Transformarse Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb transformarse means to transform (oneself), and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Transformarse means to transform yourself, and it is the reflexive partner of transformar: a person or a place changing completely. It takes en for what something becomes: transformarse en un líder, transformarse en un barrio nuevo. It is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, transformarse 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 me transformo en un líder del equipo, and in the preterite you say me transformé con los años de estudio. 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: transformarse
  • English: to transform (oneself)
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb, reflexive
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: transformando
  • Past participle: transformado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + transformado)
  • Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se — one before every conjugated form, matching the person.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for transformarse, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Transformarse takes en: me transformo en un líder. Without the pronoun, transformar changes something else.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for transformarse. 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 Pronoun Form
yo me transformo
tú te transformas
él/ella/Ud. se transforma
nosotros/as nos transformamos
vosotros/as os transformáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transforman

Preterite

Person Pronoun Form
yo me transformé
tú te transformaste
él/ella/Ud. se transformó
nosotros/as nos transformamos
vosotros/as os transformasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformaron

Imperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me transformaba
tú te transformabas
él/ella/Ud. se transformaba
nosotros/as nos transformábamos
vosotros/as os transformabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformaban

Future

Person Pronoun Form
yo me transformaré
tú te transformarás
él/ella/Ud. se transformará
nosotros/as nos transformaremos
vosotros/as os transformaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformarán

Conditional

Person Pronoun Form
yo me transformaría
tú te transformarías
él/ella/Ud. se transformaría
nosotros/as nos transformaríamos
vosotros/as os transformaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformarían

Present perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me he transformado
tú te has transformado
él/ella/Ud. se ha transformado
nosotros/as nos hemos transformado
vosotros/as os habéis transformado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se han transformado

Pluperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me había transformado
tú te habías transformado
él/ella/Ud. se había transformado
nosotros/as nos habíamos transformado
vosotros/as os habíais transformado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habían transformado

Future perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habré transformado
tú te habrás transformado
él/ella/Ud. se habrá transformado
nosotros/as nos habremos transformado
vosotros/as os habréis transformado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrán transformado

Conditional perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habría transformado
tú te habrías transformado
él/ella/Ud. se habría transformado
nosotros/as nos habríamos transformado
vosotros/as os habríais transformado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrían transformado

Present subjunctive

Person Pronoun Form
yo me transforme
tú te transformes
él/ella/Ud. se transforme
nosotros/as nos transformemos
vosotros/as os transforméis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Pronoun Form
yo me transformara
tú te transformaras
él/ella/Ud. se transformara
nosotros/as nos transformáramos
vosotros/as os transformarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te transforma
él/ella/Ud. se transforme
nosotros/as nos transformemos
vosotros/as os transformad
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformen

Imperative (negative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te transformes
él/ella/Ud. se transforme
nosotros/as nos transformemos
vosotros/as os transforméis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se transformen

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund transformando with estar for the progressive: estoy transformando (or me estoy transformando for this reflexive verb)
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 transformarse, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Me transformo en un líder del equipo. 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 transformarse, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, me transformé en un barrio nuevo. 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 transformarse, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, me transformaba con los años de estudio. 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 transformarse, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, me transformaré en una persona distinta. 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 transformarse, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Me transformaría en un líder del equipo 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 transformarse, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, me he transformado en un barrio nuevo. 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 transformarse, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me había transformado con los años de estudio 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 transformarse, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, me habré transformado en una persona distinta. 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 transformarse, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me habría transformado en un líder del equipo 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 transformarse, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él se transforme en un barrio nuevo. 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 transformarse, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él se transformara con los años de estudio, 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 transformarse, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: Que se transforme en una persona distinta. 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 transformarse, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No te transformes en un líder del equipo. 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 transformarse, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Me transformo en un líder del equipo. — I transform into a team leader.
  2. Se transforma en un barrio nuevo. — He/she transforms into a new neighbourhood.
  3. Ayer, me transformé con los años de estudio. — Yesterday, I transformed with years of study.
  4. Antes, nosotros nos transformábamos en una persona distinta. — Before, we used to transform into a different person.
  5. Mañana, tú te transformarás en un líder del equipo. — Tomorrow, you will transform into a team leader.
  6. Yo me transformaría en un barrio nuevo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would transform into a new neighbourhood if I had more time.
  7. Él se ha transformado con los años de estudio. — He has transformed with years of study.
  8. Espero que él se transforme en una persona distinta. — I hope he transforms into a different person.
  9. Yo ya me había transformado en un líder del equipo antes de salir. — I had already transformed into a team leader before leaving.
  10. Ellos se transformaban en un barrio nuevo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to transform into a new neighbourhood when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo transformo en un líder del equipo. — Right: Yo me transformo en un líder del equipo. — Transformarse is reflexive, so the pronoun me is required: without it the verb means something else, or nothing at all.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo transformo en un barrio nuevo. — Right: Ayer yo transformé en un barrio nuevo. — 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.
  3. Wrong: Treating transformarse and transformar as identical in every context. — Right: Transformarse means to transform (oneself), while transformar means to transform something else. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: transformarse fits sentences such as Me transformo en un líder del equipo, while transformar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy transformado en un barrio nuevo. — Right: Yo he transformado en un barrio nuevo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he transformado, has transformado, ha transformado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo transformé con los años de estudio todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo transformaba con los años de estudio 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 transformarse. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en un líder del equipo. (present tense) A. me transformo B. te transformas C. se transforma D. nos transformamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en un barrio nuevo. (preterite) A. me transformé B. te transformaste C. nos transformamos D. se transformó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con los años de estudio. (imperfect) A. te transformabas B. se transformaba C. nos transformábamos D. me transformaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en una persona distinta. (future) A. nos transformaremos B. te transformarás C. me transformaré D. se transformará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en un líder del equipo si pudiera. (conditional) A. me transformaría B. te transformarías C. se transformaría D. nos transformaríamos

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en un barrio nuevo. (present subjunctive) A. me transforme B. te transformes C. nos transformemos D. se transforme

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con los años de estudio, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. se transformara B. nos transformáramos C. me transformara D. te transformaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en una persona distinta. (present perfect) A. se ha transformado B. nos hemos transformado C. me he transformado D. te has transformado

  9. Complete the command: No ___ en un líder del equipo. (negative imperative, tú) A. te transformes B. se transforme C. nos transformemos D. os transforméis

  10. Which is the gerund of transformarse, used with estar for the progressive? A. transformado B. transformo C. transformé D. transformando

Answer key

  1. me transformo — The yo present tense of transformarse is me transformo.
  2. se transformó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of transformarse is se transformó.
  3. nos transformábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of transformarse is nos transformábamos.
  4. te transformarás — The tú future of transformarse is te transformarás.
  5. me transformaría — The yo conditional of transformarse is me transformaría.
  6. se transforme — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of transformarse is se transforme.
  7. me transformara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of transformarse is me transformara.
  8. nos hemos transformado — The nosotros/as present perfect of transformarse is nos hemos transformado.
  9. te transformes — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: te transformes.
  10. transformando — The gerund of transformarse is transformando: estoy transformando. The participle transformado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does transformarse mean in English?

Transformarse means to transform (oneself). It is used in everyday situations such as Me transformo en un líder del equipo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is transformarse a reflexive verb?

Yes. Transformarse is reflexive, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun that matches the person: me, te, se, nos, os or se. For example, Me transformo en un líder del equipo and él se transforma en un barrio nuevo. If you leave the pronoun out, the verb changes meaning or stops making sense.

What is the difference between transformarse and transformar?

Transformarse means to transform (oneself), while transformar means to transform something else. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use transformarse when you mean to transform (oneself), as in Me transformo en un líder del equipo, and use transformar for to transform something else. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I transform (oneself)” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo me transformé en un barrio nuevo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo me transformaba con los años de estudio. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo me he transformado en un barrio nuevo.

How do I practise transformarse?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the transformarse examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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