obligar
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Presente
Presente
Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.
| yo | obligo |
| tú | obligas |
| él/ella | obliga |
| nosotros | obligamos |
| vosotros | obligáis |
| ellos/ellas | obligan |
El profesor obliga a los estudiantes a entregar la tarea a tiempo.
The teacher obliges the students to submit the homework on time.
Mis padres me obligan a estudiar todos los días.
My parents oblige me to study every day.
2.Pretérito Indefinido
Pretérito Indefinido
Completed actions at a specific point in the past.
| yo | obligué |
| tú | obligaste |
| él/ella | obligó |
| nosotros | obligamos |
| vosotros | obligasteis |
| ellos/ellas | obligaron |
El jefe obligó a todos a trabajar horas extras la semana pasada.
The boss obliged everyone to work overtime last week.
Ella me obligó a ir a la fiesta aunque no quería.
She obliged me to go to the party even though I didn't want to.
3.Imperfecto
Imperfecto
Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.
| yo | obligaba |
| tú | obligabas |
| él/ella | obligaba |
| nosotros | obligábamos |
| vosotros | obligabais |
| ellos/ellas | obligaban |
Cuando era niño, mis padres me obligaban a hacer la cama.
When I was a child, my parents obliged me to make the bed.
El profesor siempre nos obligaba a leer en voz alta.
The teacher always obliged us to read aloud.
4.Futuro Simple
Futuro Simple
Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.
| yo | obligaré |
| tú | obligarás |
| él/ella | obligará |
| nosotros | obligaremos |
| vosotros | obligaréis |
| ellos/ellas | obligarán |
Mañana, el entrenador obligará a los jugadores a entrenar más duro.
Tomorrow, the coach will oblige the players to train harder.
Si no llegas a tiempo, te obligaré a quedarte después de clase.
If you don't arrive on time, I will oblige you to stay after class.
5.Condicional
Condicional
Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
| yo | obligaría |
| tú | obligarías |
| él/ella | obligaría |
| nosotros | obligaríamos |
| vosotros | obligaríais |
| ellos/ellas | obligarían |
Si tuviera más tiempo, te obligaría a aprender un nuevo idioma.
If I had more time, I would oblige you to learn a new language.
Ellos obligarían a sus hijos a practicar más si fuera necesario.
They would oblige their children to practice more if necessary.
6.Subjuntivo Presente
Subjuntivo Presente
Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.
| yo | obligue |
| tú | obligues |
| él/ella | obligue |
| nosotros | obliguemos |
| vosotros | obliguéis |
| ellos/ellas | obliguen |
Es importante que él me obligue a seguir las reglas.
It's important that he obliges me to follow the rules.
Espero que mis amigos no me obliguen a ir a esa película.
I hope my friends don't oblige me to go to that movie.
7.Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.
| yo | obligara |
| tú | obligaras |
| él/ella | obligara |
| nosotros | obligáramos |
| vosotros | obligarais |
| ellos/ellas | obligaran |
Si él me obligara a hacerlo, lo haría sin dudar.
If he obliged me to do it, I would do it without hesitation.
Ojalá que no me obligaran a tomar esa decisión.
I wish they wouldn't oblige me to make that decision.
"obligar" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "obligar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
- "obligar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
- How do you conjugate "obligar" in the present tense?
- In the Presente, "obligar" conjugates as: obligas, obligo, obligan, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "obligar" in Spanish?
- In the Pretérito Indefinido, "obligar" conjugates as: obligaste, obligué, obligaron, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "obligar" in Spanish?
- "obligar" (to force, to oblige) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.