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Spanish · Verb · #156 most common

observar

to observe
to watch

Regular-ar ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yoobservo
observas
él/ellaobserva
nosotrosobservamos
vosotrosobserváis
ellos/ellasobservan

Yo observo las estrellas cada noche.

I observe the stars every night.

Ella observa a los pájaros en el parque.

She observes the birds in the park.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yoobservé
observaste
él/ellaobservó
nosotrosobservamos
vosotrosobservasteis
ellos/ellasobservaron

Ayer observé un documental interesante.

Yesterday, I observed an interesting documentary.

Ellos observaron el comportamiento de los animales.

They observed the behavior of the animals.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yoobservaba
observabas
él/ellaobservaba
nosotrosobservábamos
vosotrosobservabais
ellos/ellasobservaban

Cuando era niño, observaba a mis abuelos contar historias.

When I was a child, I observed my grandparents telling stories.

Ella siempre observaba las flores en el jardín.

She always observed the flowers in the garden.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yoobservaré
observarás
él/ellaobservará
nosotrosobservaremos
vosotrosobservaréis
ellos/ellasobservarán

Mañana observaré la presentación en la escuela.

Tomorrow, I will observe the presentation at school.

Ellos observarán el partido desde la tribuna.

They will observe the game from the stands.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yoobservaría
observarías
él/ellaobservaría
nosotrosobservaríamos
vosotrosobservaríais
ellos/ellasobservarían

Si tuviera tiempo, observaría más la naturaleza.

If I had time, I would observe nature more.

Ella observaría el cielo si no estuviera nublado.

She would observe the sky if it weren't cloudy.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yoobserve
observes
él/ellaobserve
nosotrosobservemos
vosotrosobservéis
ellos/ellasobserven

Es importante que yo observe los detalles.

It is important that I observe the details.

Espero que ellos observen las instrucciones correctamente.

I hope they observe the instructions correctly.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yoobservase
observases
él/ellaobservase
nosotrosobservásemos
vosotrosobservaseis
ellos/ellasobservasen

Si yo observara el fenómeno, lo entendería mejor.

If I observed the phenomenon, I would understand it better.

Era necesario que ella observara el proceso con atención.

It was necessary for her to observe the process carefully.

"observar" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "observar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"observar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
How do you conjugate "observar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "observar" conjugates as: observas, observo, observan, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "observar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "observar" conjugates as: observaste, observé, observaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "observar" in Spanish?
"observar" (to observe, to watch) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.