to try, to attempt
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
Intento hablar español con mis vecinos.
I try to speak Spanish with my neighbors.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Intentamos llamar, pero no había señal.
We tried to call, but there was no signal.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
Mi abuela intentaba enseñarme a cocinar.
My grandmother was trying to teach me to cook.
Futuro · What will happen
Lo intentaré otra vez mañana.
I'll try again tomorrow.
Condicional · What would happen
¿Intentarías aprender a bailar?
Would you try to learn to dance?
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
Han intentado arreglar la luz.
They've tried to fix the power.
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
Ella ya lo había intentado dos veces.
She had already tried it twice.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Para entonces lo habremos intentado todo.
By then we will have tried everything.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Yo lo habría intentado de otra manera.
I would have tried it differently.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Quiero que lo intentes una vez más.
I want you to try one more time.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
Le rogué que lo intentara.
I begged him to try.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Dudaba que lo intentasen de nuevo.
I doubted they would try again.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
Me alegra que lo hayas intentado.
I'm glad you've tried.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si lo hubiéramos intentado, quizás habríamos ganado.
If we had tried, maybe we would have won.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Intenta llegar antes de las ocho.
Try to get there before eight.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
No intentes hacerlo todo solo.
Don't try to do it all by yourself.