Transformar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb transformar means to transform, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Transformar means to transform, and it covers transforming a room, a city, a person and a material: transformar la casa, transformar la ciudad. It takes en for what something becomes: transformar la casa en un hotel. It is a fully regular -ar verb. Like every Spanish verb, transformar 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 transformo la casa en un hotel, and in the preterite you say transformé el garaje en un taller. 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: transformar
- English: to transform
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: transformando
- Past participle: transformado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + transformado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for transformar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Transformar takes en for the result: transformo la casa en un hotel.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for transformar. 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 | transformo |
| tú | transformas |
| él/ella/Ud. | transforma |
| nosotros/as | transformamos |
| vosotros/as | transformáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transforman |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | transformé |
| tú | transformaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | transformó |
| nosotros/as | transformamos |
| vosotros/as | transformasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | transformaba |
| tú | transformabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | transformaba |
| nosotros/as | transformábamos |
| vosotros/as | transformabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | transformaré |
| tú | transformarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | transformará |
| nosotros/as | transformaremos |
| vosotros/as | transformaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | transformaría |
| tú | transformarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | transformaría |
| nosotros/as | transformaríamos |
| vosotros/as | transformaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he transformado |
| tú | has transformado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha transformado |
| nosotros/as | hemos transformado |
| vosotros/as | habéis transformado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han transformado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había transformado |
| tú | habías transformado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había transformado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos transformado |
| vosotros/as | habíais transformado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían transformado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré transformado |
| tú | habrás transformado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá transformado |
| nosotros/as | habremos transformado |
| vosotros/as | habréis transformado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán transformado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría transformado |
| tú | habrías transformado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría transformado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos transformado |
| vosotros/as | habríais transformado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían transformado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | transforme |
| tú | transformes |
| él/ella/Ud. | transforme |
| nosotros/as | transformemos |
| vosotros/as | transforméis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | transformara |
| tú | transformaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | transformara |
| nosotros/as | transformáramos |
| vosotros/as | transformarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | transforma |
| él/ella/Ud. | transforme |
| nosotros/as | transformemos |
| vosotros/as | transformad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | transformes |
| él/ella/Ud. | transforme |
| nosotros/as | transformemos |
| vosotros/as | transforméis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | transformen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | transformando | with estar for the progressive: estoy transformando |
| Past participle | transformado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he transformado |
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 transformar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Transformo la casa en un hotel. 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 transformar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, transformé la ciudad con el metro. 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 transformar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, transformaba el garaje en un taller. 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 transformar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, transformaré su vida con el deporte. 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 transformar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Transformaría la casa en un hotel 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 transformar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he transformado la ciudad con el metro. 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 transformar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había transformado el garaje en un taller 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 transformar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré transformado su vida con el deporte. 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 transformar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría transformado la casa en un hotel 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 transformar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él transforme la ciudad con el metro. 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 transformar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él transformara el garaje en un taller, 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 transformar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Transforma su vida con el deporte! 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 transformar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No transformes la casa en un hotel. 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 transformar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Transformo la casa en un hotel. — I transform the house into a hotel.
- Transforma la ciudad con el metro. — He/she transforms the city with the metro.
- Ayer, transformé el garaje en un taller. — Yesterday, I transformed the garage into a workshop.
- Antes, nosotros transformábamos su vida con el deporte. — Before, we used to transform his life with sport.
- Mañana, tú transformarás la casa en un hotel. — Tomorrow, you will transform the house into a hotel.
- Yo transformaría la ciudad con el metro si tuviera más tiempo. — I would transform the city with the metro if I had more time.
- Él ha transformado el garaje en un taller. — He has transformed the garage into a workshop.
- Espero que él transforme su vida con el deporte. — I hope he transforms his life with sport.
- Yo ya había transformado la casa en un hotel antes de salir. — I had already transformed the house into a hotel before leaving.
- Ellos transformaban la ciudad con el metro cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to transform the city with the metro when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo transforma la casa en un hotel. — Right: Yo transformo la casa en un hotel. — The person matters: transforma is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is transformo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo transformo la ciudad con el metro. — Right: Ayer yo transformé la ciudad con el metro. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: transformo is happening now, while transformé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating transformar and transformarse as identical in every context. — Right: Transformar means to transform, while transformarse means to transform oneself. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: transformar fits sentences such as Transformo la casa en un hotel, while transformarse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy transformado la ciudad con el metro. — Right: Yo he transformado la ciudad con el metro. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he transformado, has transformado, ha transformado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo transformé el garaje en un taller todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo transformaba el garaje en un taller todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (transformaba), not the preterite. The preterite (transformé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on transformar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la casa en un hotel. (present tense) A. transformo B. transformas C. transforma D. transformamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la ciudad con el metro. (preterite) A. transformé B. transformaste C. transformamos D. transformó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el garaje en un taller. (imperfect) A. transformabas B. transformo C. transformábamos D. transformaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ su vida con el deporte. (future) A. transformaremos B. transformarás C. transformaré D. transformará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la casa en un hotel si pudiera. (conditional) A. transformaría B. transformarías C. transformaríamos D. transformo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la ciudad con el metro. (present subjunctive) A. transformes B. transformemos C. transformo D. transforme
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el garaje en un taller, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. transformáramos B. transformo C. transformara D. transformaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ su vida con el deporte. (present perfect) A. ha transformado B. hemos transformado C. he transformado D. has transformado
Complete the command: ¡___ la casa en un hotel! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. transforma B. transforme C. transformemos D. transformad
Which is the gerund of transformar, used with estar for the progressive? A. transformado B. transformo C. transformé D. transformando
Answer key
- transformo — The yo present tense of transformar is transformo.
- transformó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of transformar is transformó.
- transformábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of transformar is transformábamos.
- transformarás — The tú future of transformar is transformarás.
- transformaría — The yo conditional of transformar is transformaría.
- transforme — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of transformar is transforme.
- transformara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of transformar is transformara.
- hemos transformado — The nosotros/as present perfect of transformar is hemos transformado.
- transforma — The affirmative tú imperative of transformar is transforma.
- transformando — The gerund of transformar is transformando: estoy transformando. The participle transformado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does transformar mean in English?
Transformar means to transform. It is used in everyday situations such as Transformo la casa en un hotel. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is transformar regular or irregular?
Transformar 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 transformo in the present and transformé in the preterite.
What is the difference between transformar and transformarse?
Transformar means to transform, while transformarse means to transform oneself. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use transformar when you mean to transform, as in Transformo la casa en un hotel, and use transformarse for to transform oneself. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I transform” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo transformé la ciudad con el metro. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo transformaba el garaje en un taller. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he transformado la ciudad con el metro.
How do I practise transformar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the transformar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Transformar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for transformar.
- Transformar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for transformar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Sudar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with transformar.
- Transportar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with transformar.
- Suavizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with transformar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.