Explicar Conjugation | How to Conjugate Explicar in Spanish

Explicar means “to explain.” You will learn its regular -AR endings, the spelling change c → qu before e, forms such as expliqué and explique, compound tenses, and commands.

Explicar conjugation at a glance

Verb type: Irregular. Linguistically, explicar follows the regular -AR endings but changes c → qu before e to preserve the /k/ sound. This produces expliqué — “I explained” — and explique — “that I explain.”

Explicar gerund, past participle, and infinitive

The infinitive names the verb, the gerund supports progressive constructions, and the past participle combines with haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — in compound forms. The participle explicado remains invariant in those compounds.

Form	Spanish	Natural English guide
Infinitive	explicar	to explain
Gerund	explicando	explaining
Past participle	explicado	explained

Explicar meaning and essential uses

Explicar — “to explain” — is transitive. The topic explained can be the direct object: Explico la regla. — “I explain the rule.”

The recipient is commonly expressed with an indirect object: Le explico el problema a Marta. — “I explain the problem to Marta.” The verb can also introduce a clause: Explicó que llegaría tarde. — “He / she explained that he / she would arrive late.”

Explicar irregular conjugation patterns

Most forms use the stable stem explic- with ordinary -AR endings. Before an ending beginning with e, Spanish spelling uses qu to preserve the consonant sound: expliqué — “I explained,” explique — “that I explain,” and expliquemos — “that we explain.”

The present indicative, imperfect, future, conditional, gerund explicando — “explaining,” and participle explicado — “explained” — otherwise follow the expected pattern.

Explicar indicative and periphrastic conjugations

Explicar present tense conjugation

Present indicative (el presente de indicativo) — Use it for current situations, habits, facts, and contextually near-future reference. The table uses the verified present paradigm.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explico	I explain
Tú — you, singular informal	explicas	you explain
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explica	he / she explains; you explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicamos	we explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicáis	you explain (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explican	they explain; you explain (plural)

• Explico la regla con un ejemplo. — I explain the rule with an example.

Explicar preterite conjugation

Preterite (el pretérito perfecto simple / pretérito indefinido) — Use it for completed or bounded past events. The first-person singular is expliqué — “I explained,” with c → qu before e; the remaining preterite forms use the expected endings.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	expliqué	I explained
Tú — you, singular informal	explicaste	you explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explicó	he / she explained; you explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicamos	we explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicasteis	you explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explicaron	they explained; you explained (plural)

• Ayer expliqué el problema al equipo. — Yesterday I explained the problem to the team.

Explicar imperfect conjugation

Imperfect (el pretérito imperfecto) — Use it for habitual, descriptive, background, or ongoing past situations. The table uses the regular imperfect family.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explicaba	I used to explain / was explaining
Tú — you, singular informal	explicabas	you used to explain / were explaining
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explicaba	he / she used to explain / was explaining; you used to explain / were explaining (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicábamos	we used to explain / were explaining
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicabais	you used to explain / were explaining (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explicaban	they used to explain / were explaining; you used to explain / were explaining (plural)

• Antes explicaba cada paso con detalle. — I used to explain every step in detail.

Explicar present progressive

Present progressive — This verbal periphrasis focuses on an action or process in progress. Form it with present estar — “to be” — plus explicando — “explaining.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	estoy explicando	I am explaining
Tú — you, singular informal	estás explicando	you are explaining
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	está explicando	he / she is explaining; you are explaining (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	estamos explicando	we are explaining
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	estáis explicando	you are explaining (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	están explicando	they are explaining; you are explaining (plural)

• Estoy explicando cómo funciona. — I am explaining how it works.

Explicar near future conjugation

Near future — This verbal periphrasis expresses an intention, plan, or expected event. Form it with present ir — “to go” — plus a — “to” — and explicar — “to explain.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	voy a explicar	I am going to explain
Tú — you, singular informal	vas a explicar	you are going to explain
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	va a explicar	he / she is going to explain; you are going to explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	vamos a explicar	we are going to explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	vais a explicar	you are going to explain (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	van a explicar	they are going to explain; you are going to explain (plural)

• Voy a explicar la diferencia ahora. — I am going to explain the difference now.

Explicar future tense conjugation

Simple future (el futuro simple) — Use it for future reference and, when useful, probability. The endings attach to the full infinitive; there is no separate irregular future or conditional stem.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explicaré	I will explain
Tú — you, singular informal	explicarás	you will explain
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explicará	he / she will explain; you will explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicaremos	we will explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicaréis	you will explain (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explicarán	they will explain; you will explain (plural)

• Explicaré el procedimiento mañana. — I will explain the procedure tomorrow.

Explicar conditional conjugation

Conditional (el condicional simple) — Use it for hypothetical outcomes, softened statements, or related conditional meanings. The endings attach to the full infinitive; there is no separate irregular future or conditional stem.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explicaría	I would explain
Tú — you, singular informal	explicarías	you would explain
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explicaría	he / she would explain; you would explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicaríamos	we would explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicaríais	you would explain (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explicarían	they would explain; you would explain (plural)

• Lo explicaría de otra manera. — I would explain it another way.

Explicar present perfect conjugation

Present perfect (el pretérito perfecto compuesto) — Use it for completed events connected to a present reference frame; regional distribution varies. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	he explicado	I have explained
Tú — you, singular informal	has explicado	you have explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	ha explicado	he / she has explained; you have explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hemos explicado	we have explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habéis explicado	you have explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	han explicado	they have explained; you have explained (plural)

• Ya he explicado el punto principal. — I have already explained the main point.

Explicar past perfect conjugation

Past perfect (el pretérito pluscuamperfecto) — Use it for an event completed before another past reference point. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	había explicado	I had explained
Tú — you, singular informal	habías explicado	you had explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	había explicado	he / she had explained; you had explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	habíamos explicado	we had explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habíais explicado	you had explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	habían explicado	they had explained; you had explained (plural)

• Habíamos explicado las reglas antes de empezar. — We had explained the rules before starting.

Explicar future perfect conjugation

Future perfect (el futuro perfecto) — Use it for an event expected to be completed before a future reference point. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	habré explicado	I will have explained
Tú — you, singular informal	habrás explicado	you will have explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	habrá explicado	he / she will have explained; you will have explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	habremos explicado	we will have explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habréis explicado	you will have explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	habrán explicado	they will have explained; you will have explained (plural)

• Para entonces habrán explicado todo el proceso. — By then they will have explained the whole process.

Explicar conditional perfect conjugation

Conditional perfect (el condicional compuesto) — Use it for a hypothetical completed outcome. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	habría explicado	I would have explained
Tú — you, singular informal	habrías explicado	you would have explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	habría explicado	he / she would have explained; you would have explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	habríamos explicado	we would have explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	habríais explicado	you would have explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	habrían explicado	they would have explained; you would have explained (plural)

• Habría explicado mejor el ejemplo con más tiempo. — I would have explained the example better with more time.

Explicar subjunctive conjugations

Explicar present subjunctive conjugation

Present subjunctive (el presente de subjuntivo) — Use it in subordinate environments involving wishes, influence, emotion, doubt or denial, evaluation, necessity, possibility, or non-specific reference. Every form uses qu before the e-based subjunctive ending: explique, expliques, expliquemos — “that I/you/we explain,” as appropriate.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explique	that I explain
Tú — you, singular informal	expliques	that you explain
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explique	that he / she explain; that you explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	expliquemos	that we explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	expliquéis	that you explain (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	expliquen	that they explain; that you explain (plural)

• Quiero que expliques la razón. — I want you to explain the reason.

Explicar imperfect subjunctive conjugation

Imperfect subjunctive (el imperfecto de subjuntivo) — The main table uses the -ra series. The accepted -se series is also valid in many contexts and is demonstrated after the table; do not assume unrestricted interchangeability in every special construction. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explicara	that I explained
Tú — you, singular informal	explicaras	that you explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explicara	that he / she explained; that you explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicáramos	that we explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicarais	that you explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explicaran	that they explained; that you explained (plural)

• Preferían que explicáramos el método paso a paso. — They preferred that we explain the method step by step.
• Era mejor que explicases primero el contexto. — It was better for you to explain the context first.

Explicar future subjunctive conjugation

Future subjunctive (el futuro de subjuntivo) — Rare in modern everyday Spanish. It survives mainly in formal, legal, proverbial, literary, or historical contexts. These rare reference forms share the same historical family as the imperfect subjunctive.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	explicare	if / when I should explain
Tú — you, singular informal	explicares	if / when you should explain
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	explicare	if / when he / she should explain; if / when you should explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	explicáremos	if / when we should explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicareis	if / when you should explain (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	explicaren	if / when they should explain; if / when you should explain (plural)

• Quien explicare el procedimiento deberá responder a las preguntas. — Whoever should explain the procedure must answer the questions.

Explicar present perfect subjunctive conjugation

Present perfect subjunctive (el pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo) — Use it when a completed event appears inside a present- or future-oriented subjunctive environment. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	haya explicado	that I have explained
Tú — you, singular informal	hayas explicado	that you have explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	haya explicado	that he / she has explained; that you have explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hayamos explicado	that we have explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	hayáis explicado	that you have explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	hayan explicado	that they have explained; that you have explained (plural)

• Me alegra que hayas explicado el problema. — I am glad that you have explained the problem.

Explicar past perfect subjunctive conjugation

Past perfect subjunctive (el pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) — The main table uses hubiera; hubiese is an accepted auxiliary alternative in many contexts and is demonstrated after the table. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	hubiera explicado	that I had explained
Tú — you, singular informal	hubieras explicado	that you had explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	hubiera explicado	that he / she had explained; that you had explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hubiéramos explicado	that we had explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	hubierais explicado	that you had explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	hubieran explicado	that they had explained; that you had explained (plural)

• Si hubiéramos explicado antes las condiciones, no habría confusión. — If we had explained the conditions earlier, there would be no confusion.
• Si hubieses explicado el motivo, lo habría entendido. — If you had explained the reason, I would have understood it.

Explicar future perfect subjunctive conjugation

Future perfect subjunctive (el futuro perfecto de subjuntivo) — Rare in modern everyday Spanish. Treat it as a formal or historical reference form, not an everyday conversational target. Form it with the appropriate form of haber — “to have” as an auxiliary — plus the invariant participle explicado — “explained.”

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Yo — I	hubiere explicado	if / when I should have explained
Tú — you, singular informal	hubieres explicado	if / when you should have explained
Él / Ella / Usted — he / she / you, singular formal	hubiere explicado	if / when he / she should have explained; if / when you should have explained (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we	hubiéremos explicado	if / when we should have explained
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	hubiereis explicado	if / when you should have explained (plural)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — they / you, plural	hubieren explicado	if / when they should have explained; if / when you should have explained (plural)

• Si hubieren explicado el cambio, deberá constar en el informe. — If they should have explained the change, it must be recorded in the report.

Explicar imperative and commands

Commands address another person directly. Spanish uses different morphological sources by person and polarity; the nosotros/nosotras row is a present-subjunctive form used with exhortative “let’s…” value.

Explicar affirmative commands

Use affirmative commands for direct instructions when the target meaning supports them naturally. The table contains the five core addressee or exhortative rows.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Tú — you, singular informal	explica	explain
Usted — you, singular formal	explique	explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we; let’s…	expliquemos	let’s explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	explicad	explain (plural, mainly Spain)
Ustedes — you, plural	expliquen	explain (plural)

• Explica tu respuesta. — Explain your answer.

Explicar negative commands

Negative commands use subjunctive-based forms, with no — “not / do not” — before the command form.

Pronoun and English meaning	Spanish	Natural English guide
Tú — you, singular informal	no expliques	do not explain
Usted — you, singular formal	no explique	do not explain (formal)
Nosotros / Nosotras — we; let’s…	no expliquemos	let’s not explain
Vosotros / Vosotras — you, plural informal, mainly Spain	no expliquéis	do not explain (plural, mainly Spain)
Ustedes — you, plural	no expliquen	do not explain (plural)

• No expliques datos privados. — Do not explain private data.

Common constructions with Explicar

These patterns show sentence frames that materially affect how the target verb is used.

• explicar algo. — to explain something.
• explicar algo a alguien. — to explain something to someone.
• explicar que + clause. — to explain that something is the case.

Example sentences with Explicar

These examples reinforce the target verb across useful forms and contexts already taught in the lesson.

• ¿Puedes explicarme esta palabra? — Can you explain this word to me?
• La profesora explicó la regla. — The teacher explained the rule.
• Estoy explicando el problema. — I am explaining the problem.
• Espero que lo expliques con claridad. — I hope you explain it clearly.
• Ya hemos explicado cómo funciona. — We have already explained how it works.
• Explica cada paso con calma. — Explain each step calmly.

Regional and usage notes for Explicar

The core tables retain tú, usted, vosotros/vosotras, and ustedes for project comparability. Voseo changes some common second-person singular forms in regions where vos — “you, singular informal” — is used.

• Vos explicás la regla con claridad. — You explain the rule clearly. (voseo)
• Explicá tu respuesta. — Explain your answer. (affirmative vos command)

For explicar, the endings are mostly regular; the key is spelling. Use qu before e in forms such as expliqué — “I explained” — and explique — “that I explain.”