Introduction
Subrayar means “to underline, to emphasise”, and it is one of the verbs you will use again and again in Spanish. Subrayar means to underline or to emphasise, and it covers underlining words in a book and stressing an idea in speech: subrayar una palabra, subrayar la importancia. It is a fully regular -ar verb. This page shows subrayar in real sentences, in short dialogues, and in the mistakes learners make most often, and it finishes with a ten-question quiz so you can test yourself. Every sentence below comes with its English translation, and every form is the correct present-tense form unless the sentence is clearly marked as past or future. For a first taste: “Subrayo una palabra en el libro.” — I underline a word in the book.
Subrayar in real example sentences
The twelve sentences below are grouped by how subrayar is used. Read each one out loud, then read the translation. If a sentence feels useful, copy it into your own notebook with one small change — a different time, a different person, a different place — and you have a new sentence of your own.
In the present: everyday use
These sentences use subrayar in the present tense, which is how you will meet it most often: routines, facts, and things happening now.
“Subrayo una palabra en el libro.” — I underline a word in the book.
“¿Subrayas la idea principal del texto?” — Do you underline the main idea of the text?
“Subraya la fecha en el calendario.” — He/she underlines the date on the calendar.
“Nosotros subrayamos la importancia del descanso.” — We underline the importance of rest.
Talking about the past
The present is not the only tense you need. These sentences show subrayar in the past, so you can talk about what already happened.
“Ayer, yo subrayé una palabra en el libro.” — Yesterday, I underlined a word in the book. (preterite)
“Antes, él subrayaba la idea principal del texto.” — Before, he used to underline the main idea of the text. (imperfect)
Plans and things already done
These sentences look forward, or look back at something already finished. Notice how the verb form changes while the meaning of subrayar stays the same.
“Mañana, nosotros subrayaremos la fecha en el calendario.” — Tomorrow, we will underline the date on the calendar. (future)
“¿Tú has subrayado la importancia del descanso?” — Have you underlined the importance of rest? (present perfect)
More everyday uses
Four more present-tense sentences, covering the remaining persons, so you can see the whole table in action.
“Vosotros subrayáis una palabra en el libro.” — You underline a word in the book.
“Ellos subrayan la idea principal del texto.” — They underline the main idea of the text.
“Yo subrayo la fecha en el calendario.” — I underline the date on the calendar.
“Mi padre subraya la importancia del descanso.” — My father underlines the importance of rest.
Subrayar in context
Single sentences teach you the forms. Dialogues teach you when to use them. Read the short conversation below, then the paragraph that follows, and notice how subrayar appears naturally, without anyone stopping to think about conjugation.
A short dialogue
Marta: “¿Tú subrayas la idea principal del texto?” — Do you underline the main idea of the text?
Pedro: “Sí, yo subrayo una palabra en el libro.” — Yes, I underline a word in the book.
Marta: “Nosotros subrayamos la importancia del descanso.” — We underline the importance of rest.
Pedro: “Y ellos subrayan la idea principal del texto.” — And they underline the main idea of the text.
Marta: “Vosotros subrayáis la fecha en el calendario.” — You underline the date on the calendar.
Pedro: “Sí, y él subraya una palabra en el libro.” — Yes, and he underlines a word in the book.
A short paragraph
Subraya una palabra en el libro, y nosotros subrayamos la importancia del descanso. Yo subrayo la idea principal del texto, y ellos subrayan la fecha en el calendario. Subrayar is part of everyday life, because underline, to emphasise is something people do in work, at home and with friends, in the present, the past and the future.
Common mistakes with subrayar
These are the errors learners actually make with subrayar. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.
Wrong: “Yo subraya una palabra en el libro.” Right: “Yo subrayo una palabra en el libro.” Why: The person matters: subraya is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is subrayo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
Wrong: “Ayer yo subrayo la idea principal del texto.” Right: “Ayer yo subrayé la idea principal del texto.” Why: The present and the preterite are different tenses: subrayo is happening now, while subrayé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
Wrong: “Treating subrayar and resaltar as identical in every context.” Right: “Subrayar means to underline, to emphasise, while resaltar means to highlight.” Why: They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: subrayar fits sentences such as Subrayo una palabra en el libro, while resaltar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
Wrong: “Yo soy subrayado la idea principal del texto.” Right: “Yo he subrayado la idea principal del texto.” Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he subrayado, has subrayado, ha subrayado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
Wrong: “De niño, yo subrayé la fecha en el calendario todos los días.” Right: “De niño, yo subrayaba la fecha en el calendario todos los días.” Why: For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (subrayaba), not the preterite. The preterite (subrayé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: subrayar in use
Ten questions on subrayar in real sentences. Choose the correct answer for each one, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained.
1. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ______ una palabra en el libro.” (You underline a word in the book.)
- (a) subrayáis
- (b) subrayo
- (c) subrayas
Answer: subrayáis — The vosotros/as form of subrayar in the present tense is subrayáis.
2. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ______ la idea principal del texto.” (They underline the main idea of the text.)
- (a) subrayas
- (b) subrayan
- (c) subrayo
Answer: subrayan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. form of subrayar in the present tense is subrayan.
3. Complete the sentence (preterite): “Ayer yo ______ una palabra en el libro.” (Yesterday I underlined a word in the book.)
- (a) subrayaste
- (b) subrayó
- (c) subrayé
Answer: subrayé — In the preterite, the yo form of subrayar is subrayé.
4. Complete the sentence (imperfect): “Antes, él ______ la idea principal del texto.” (Before, he used to underline the main idea of the text.)
- (a) subrayaba
- (b) subrayo
- (c) subrayabas
Answer: subrayaba — In the imperfect, the él/ella/Ud. form of subrayar is subrayaba.
5. Complete the sentence (future): “Mañana, nosotros ______ la fecha en el calendario.” (Tomorrow we will underline the date on the calendar.)
- (a) subrayarás
- (b) subrayaremos
- (c) subrayaré
Answer: subrayaremos — In the future, the nosotros/as form of subrayar is subrayaremos.
6. What does subrayar mean in English?
- (a) to underline, to emphasise
- (b) to add up
- (c) to highlight
Answer: to underline, to emphasise — Subrayar means “to underline, to emphasise”. The other options are the meanings of different verbs.
7. Which sentence is correct?
- (a) Yo subraya una palabra en el libro.
- (b) Ellos subraya la idea principal del texto.
- (c) Yo subrayo una palabra en el libro.
Answer: Yo subrayo una palabra en el libro. — “Yo subrayo una palabra en el libro.” is correct. The other two sentences contain the mistakes explained in the section above.
8. How do you say “I underline a word in the book.” in Spanish?
- (a) Mi padre subraya la importancia del descanso.
- (b) Subrayo una palabra en el libro.
- (c) Subrayan una palabra en el libro.
Answer: Subrayo una palabra en el libro. — “Subrayo una palabra en el libro.” is the correct translation.
9. What is the nosotros form of subrayar in the present tense?
- (a) subrayo
- (b) subrayas
- (c) subrayamos
Answer: subrayamos — The nosotros form is subrayamos.
10. Which of these sentences is in the present tense?
- (a) Mañana, nosotros subrayaremos la fecha en el calendario.
- (b) Subrayo una palabra en el libro.
- (c) Ayer, yo subrayé una palabra en el libro.
Answer: Subrayo una palabra en el libro. — “Subrayo una palabra en el libro.” is in the present tense. The other two are in the preterite and the future.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I underline a word in the book' in Spanish?
Say 'Subrayo una palabra en el libro'. For a routine, add a time expression: 'Subrayo una palabra en el libro todos los días'.
How do you say 'He underlines the main idea of the text' in Spanish?
Say 'Él subraya la idea principal del texto'. The subject comes first, and the verb agrees with it: él takes subraya.
What is the difference between subrayar and resaltar?
Subrayar means to underline, to emphasise, while resaltar means to highlight. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use subrayar when you mean to underline, to emphasise, as in 'Subrayo una palabra en el libro', and use resaltar for to highlight.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of subrayar — every tense of subrayar in one place.
- Subrayar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Spanish verbs — the hub for every Spanish verb on VerbFlow.
- Verb quiz — test yourself on subrayar and other verbs.
- Conjugation practice — drill the forms of subrayar until they are automatic.