Introduction

Vigilar means “to watch over”, and this page covers exactly one thing: vigilar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for vigilar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about vigilar in the present. Vigilar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo vigilo a los niños” — "I watch over the children". Everything on this page uses the forms of vigilar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Vigilar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo vigilo
tú vigilas
él/ella/Ud. vigila
nosotros/as vigilamos
vosotros/as vigiláis
ellos/ellas/Uds. vigilan

Gerund: vigilando · Past participle: vigilado

The gerund is vigilando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy vigilando” means the action of vigilar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is vigilado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he vigilado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how vigilar is used.

How the present of vigilar is formed

Vigilar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem vigil and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving vigilo, vigilas, vigila, vigilamos, vigiláis, vigilan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, vigiláis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of vigilar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form vigiláis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form vigilo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of vigilar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use vigilar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, vigilar goes in the present. Example: “Yo vigilo la casa” — "I watch over the house".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about vigilar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él vigila de cerca” — "He watches over closely".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so vigilo can mean both "I watch over" and "I am watching over". Example: “Yo vigilo a los niños” — "I watch over the children".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros vigilamos la casa” — "We watch over the house".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with vigilar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él vigila de cerca” — "He watches over closely".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo vigilo a los niños” — "I watch over the children".

  • Preterite: “Yo vigilé a los niños” — "I watched over the children".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él vigila la casa” — "He watches over the house".

  • Preterite: “Él vigiló la casa” — "He watched over the house".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros vigilamos de cerca” — "We watch over closely".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros vigilamos de cerca” — "We watched over closely".

  • The two sentences look identical: vigilamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: vigilar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo vigilo la casa” — "I watch over the house"

  2. “Tú vigilas de cerca” — "You watch over closely"

  3. “Él vigila a los niños” — "He watches over the children"

  4. “Nosotros vigilamos la casa” — "We watch over the house"

  5. “Vosotros vigiláis de cerca” — "You watch over closely"

  6. “Ellos vigilan a los niños” — "They watch over the children"

  7. “Yo vigilo la casa” — "I watch over the house"

  8. “Él vigila de cerca” — "He watches over closely"

Common mistakes with vigilar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos vigila a los niños” Right: “Ellos vigilan a los niños” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form vigilan. The singular vigila belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo vigilé” Right: “Todos los días, yo vigilo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (vigilé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo vigila a los niños.” Right: “Yo vigilo a los niños” Why: Yo needs the yo form vigilo. The él form vigila belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo vigilo” Right: “Ayer, yo vigilé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to vigilé.

Quiz: vigilar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ de cerca.” (yo form)

A. vigilas B. vigiláis C. vigilo D. vigila

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ a los niños.” (tú form)

A. vigilan B. vigilo C. vigiláis D. vigilas

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ la casa.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. vigilo B. vigilas C. vigila D. vigilamos

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ de cerca.” (nosotros/as form)

A. vigila B. vigilas C. vigilamos D. vigilan

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ a los niños.” (vosotros/as form)

A. vigiláis B. vigilan C. vigilamos D. vigilo

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ la casa.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. vigilan B. vigila C. vigilamos D. vigilo

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo vigilo B. Todos los días, yo vigilé

Answer key

  1. vigilo — The yo present of vigilar is vigilo.
  2. vigilas — The tú present of vigilar is vigilas.
  3. vigila — The él/ella/Ud. present of vigilar is vigila.
  4. vigilamos — The nosotros/as present of vigilar is vigilamos.
  5. vigiláis — The vosotros/as present of vigilar is vigiláis.
  6. vigilan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of vigilar is vigilan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo vigilo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of vigilar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo vigilo a los niños. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of vigilar formed?

Take the stem vigil- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving vigilo, vigilas, vigila, vigilamos, vigiláis, vigilan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for vigilar?

The present (vigilo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (vigilé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise vigilar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — vigilo, vigilas, vigila, vigilamos, vigiláis, vigilan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the vigilar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of vigilar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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