Subrayar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb subrayar means to underline, to emphasise, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. 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. Like every Spanish verb, subrayar 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 subrayo una palabra en el libro, and in the preterite you say subrayé la fecha en el calendario. 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: subrayar
- English: to underline, to emphasise
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: subrayando
- Past participle: subrayado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + subrayado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for subrayar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Subrayar is fully regular: subrayé, subrayaba, subrayaré.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for subrayar. 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 | subrayo |
| tú | subrayas |
| él/ella/Ud. | subraya |
| nosotros/as | subrayamos |
| vosotros/as | subrayáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | subrayé |
| tú | subrayaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | subrayó |
| nosotros/as | subrayamos |
| vosotros/as | subrayasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | subrayaba |
| tú | subrayabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | subrayaba |
| nosotros/as | subrayábamos |
| vosotros/as | subrayabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | subrayaré |
| tú | subrayarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | subrayará |
| nosotros/as | subrayaremos |
| vosotros/as | subrayaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | subrayaría |
| tú | subrayarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | subrayaría |
| nosotros/as | subrayaríamos |
| vosotros/as | subrayaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he subrayado |
| tú | has subrayado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha subrayado |
| nosotros/as | hemos subrayado |
| vosotros/as | habéis subrayado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han subrayado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había subrayado |
| tú | habías subrayado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había subrayado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos subrayado |
| vosotros/as | habíais subrayado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían subrayado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré subrayado |
| tú | habrás subrayado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá subrayado |
| nosotros/as | habremos subrayado |
| vosotros/as | habréis subrayado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán subrayado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría subrayado |
| tú | habrías subrayado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría subrayado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos subrayado |
| vosotros/as | habríais subrayado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían subrayado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | subraye |
| tú | subrayes |
| él/ella/Ud. | subraye |
| nosotros/as | subrayemos |
| vosotros/as | subrayéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | subrayara |
| tú | subrayaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | subrayara |
| nosotros/as | subrayáramos |
| vosotros/as | subrayarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | subraya |
| él/ella/Ud. | subraye |
| nosotros/as | subrayemos |
| vosotros/as | subrayad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | subrayes |
| él/ella/Ud. | subraye |
| nosotros/as | subrayemos |
| vosotros/as | subrayéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | subrayen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | subrayando | with estar for the progressive: estoy subrayando |
| Past participle | subrayado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he subrayado |
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 subrayar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Subrayo una palabra en el libro. 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 subrayar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, subrayé la idea principal del texto. 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 subrayar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, subrayaba la fecha en el calendario. 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 subrayar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, subrayaré la importancia del descanso. 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 subrayar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Subrayaría una palabra en el libro 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 subrayar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he subrayado la idea principal del texto. 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 subrayar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había subrayado la fecha en el calendario 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 subrayar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré subrayado la importancia del descanso. 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 subrayar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría subrayado una palabra en el libro 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 subrayar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él subraye la idea principal del texto. 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 subrayar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él subrayara la fecha en el calendario, 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 subrayar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Subraya la importancia del descanso! 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 subrayar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No subrayes una palabra en el libro. 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 subrayar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Subrayo una palabra en el libro. — I underline a word in the book.
- Subraya la idea principal del texto. — He/she underlines the main idea of the text.
- Ayer, subrayé la fecha en el calendario. — Yesterday, I underlined the date on the calendar.
- Antes, nosotros subrayábamos la importancia del descanso. — Before, we used to underline the importance of rest.
- Mañana, tú subrayarás una palabra en el libro. — Tomorrow, you will underline a word in the book.
- Yo subrayaría la idea principal del texto si tuviera más tiempo. — I would underline the main idea of the text if I had more time.
- Él ha subrayado la fecha en el calendario. — He has underlined the date on the calendar.
- Espero que él subraye la importancia del descanso. — I hope he underlines the importance of rest.
- Yo ya había subrayado una palabra en el libro antes de salir. — I had already underlined a word in the book before leaving.
- Ellos subrayaban la idea principal del texto cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to underline the main idea of the text when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo subraya una palabra en el libro. — Right: Yo subrayo una palabra en el libro. — 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. — 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. — 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. — 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. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (subrayaba), not the preterite. The preterite (subrayé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on subrayar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una palabra en el libro. (present tense) A. subrayo B. subrayas C. subraya D. subrayamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la idea principal del texto. (preterite) A. subrayé B. subrayaste C. subrayamos D. subrayó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la fecha en el calendario. (imperfect) A. subrayabas B. subrayo C. subrayábamos D. subrayaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la importancia del descanso. (future) A. subrayaremos B. subrayarás C. subrayaré D. subrayará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una palabra en el libro si pudiera. (conditional) A. subrayaría B. subrayarías C. subrayaríamos D. subrayo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la idea principal del texto. (present subjunctive) A. subrayes B. subrayemos C. subrayo D. subraye
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la fecha en el calendario, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. subrayáramos B. subrayo C. subrayara D. subrayaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la importancia del descanso. (present perfect) A. ha subrayado B. hemos subrayado C. he subrayado D. has subrayado
Complete the command: ¡___ una palabra en el libro! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. subraya B. subraye C. subrayemos D. subrayad
Which is the gerund of subrayar, used with estar for the progressive? A. subrayado B. subrayo C. subrayé D. subrayando
Answer key
- subrayo — The yo present tense of subrayar is subrayo.
- subrayó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of subrayar is subrayó.
- subrayábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of subrayar is subrayábamos.
- subrayarás — The tú future of subrayar is subrayarás.
- subrayaría — The yo conditional of subrayar is subrayaría.
- subraye — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of subrayar is subraye.
- subrayara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of subrayar is subrayara.
- hemos subrayado — The nosotros/as present perfect of subrayar is hemos subrayado.
- subraya — The affirmative tú imperative of subrayar is subraya.
- subrayando — The gerund of subrayar is subrayando: estoy subrayando. The participle subrayado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does subrayar mean in English?
Subrayar means to underline, to emphasise. It is used in everyday situations such as Subrayo una palabra en el libro. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is subrayar regular or irregular?
Subrayar is a fully regular -ar 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 subrayo in the present and subrayé in the preterite.
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. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I underline” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo subrayé la idea principal del texto. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo subrayaba la fecha en el calendario. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he subrayado la idea principal del texto.
How do I practise subrayar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the subrayar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Subrayar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for subrayar.
- Subrayar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for subrayar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Sumar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with subrayar.
- Superar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with subrayar.
- Sobrepasar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with subrayar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.