to try, to taste; to prove
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
Siempre pruebo la comida antes de echarle sal.
I always taste the food before adding salt.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Mi hijo probó el mango por primera vez.
My son tried mango for the first time.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
Los clientes probaban el café gratis.
The customers would try the coffee for free.
Futuro · What will happen
Probaremos ese restaurante nuevo.
We'll try that new restaurant.
Condicional · What would happen
¿Probarías el mofongo?
Would you try mofongo?
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
¿Has probado el café cubano?
Have you tried Cuban coffee?
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
Ella nunca había probado el aguacate.
She had never tried avocado.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Para el domingo ya habrán probado todos los platos.
By Sunday they will have tried all the dishes.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Yo lo habría probado con menos azúcar.
I would have tried it with less sugar.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Quiero que pruebes este flan.
I want you to try this flan.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
Le pedí que probara la sopa.
I asked him to taste the soup.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Pedí que probasen el arroz.
I asked them to taste the rice.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
Espero que hayas probado los tostones.
I hope you've tried the tostones.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si hubiéramos probado antes, habríamos vuelto más veces.
If we had tried it sooner, we would have come back more often.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Prueba este dulce de guayaba.
Try this guava candy.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
No pruebes la sopa, está muy caliente.
Don't taste the soup, it's very hot.