Introduction

Simular means “to simulate”, and this page covers exactly one thing: simular 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 simular, 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 simular in the present. Simular in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo simulo una enfermedad” — "I simulate an illness". Everything on this page uses the forms of simular exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Simular in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo simulo
tú simulas
él/ella/Ud. simula
nosotros/as simulamos
vosotros/as simuláis
ellos/ellas/Uds. simulan

Gerund: simulando · Past participle: simulado

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

How the present of simular is formed

Simular is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem simul and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving simulo, simulas, simula, simulamos, simuláis, simulan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, simuláis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of simular is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form simuláis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form simulo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of simular

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use simular 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, simular goes in the present. Example: “Yo simulo una sonrisa” — "I simulate a smile".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about simular does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él simula estar dormido” — "He simulates being asleep".

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 simulo can mean both "I simulate" and "I am simulating". Example: “Yo simulo una enfermedad” — "I simulate an illness".

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 simulamos una sonrisa” — "We simulate a smile".

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 simular just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él simula estar dormido” — "He simulates being asleep".

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 simulo una enfermedad” — "I simulate an illness".

  • Preterite: “Yo simulé una enfermedad” — "I simulated an illness".

  • 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 simula una sonrisa” — "He simulates a smile".

  • Preterite: “Él simuló una sonrisa” — "He simulated a smile".

  • 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 simulamos estar dormido” — "We simulate being asleep".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros simulamos estar dormido” — "We simulated being asleep".

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

Example sentences: simular 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 simulo una sonrisa” — "I simulate a smile"

  2. “Tú simulas estar dormido” — "You simulate being asleep"

  3. “Él simula una enfermedad” — "He simulates an illness"

  4. “Nosotros simulamos una sonrisa” — "We simulate a smile"

  5. “Vosotros simuláis estar dormido” — "You simulate being asleep"

  6. “Ellos simulan una enfermedad” — "They simulate an illness"

  7. “Yo simulo una sonrisa” — "I simulate a smile"

  8. “Él simula estar dormido” — "He simulates being asleep"

Common mistakes with simular 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 simula una enfermedad” Right: “Ellos simulan una enfermedad” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form simulan. The singular simula belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

  • Wrong: “Yo simula una enfermedad.” Right: “Yo simulo una enfermedad” Why: Yo needs the yo form simulo. The él form simula belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

Quiz: simular 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 ___ estar dormido.” (yo form)

A. simulo B. simulamos C. simulas D. simuláis

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

A. simula B. simulamos C. simulas D. simulan

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

A. simula B. simulan C. simulo D. simuláis

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

A. simulamos B. simulas C. simuláis D. simulo

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

A. simula B. simuláis C. simulo D. simulas

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

A. simulan B. simuláis C. simulo D. simula

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 simulo B. Todos los días, yo simulé

Answer key

  1. simulo — The yo present of simular is simulo.
  2. simulas — The tú present of simular is simulas.
  3. simula — The él/ella/Ud. present of simular is simula.
  4. simulamos — The nosotros/as present of simular is simulamos.
  5. simuláis — The vosotros/as present of simular is simuláis.
  6. simulan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of simular is simulan.
  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 simulo — 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 simular?

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

How is the present of simular formed?

Take the stem simul- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving simulo, simulas, simula, simulamos, simuláis, simulan.

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

The present (simulo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (simulé) 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 simular in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — simulo, simulas, simula, simulamos, simuláis, simulan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the simular examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of simular when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

Related links