to return, to come back
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
Vuelvo en cinco minutos.
I'll be back in five minutes.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Mi tío volvió a Cuba después de veinte años.
My uncle returned to Cuba after twenty years.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
Volvíamos a casa caminando por el malecón.
We used to walk home along the seawall.
Futuro · What will happen
Volveré a llamarte esta noche.
I'll call you again tonight.
Condicional · What would happen
¿Volverías a vivir en tu pueblo?
Would you go back to living in your town?
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
Mis hijos ya han vuelto de la escuela.
My kids have already come back from school.
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
Ella nunca había vuelto a su país.
She had never gone back to her country.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Para el lunes ya habremos vuelto de Cartagena.
By Monday we will have come back from Cartagena.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Yo habría vuelto antes, pero perdí el vuelo.
I would have come back sooner, but I missed my flight.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Espero que vuelvas pronto.
I hope you come back soon.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
Mi abuela quería que volvieran para Navidad.
My grandmother wanted them to come back for Christmas.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Temíamos que no volviese nunca.
We were afraid he would never come back.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
Me alegra que haya vuelto a sonreír.
I'm glad she has started smiling again.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si hubiéramos vuelto antes, la habríamos visto.
If we had come back sooner, we would have seen her.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Vuelve temprano, por favor.
Come back early, please.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
No vuelvas a decir eso.
Don't say that again.