to take care of
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
Cuido a mis nietos los viernes.
I take care of my grandchildren on Fridays.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Mi tía cuidó a mi abuela hasta el final.
My aunt took care of my grandmother until the end.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
Mi hermana mayor nos cuidaba.
My older sister used to take care of us.
Futuro · What will happen
Yo cuidaré a los niños.
I'll take care of the kids.
Condicional · What would happen
Yo cuidaría mejor esas plantas.
I'd take better care of those plants.
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
Mi madre siempre me ha cuidado.
My mother has always taken care of me.
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
Ella ya había cuidado a sus hermanos.
She had already taken care of her brothers.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Rarely used with this verb.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Habrías cuidado bien de ella.
You would have taken good care of her.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Quiero que cuides a tu hermano.
I want you to take care of your brother.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
Le pedí que cuidara mis plantas.
I asked her to take care of my plants.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Pedí que cuidasen el perro.
I asked them to take care of the dog.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
Me alegra que hayas cuidado de ella.
I'm glad you've taken care of her.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si hubiera cuidado el carro, seguiría funcionando.
If I had taken care of the car, it would still be running.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Cuida a tu abuela.
Take care of your grandmother.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
Rarely used with this verb.