Sugerir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb sugerir means to suggest, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Sugerir means to suggest, and it is used for suggesting a plan, another date and a restaurant, and for suggesting that someone do something, with que plus the subjunctive. It is a stem-changing -ir verb with the same e to ie and e to i pattern as advertir. Like every Spanish verb, sugerir 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 sugiero un plan para el fin de semana, and in the preterite you say sugerí un restaurante en el centro. 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: sugerir
- English: to suggest
- Verb type: irregular verb, stem-changing (e → ie)
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: sugiriendo
- Past participle: sugerido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + sugerido)
- Stem change: e → ie in the present, present subjunctive and imperative; nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for sugerir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. The stem changes e to ie in the present and e to i in the third-person preterite and the gerund: sugirió, sugiriendo.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for sugerir. 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 | sugiero |
| tú | sugieres |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugiere |
| nosotros/as | sugerimos |
| vosotros/as | sugerís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugieren |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sugerí |
| tú | sugeriste |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugirió |
| nosotros/as | sugerimos |
| vosotros/as | sugeristeis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugirieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sugería |
| tú | sugerías |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugería |
| nosotros/as | sugeríamos |
| vosotros/as | sugeríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugerían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sugeriré |
| tú | sugerirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugerirá |
| nosotros/as | sugeriremos |
| vosotros/as | sugeriréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugerirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sugeriría |
| tú | sugerirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugeriría |
| nosotros/as | sugeriríamos |
| vosotros/as | sugeriríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugerirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he sugerido |
| tú | has sugerido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha sugerido |
| nosotros/as | hemos sugerido |
| vosotros/as | habéis sugerido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han sugerido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había sugerido |
| tú | habías sugerido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había sugerido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos sugerido |
| vosotros/as | habíais sugerido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían sugerido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré sugerido |
| tú | habrás sugerido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá sugerido |
| nosotros/as | habremos sugerido |
| vosotros/as | habréis sugerido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán sugerido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría sugerido |
| tú | habrías sugerido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría sugerido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos sugerido |
| vosotros/as | habríais sugerido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían sugerido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sugiera |
| tú | sugieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugiera |
| nosotros/as | sugiramos |
| vosotros/as | sugiráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugieran |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sugiriera |
| tú | sugirieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugiriera |
| nosotros/as | sugiriéramos |
| vosotros/as | sugirierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugirieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | sugiere |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugiera |
| nosotros/as | sugiramos |
| vosotros/as | sugerid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugieran |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | sugieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | sugiera |
| nosotros/as | sugiramos |
| vosotros/as | sugiráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | sugieran |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | sugiriendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy sugiriendo |
| Past participle | sugerido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he sugerido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For sugerir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Sugiero un plan para el fin de semana. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For sugerir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, sugerí otra fecha para 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 sugerir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, sugería un restaurante en el centro. 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 sugerir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, sugeriré que salgamos más temprano. 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 sugerir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Sugeriría un plan para el fin de semana 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 sugerir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he sugerido otra fecha para 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 sugerir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había sugerido un restaurante en el centro 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 sugerir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré sugerido que salgamos más temprano. 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 sugerir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría sugerido un plan para el fin de semana 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For sugerir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él sugiera otra fecha para 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For sugerir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él sugiriera un restaurante en el centro, 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For sugerir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Sugiere que salgamos más temprano! 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For sugerir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No sugieras un plan para el fin de semana. 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 sugerir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Sugiero un plan para el fin de semana. — I suggest a plan for the weekend.
- Sugiere otra fecha para la reunión. — He/she suggests another date for the meeting.
- Ayer, sugerí un restaurante en el centro. — Yesterday, I suggested a restaurant in the centre.
- Antes, nosotros sugeríamos que salgamos más temprano. — Before, we used to suggest that we leave earlier.
- Mañana, tú sugerirás un plan para el fin de semana. — Tomorrow, you will suggest a plan for the weekend.
- Yo sugeriría otra fecha para la reunión si tuviera más tiempo. — I would suggest another date for the meeting if I had more time.
- Él ha sugerido un restaurante en el centro. — He has suggested a restaurant in the centre.
- Espero que él sugiera que salgamos más temprano. — I hope he suggests that we leave earlier.
- Yo ya había sugerido un plan para el fin de semana antes de salir. — I had already suggested a plan for the weekend before leaving.
- Ellos sugerían otra fecha para la reunión cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to suggest another date for the meeting when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo sugiere un plan para el fin de semana. — Right: Yo sugiero un plan para el fin de semana. — The person matters: sugiere is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is sugiero. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo sugero otra fecha para la reunión. — Right: Yo sugiero otra fecha para la reunión. — In the present, the correct first-person form is sugiero, not sugero. sugerir is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so the stem changes in the present singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.
- Wrong: Treating sugerir and proponer as identical in every context. — Right: Sugerir means to suggest, while proponer means to propose, the formal partner. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: sugerir fits sentences such as Sugiero un plan para el fin de semana, while proponer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy sugerido otra fecha para la reunión. — Right: Yo he sugerido otra fecha para la reunión. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he sugerido, has sugerido, ha sugerido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo sugerí un restaurante en el centro todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo sugería un restaurante en el centro todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (sugería), not the preterite. The preterite (sugerí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on sugerir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un plan para el fin de semana. (present tense) A. sugiero B. sugieres C. sugiere D. sugerimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ otra fecha para la reunión. (preterite) A. sugerí B. sugeriste C. sugirieron D. sugirió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ un restaurante en el centro. (imperfect) A. sugerías B. sugerían C. sugeríamos D. sugería
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ que salgamos más temprano. (future) A. sugeriremos B. sugerirás C. sugeriré D. sugerirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un plan para el fin de semana si pudiera. (conditional) A. sugeriría B. sugerirías C. sugerirían D. sugiero
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ otra fecha para la reunión. (present subjunctive) A. sugieras B. sugiramos C. sugiero D. sugiera
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ un restaurante en el centro, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. sugiriéramos B. sugiero C. sugiriera D. sugirieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ que salgamos más temprano. (present perfect) A. han sugerido B. hemos sugerido C. he sugerido D. has sugerido
Complete the command: ¡___ un plan para el fin de semana! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. sugiere B. sugiera C. sugiramos D. sugerid
Which is the gerund of sugerir, used with estar for the progressive? A. sugerido B. sugiero C. sugerí D. sugiriendo
Answer key
- sugiero — The first-person present of sugerir is sugiero. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- sugirió — The third-person preterite of sugerir is sugirió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- sugeríamos — The nosotros imperfect of sugerir is sugeríamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- sugerirás — The second-person future of sugerir is sugerirás.
- sugeriría — The first-person conditional of sugerir is sugeriría, the form for what would happen.
- sugiera — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of sugerir is sugiera.
- sugiriera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of sugerir is sugiriera.
- hemos sugerido — The nosotros present perfect of sugerir is hemos sugerido: hemos + sugerido.
- sugiere — The affirmative tú imperative of sugerir is sugiere.
- sugiriendo — The gerund of sugerir is sugiriendo: estoy sugiriendo. The participle sugerido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does sugerir mean in English?
Sugerir means to suggest. It is used in everyday situations such as Sugiero un plan para el fin de semana. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is sugerir regular or irregular?
Sugerir is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so it is not fully regular: the stem changes in the present, the present subjunctive and the imperative, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. The preterite and the imperfect are regular. Check the tables above for the exact forms in each tense.
What is the difference between sugerir and proponer?
Sugerir means to suggest, while proponer means to propose, the formal partner. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use sugerir when you mean to suggest, as in Sugiero un plan para el fin de semana, and use proponer for to propose, the formal partner. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I suggest” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo sugerí otra fecha para la reunión. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo sugería un restaurante en el centro. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he sugerido otra fecha para la reunión.
How do I practise sugerir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the sugerir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Sugerir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for sugerir.
- Sugerir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for sugerir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Advertir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with sugerir.
- Exigir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with sugerir.
- Admitir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with sugerir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.