Retroceder Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb retroceder means to go back, to reverse, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Retroceder means to go back or to reverse, and it is used for reversing a car, going back on a decision and a situation getting worse. It is fully regular, and it is the opposite of adelantar in driving contexts. Like every Spanish verb, retroceder 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 retrocedo con el coche en el garaje, and in the preterite you say retrocedí hasta la puerta sin mirar. 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: retroceder
  • English: to go back, to reverse
  • Verb type: regular -er verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: retrocediendo
  • Past participle: retrocedido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + retrocedido)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for retroceder, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Retroceder is fully regular: retrocedí, retrocedía, retrocederé. Retroceder en una decisión is to go back on it.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for retroceder. 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 retrocedo
tú retrocedes
él/ella/Ud. retrocede
nosotros/as retrocedemos
vosotros/as retrocedéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retroceden

Preterite

Person Form
yo retrocedí
tú retrocediste
él/ella/Ud. retrocedió
nosotros/as retrocedimos
vosotros/as retrocedisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocedieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo retrocedía
tú retrocedías
él/ella/Ud. retrocedía
nosotros/as retrocedíamos
vosotros/as retrocedíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocedían

Future

Person Form
yo retrocederé
tú retrocederás
él/ella/Ud. retrocederá
nosotros/as retrocederemos
vosotros/as retrocederéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocederán

Conditional

Person Form
yo retrocedería
tú retrocederías
él/ella/Ud. retrocedería
nosotros/as retrocederíamos
vosotros/as retrocederíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocederían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo retroceda
tú retrocedas
él/ella/Ud. retroceda
nosotros/as retrocedamos
vosotros/as retrocedáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocedan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo retrocediera
tú retrocedieras
él/ella/Ud. retrocediera
nosotros/as retrocediéramos
vosotros/as retrocedierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocedieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú retrocede
él/ella/Ud. retroceda
nosotros/as retrocedamos
vosotros/as retroceded
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocedan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú retrocedas
él/ella/Ud. retroceda
nosotros/as retrocedamos
vosotros/as retrocedáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retrocedan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund retrocediendo with estar for the progressive: estoy retrocediendo
Past participle retrocedido with haber for the perfect tenses: he retrocedido

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 retroceder, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Retrocedo con el coche en el garaje. 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 retroceder, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, retrocedí en su decisión tras la reunión. 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 retroceder, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, retrocedía hasta la puerta sin mirar. 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 retroceder, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, retrocederé poco a poco por el pasillo. 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 retroceder, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Retrocedería con el coche en el garaje 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 retroceder, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he retrocedido en su decisión tras la reunión. 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 retroceder, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había retrocedido hasta la puerta sin mirar 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 retroceder, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré retrocedido poco a poco por el pasillo. 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 retroceder, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría retrocedido con el coche en el garaje 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 retroceder, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él retroceda en su decisión tras la reunión. 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 retroceder, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él retrocediera hasta la puerta sin mirar, 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 retroceder, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Retrocede poco a poco por el pasillo! 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 retroceder, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No retrocedas con el coche en el garaje. 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 retroceder, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Retrocedo con el coche en el garaje. — I go back with the car in the garage.
  2. Retrocede en su decisión tras la reunión. — He/she goes back on his decision after the meeting.
  3. Ayer, retrocedí hasta la puerta sin mirar. — Yesterday, I went back to the door without looking.
  4. Antes, nosotros retrocedíamos poco a poco por el pasillo. — Before, we used to go back little by little down the corridor.
  5. Mañana, tú retrocederás con el coche en el garaje. — Tomorrow, you will go back with the car in the garage.
  6. Yo retrocedería en su decisión tras la reunión si tuviera más tiempo. — I would go back on his decision after the meeting if I had more time.
  7. Él ha retrocedido hasta la puerta sin mirar. — He has gone back to the door without looking.
  8. Espero que él retroceda poco a poco por el pasillo. — I hope he goes back little by little down the corridor.
  9. Yo ya había retrocedido con el coche en el garaje antes de salir. — I had already gone back with the car in the garage before leaving.
  10. Ellos retrocedían en su decisión tras la reunión cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to go back on his decision after the meeting when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo retrocede con el coche en el garaje. — Right: Yo retrocedo con el coche en el garaje. — The person matters: retrocede is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is retrocedo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo retrocedo en su decisión tras la reunión. — Right: Ayer yo retrocedí en su decisión tras la reunión. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: retrocedo is happening now, while retrocedí is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating retroceder and adelantar as identical in every context. — Right: Retroceder means to go back, to reverse, while adelantar means to overtake. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: retroceder fits sentences such as Retrocedo con el coche en el garaje, while adelantar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy retrocedido en su decisión tras la reunión. — Right: Yo he retrocedido en su decisión tras la reunión. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he retrocedido, has retrocedido, ha retrocedido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo retrocedí hasta la puerta sin mirar todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo retrocedía hasta la puerta sin mirar todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (retrocedía), not the preterite. The preterite (retrocedí) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on retroceder. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con el coche en el garaje. (present tense) A. retrocedo B. retrocedes C. retrocede D. retrocedemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en su decisión tras la reunión. (preterite) A. retrocedí B. retrocediste C. retrocedieron D. retrocedió

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ hasta la puerta sin mirar. (imperfect) A. retrocedías B. retrocedían C. retrocedíamos D. retrocedía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ poco a poco por el pasillo. (future) A. retrocederemos B. retrocederás C. retrocederé D. retrocederá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con el coche en el garaje si pudiera. (conditional) A. retrocedería B. retrocederías C. retrocederían D. retrocedo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en su decisión tras la reunión. (present subjunctive) A. retrocedas B. retrocedamos C. retrocedo D. retroceda

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ hasta la puerta sin mirar, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. retrocediéramos B. retrocedo C. retrocediera D. retrocedieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ poco a poco por el pasillo. (present perfect) A. han retrocedido B. hemos retrocedido C. he retrocedido D. has retrocedido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ con el coche en el garaje! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. retrocede B. retroceda C. retrocedamos D. retroceded

  10. Which is the gerund of retroceder, used with estar for the progressive? A. retrocedido B. retrocedo C. retrocedí D. retrocediendo

Answer key

  1. retrocedo — The first-person present of retroceder is retrocedo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. retrocedió — The third-person preterite of retroceder is retrocedió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. retrocedíamos — The nosotros imperfect of retroceder is retrocedíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. retrocederás — The second-person future of retroceder is retrocederás.
  5. retrocedería — The first-person conditional of retroceder is retrocedería, the form for what would happen.
  6. retroceda — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of retroceder is retroceda.
  7. retrocediera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of retroceder is retrocediera.
  8. hemos retrocedido — The nosotros present perfect of retroceder is hemos retrocedido: hemos + retrocedido.
  9. retrocede — The affirmative tú imperative of retroceder is retrocede.
  10. retrocediendo — The gerund of retroceder is retrocediendo: estoy retrocediendo. The participle retrocedido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does retroceder mean in English?

Retroceder means to go back, to reverse. It is used in everyday situations such as Retrocedo con el coche en el garaje. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is retroceder regular or irregular?

Retroceder is a fully regular -er 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 retrocedo in the present and retrocedí in the preterite.

What is the difference between retroceder and adelantar?

Retroceder means to go back, to reverse, while adelantar means to overtake. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use retroceder when you mean to go back, to reverse, as in Retrocedo con el coche en el garaje, and use adelantar for to overtake. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I go back” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo retrocedí en su decisión tras la reunión. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo retrocedía hasta la puerta sin mirar. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he retrocedido en su decisión tras la reunión.

How do I practise retroceder?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the retroceder examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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