — Espero que yo reflexiono — is one of the most frequent learner errors with reflexionar. Whenever the main clause expresses a wish, doubt or emotion, switch to the subjunctive.

Quiz

Test yourself on the forms above. Choose the best answer, then check the key below.

1. What is the yo form of reflexionar in the present?

  • A. reflexionas
  • B. reflexiona
  • C. reflexionamos
  • D. reflexiono

2. What is the tu form of reflexionar in the preterite?

  • A. reflexionamos
  • B. reflexionaste
  • C. reflexioné
  • D. reflexionó

3. What is the el form of reflexionar in the imperfect?

  • A. reflexionabas
  • B. reflexionábamos
  • C. reflexionabais
  • D. reflexionaba

4. What is the nosotros form of reflexionar in the future?

  • A. reflexionará
  • B. reflexionaremos
  • C. reflexionaré
  • D. reflexionarás

5. What is the vosotros form of reflexionar in the present perfect?

  • A. he reflexionado
  • B. has reflexionado
  • C. ha reflexionado
  • D. habéis reflexionado

6. What is the ellos form of reflexionar in the present subjunctive?

  • A. reflexione
  • B. reflexionen
  • C. reflexione
  • D. reflexiones

7. What is the yo form of reflexionar in the preterite?

  • A. reflexionaste
  • B. reflexionó
  • C. reflexionamos
  • D. reflexioné

8. What is the tu form of reflexionar in the imperfect?

  • A. reflexionábamos
  • B. reflexionabas
  • C. reflexionaba
  • D. reflexionaba

9. What is the el form of reflexionar in the future?

  • A. reflexionaré
  • B. reflexionarás
  • C. reflexionaremos
  • D. reflexionará

10. What is the nosotros form of reflexionar in the conditional?

  • A. reflexionaría
  • B. reflexionaríamos
  • C. reflexionaría
  • D. reflexionarías

Answer key

  1. reflexiono — The present table gives yo = reflexiono.
  2. reflexionaste — The preterite table gives tu = reflexionaste.
  3. reflexionaba — The imperfect table gives el = reflexionaba.
  4. reflexionaremos — The future table gives nosotros = reflexionaremos.
  5. habéis reflexionado — The present perfect table gives vosotros = habéis reflexionado.
  6. reflexionen — The present subjunctive table gives ellos = reflexionen.
  7. reflexioné — The preterite table gives yo = reflexioné.
  8. reflexionabas — The imperfect table gives tu = reflexionabas.
  9. reflexionará — The future table gives el = reflexionará.
  10. reflexionaríamos — The conditional table gives nosotros = reflexionaríamos.

Frequently asked questions

Is reflexionar regular or irregular?

reflexionar is a regular -ar verb. It follows the regular patterns for its ending in every tense. The tables on this page show the correct form for every person, so use them rather than guessing.

What is the past participle of reflexionar?

The past participle of reflexionar is reflexionado. You use it with haber in the perfect tenses — he reflexionado, había reflexionado, habré reflexionado — and after estar in passive-style descriptions. It is the regular participle for its verb class. Learn it together with the gerund reflexionando and you have the two non-finite forms covered.

What is the gerund of reflexionar?

The gerund of reflexionar is reflexionando. You use it with estar to describe an action in progress, as in estoy reflexionando, and after verbs such as seguir and ir. Keep it distinct from the past participle reflexionado, which belongs with haber, not with estar.

What is the yo form of reflexionar in the present?

The yo form is reflexiono — “Yo reflexiono sobre el problema.” means “I reflect about the problem.” That is the form you will use most often when you talk about yourself. For other persons, use the present table above: tú reflexionas, él reflexiona, nosotros reflexionamos, ellos reflexionan.

What is the difference between reflexionar and reformar?

reflexionar means “to reflect”, while reformar means “to reform, to renovate”. They share letters and sometimes a root, but they are different verbs. If your sentence means “to reflect”, use reflexionar; if it is about the meaning of reformar, use reformar instead. Checking the English meaning first prevents most mix-ups.

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