Introduction

Sangrar means “to bleed”, and this page covers exactly one thing: sangrar 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 sangrar, 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 sangrar in the present. Sangrar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo sangro por la nariz” — "I bleed from the nose". Everything on this page uses the forms of sangrar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Sangrar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo sangro
tú sangras
él/ella/Ud. sangra
nosotros/as sangramos
vosotros/as sangráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sangran

Gerund: sangrando · Past participle: sangrado

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

How the present of sangrar is formed

Sangrar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem sangr and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving sangro, sangras, sangra, sangramos, sangráis, sangran. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, sangráis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of sangrar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form sangráis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form sangro is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of sangrar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use sangrar 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, sangrar goes in the present. Example: “Yo sangro mucho” — "I bleed a lot".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about sangrar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Después del golpe, él sangra” — "After the blow, he bleeds".

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 sangro can mean both "I bleed" and "I am bleeding". Example: “Yo sangro por la nariz” — "I bleed from the nose".

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 sangramos mucho” — "We bleed a lot".

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 sangrar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Después del golpe, él sangra” — "After the blow, he bleeds".

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 sangro por la nariz” — "I bleed from the nose".

  • Preterite: “Yo sangré por la nariz” — "I bled from the nose".

  • 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 sangra mucho” — "He bleeds a lot".

  • Preterite: “Él sangró mucho” — "He bled a lot".

  • 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: “Después del golpe, nosotros sangramos” — "After the blow, we bleed".

  • Preterite: “Después del golpe, nosotros sangramos” — "After the blow, we bled".

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

Example sentences: sangrar 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 sangro mucho” — "I bleed a lot"

  2. “Después del golpe, tú sangras” — "After the blow, you bleed"

  3. “Él sangra por la nariz” — "He bleeds from the nose"

  4. “Nosotros sangramos mucho” — "We bleed a lot"

  5. “Después del golpe, vosotros sangráis” — "After the blow, you bleed"

  6. “Ellos sangran por la nariz” — "They bleed from the nose"

  7. “Yo sangro mucho” — "I bleed a lot"

  8. “Después del golpe, él sangra” — "After the blow, he bleeds"

Common mistakes with sangrar 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 sangra por la nariz” Right: “Ellos sangran por la nariz” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form sangran. The singular sangra belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

  • Wrong: “Yo sangra por la nariz.” Right: “Yo sangro por la nariz” Why: Yo needs the yo form sangro. The él form sangra belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

Quiz: sangrar 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 ___ por la nariz.” (yo form)

A. sangran B. sangro C. sangra D. sangramos

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

A. sangráis B. sangra C. sangro D. sangras

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ por la nariz.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. sangramos B. sangran C. sangra D. sangro

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

A. sangras B. sangran C. sangramos D. sangráis

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ por la nariz.” (vosotros/as form)

A. sangramos B. sangráis C. sangro D. sangras

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

A. sangráis B. sangramos C. sangran D. sangro

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 sangro B. Todos los días, yo sangré

Answer key

  1. sangro — The yo present of sangrar is sangro.
  2. sangras — The tú present of sangrar is sangras.
  3. sangra — The él/ella/Ud. present of sangrar is sangra.
  4. sangramos — The nosotros/as present of sangrar is sangramos.
  5. sangráis — The vosotros/as present of sangrar is sangráis.
  6. sangran — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of sangrar is sangran.
  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 sangro — 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 sangrar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo sangro por la nariz. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of sangrar formed?

Take the stem sangr- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving sangro, sangras, sangra, sangramos, sangráis, sangran.

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

The present (sangro) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (sangré) 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 sangrar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — sangro, sangras, sangra, sangramos, sangráis, sangran — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the sangrar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of sangrar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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