Tejer Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb tejer means to knit, to weave, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Tejer means to knit or to weave, and it covers knitting a jumper, weaving cloth and, figuratively, weaving a story or a plot. It is a regular -er verb, and it belongs with coser and bordar in the craft group. Like every Spanish verb, tejer 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 tejo un jersey para el invierno, and in the preterite you say tejí con agujas de punto. 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: tejer
- English: to knit, to weave
- Verb type: regular -er verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: tejiendo
- Past participle: tejido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + tejido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for tejer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Tejer is a regular -er verb: tejí, tejía, tejeré. The j is pronounced like the ch in Scottish loch.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for tejer. 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 | tejo |
| tú | tejes |
| él/ella/Ud. | teje |
| nosotros/as | tejemos |
| vosotros/as | tejéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tejí |
| tú | tejiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | tejió |
| nosotros/as | tejimos |
| vosotros/as | tejisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tejía |
| tú | tejías |
| él/ella/Ud. | tejía |
| nosotros/as | tejíamos |
| vosotros/as | tejíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tejeré |
| tú | tejerás |
| él/ella/Ud. | tejerá |
| nosotros/as | tejeremos |
| vosotros/as | tejeréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejerán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tejería |
| tú | tejerías |
| él/ella/Ud. | tejería |
| nosotros/as | tejeríamos |
| vosotros/as | tejeríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejerían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he tejido |
| tú | has tejido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha tejido |
| nosotros/as | hemos tejido |
| vosotros/as | habéis tejido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han tejido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había tejido |
| tú | habías tejido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había tejido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos tejido |
| vosotros/as | habíais tejido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían tejido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré tejido |
| tú | habrás tejido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá tejido |
| nosotros/as | habremos tejido |
| vosotros/as | habréis tejido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán tejido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría tejido |
| tú | habrías tejido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría tejido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos tejido |
| vosotros/as | habríais tejido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían tejido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | teja |
| tú | tejas |
| él/ella/Ud. | teja |
| nosotros/as | tejamos |
| vosotros/as | tejáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tejiera |
| tú | tejieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | tejiera |
| nosotros/as | tejiéramos |
| vosotros/as | tejierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | teje |
| él/ella/Ud. | teja |
| nosotros/as | tejamos |
| vosotros/as | tejed |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | tejas |
| él/ella/Ud. | teja |
| nosotros/as | tejamos |
| vosotros/as | tejáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tejan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | tejiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy tejiendo |
| Past participle | tejido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he tejido |
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 tejer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Tejo un jersey para el invierno. 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 tejer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, tejí una bufanda de lana. 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 tejer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, tejía con agujas de punto. 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 tejer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, tejeré en el taller de la abuela. 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 tejer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Tejería un jersey para el invierno 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 tejer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he tejido una bufanda de lana. 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 tejer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había tejido con agujas de punto 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 tejer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré tejido en el taller de la abuela. 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 tejer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría tejido un jersey para el invierno 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 tejer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él teja una bufanda de lana. 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 tejer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él tejiera con agujas de punto, 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 tejer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Teje en el taller de la abuela! 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 tejer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No tejas un jersey para el invierno. 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 tejer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Tejo un jersey para el invierno. — I knit a jumper for the winter.
- Teje una bufanda de lana. — He/she knits a woollen scarf.
- Ayer, tejí con agujas de punto. — Yesterday, I knitted with knitting needles.
- Antes, nosotros tejíamos en el taller de la abuela. — Before, we used to knit in grandmother's workshop.
- Mañana, tú tejerás un jersey para el invierno. — Tomorrow, you will knit a jumper for the winter.
- Yo tejería una bufanda de lana si tuviera más tiempo. — I would knit a woollen scarf if I had more time.
- Él ha tejido con agujas de punto. — He has knitted with knitting needles.
- Espero que él teja en el taller de la abuela. — I hope he knits in grandmother's workshop.
- Yo ya había tejido un jersey para el invierno antes de salir. — I had already knitted a jumper for the winter before leaving.
- Ellos tejían una bufanda de lana cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to knit a woollen scarf when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo teje un jersey para el invierno. — Right: Yo tejo un jersey para el invierno. — The person matters: teje is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is tejo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Vosotros tejeis una bufanda de lana. — Right: Vosotros tejéis una bufanda de lana. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: tejéis, not tejeis. The accent marks the stressed vowel.
- Wrong: Treating tejer and coser as identical in every context. — Right: Tejer means to knit, to weave, while coser means to sew, the craft partner. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: tejer fits sentences such as Tejo un jersey para el invierno, while coser belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy tejido una bufanda de lana. — Right: Yo he tejido una bufanda de lana. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he tejido, has tejido, ha tejido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo tejí con agujas de punto todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo tejía con agujas de punto todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (tejía), not the preterite. The preterite (tejí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on tejer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un jersey para el invierno. (present tense) A. tejo B. tejes C. teje D. tejemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ una bufanda de lana. (preterite) A. tejí B. tejiste C. tejieron D. tejió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con agujas de punto. (imperfect) A. tejías B. tejían C. tejíamos D. tejía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en el taller de la abuela. (future) A. tejeremos B. tejerás C. tejeré D. tejerá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un jersey para el invierno si pudiera. (conditional) A. tejería B. tejerías C. tejerían D. tejo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ una bufanda de lana. (present subjunctive) A. tejas B. tejamos C. tejo D. teja
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con agujas de punto, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. tejiéramos B. tejo C. tejiera D. tejieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en el taller de la abuela. (present perfect) A. han tejido B. hemos tejido C. he tejido D. has tejido
Complete the command: ¡___ un jersey para el invierno! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. teje B. teja C. tejamos D. tejed
Which is the gerund of tejer, used with estar for the progressive? A. tejido B. tejo C. tejí D. tejiendo
Answer key
- tejo — The first-person present of tejer is tejo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- tejió — The third-person preterite of tejer is tejió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- tejíamos — The nosotros imperfect of tejer is tejíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- tejerás — The second-person future of tejer is tejerás.
- tejería — The first-person conditional of tejer is tejería, the form for what would happen.
- teja — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of tejer is teja.
- tejiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of tejer is tejiera.
- hemos tejido — The nosotros present perfect of tejer is hemos tejido: hemos + tejido.
- teje — The affirmative tú imperative of tejer is teje.
- tejiendo — The gerund of tejer is tejiendo: estoy tejiendo. The participle tejido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does tejer mean in English?
Tejer means to knit, to weave. It is used in everyday situations such as Tejo un jersey para el invierno. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is tejer regular or irregular?
Tejer is a fully regular -er 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 tejo in the present and tejí in the preterite.
What is the difference between tejer and coser?
Tejer means to knit, to weave, while coser means to sew, the craft partner. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use tejer when you mean to knit, to weave, as in Tejo un jersey para el invierno, and use coser for to sew, the craft partner. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I knit” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo tejí una bufanda de lana. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo tejía con agujas de punto. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he tejido una bufanda de lana.
How do I practise tejer?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the tejer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Tejer in the present tense — the full present-tense table for tejer.
- Tejer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for tejer.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Coser conjugation — another -er verb to compare with tejer.
- Proponer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with tejer.
- Aparecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with tejer.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.