{"id":145288,"date":"2024-03-04T02:16:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T07:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/past-participle-spanish\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T04:00:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T09:00:07","slug":"past-participle-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/past-participle-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Past Participle in Spanish (Forming and Using It)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The past participle is a versatile verb form in Spanish, typically formed by adding -ado<\/em> or -ido<\/em> to the verb stem (though there are some irregulars to memorize). From forming perfect tenses to acting as adjectives and even nouns, understanding the past participle is essential for effective communication.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Below I’ll walk you through how to form and use Spanish past participle, with plenty of examples to solidify your understanding.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is the Past Participle in Spanish?<\/h2>\n

The past participle is a verb form that’s typically used with perfect tenses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Think \u201cI have forgotten,\u201d in English. In this sentence, \u201chave\u201d is the auxiliary verb, or helping verb, and \u201cforgotten\u201d is the past participle of \u201cto forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spanish past participles work almost the same way. In this case our example translates to \u201cHe olvidado<\/em>,\u201d where \u201che<\/em>\u201d (from haber<\/em>) is the auxiliary verb\u00a0and \u201colvidado”\u00a0<\/em>(from olvidar<\/em>)\u00a0is the past participle.<\/p>\n

How to Form the Past Participle in Spanish<\/h2>\n

To form the past participle in Spanish, all you have to do is drop the ending (-ar, -er <\/em>or -ir<\/em>) from the infinitive verb and add \u2013ado<\/em> or \u2013ido<\/em><\/strong>, depending on the verb. \u2013Ar<\/em> verbs take \u2013ado<\/em>. \u2013Ir<\/em> and \u2013er <\/em>verbs take \u2013ido<\/em>. Check out the examples below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verb type<\/th>Infinitive verb<\/th>Past participle<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
-ar <\/em> verbs<\/td> acostar <\/a>\n
\n casar <\/a>\n
\n tumbar <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>		acostado
\ncasado
\ntumbado<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-er <\/em> verbs<\/td> llover <\/a>\n
\n ser <\/a>\n
\n deber <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>		 llovido <\/a>\n
\n sido <\/a>\n
\n debido <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-ir <\/em> verbs<\/td> herir <\/a>\n
\n dormir <\/a>\n
\n ir <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>		 herido <\/a>\n
\n dormido <\/a>\n
\n ido <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Irregular Spanish Past Participles<\/h3>\n

There are a few verbs that don’t follow the above rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Infinitive<\/th>Past Participle<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
escribir <\/a>\n <\/td> escrito <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
romper <\/a>\n <\/td> roto <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
volver <\/a>\n <\/td> vuelto <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hacer <\/a>\n <\/td> hecho <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
morir <\/a>\n <\/td> muerto <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

There are more irregular past participles, but these are a few of the most common. Sorry, but the only way to learn these irregulars is to memorize them!<\/p>\n

Uses of the Past Participle in Spanish<\/h2>\n

In Perfect Tenses<\/h3>\n

You’ll most commonly see the past participle used in perfect constructions.<\/p>\n

Perfect constructions<\/strong> are used to express that an action began in the past and has continued happening up until the present (or the moment indicated if you’re speaking in the past or the future).<\/p>\n

In English, the present perfect <\/a>would be, \u201cErin has swum<\/strong> every day this summer.\u201d In Spanish, \u201cErin ha nadado<\/u> todos los\u00a0d\u00edas este verano<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forming the perfect is straightforward; you only have to ever really worry about conjugating one verb: haber.<\/em> All you have to do is tack on the past participle to your conjugated haber<\/em> <\/strong>and you’ve got yourself a perfect tense!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Tense<\/th>Example<\/th>Meaning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Present perfect<\/a> <\/td> Erin ha nadado <\/a>\n <\/td>Erin has swum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past perfect (Pluperfect)<\/a><\/td> Erin hab\u00eda nadado <\/a>\n <\/td>Erin had swum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Past perfect subjunctive<\/a><\/td> Erin hubiera nadado <\/a>\n <\/td>Erin would have swum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Future perfect<\/a> <\/td> Erin habr\u00e1 nadado <\/a>\n <\/td>Erin will have swum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Notice a pattern? The past participle never changes.<\/strong>\u00a0Just use what you know about the verb tenses to conjugate haber <\/em>and add the past participle.<\/p>\n

Check out this article<\/a> if you want more guidance on the perfect tenses (or any other Spanish tense!).<\/p>\n

But now that you know how to form past participles and how to use them with perfect tenses, let’s look at other ways we can use the participle in Spanish.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As an Adjective<\/h3>\n

The past participle is often used as an adjective<\/a>. How about that? By learning one word, you’ve really learned two now!<\/p>\n

As an adjective, the participle indicates the result of an action or a state of being<\/strong>, much the same as in English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Notice that the participle as an adjective must agree with the gender (masculine\/feminine) and quantity (singular\/plural) of the noun to which it refers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Use<\/th>Explanation<\/th>Examples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Regular use of the participle as an adjective<\/td>Use the participle as you would any other adjective and make sure it agrees with the gender and quantity of the noun it's describing.<\/td> Rosalba est\u00e1 enfadada<\/u>. <\/a>\n <\/em>(Rosabla is upset.)
\n
\n \u00a1Abre las ventanas! No me gustan las ventanas cerradas<\/u>. <\/a>\n <\/em>(Open the windows! I don\u2019t like closed windows.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Use of the participle as an adjective independently<\/td>Here, the participle is used to make an exclamation, interject or refer to a state of being or situation.<\/td> \u00bfSorprendido<\/u>, Ernesto? \u00a1Soy yo, tu amor perdido! <\/a>\n <\/em>(Surprised, Ernesto? It is I, your lost love!)
\n
\n El rey, \u00bfmuerto<\/u>? \u00a1Dime que no es verdad! <\/a>\n <\/em>(The king, dead? Tell me it\u2019s not true!)
\n
\n \u00bfEnfadada<\/u> yo? Eres t\u00fa quien est\u00e1 enfadado, Pablo. <\/a>\n <\/em>(Me, mad? You\u2019re the one who\u2019s mad, Pablo.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Use of the participle as an adjective for repeated situations<\/td>For these types of situations that happen frequently or repeatedly, use adverbs such as siempre<\/em>, otra vez<\/em> or de nuevo<\/em>.<\/td> \u00a1Siempre cubierto<\/u> de mugre! \u00bfEs que vives en un granero? <\/a>\n <\/em> (Always covered with filth. What, do you live in a barn?)
\n*note that cubrir<\/em> has an irregular past participle.
\n
\n \u00a1Dios! \u00bfCu\u00e1ntas chicas tiene Luis? Siempre rodeado<\/u> de ellas. <\/a>\n <\/em>(Geez, how many girls does Luis have? Always surrounded by them.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Use of the participle as an adjective to indicate a temporary relationship between two things<\/td>Instead of forming an entire phrase, you can just replace it with the appropriate participle. Sometimes an adverb is necessary to indicate the exact timeline.<\/td> Acabada<\/u> la cena con su marido, Mar\u00eda fue a la casa de su amante. <\/a>\n \u00a0<\/em>(Dinner with her husband over, Maria went to her lover\u2019s house.)
\n
\n Despedido<\/u> del trabajo, Fran escribi\u00f3 un libro. <\/a>\n \u00a0<\/em>(Fired from work, Fran wrote a book.)
\n
\n No puedo ir hasta pasadas<\/u> las ocho. <\/a>\n \u00a0<\/em>(I can\u2019t go until after eight o\u2019clock.)
\n
\n Despu\u00e9s de empezado<\/u> el vuelo, no se puede salir del avi\u00f3n. <\/a>\n \u00a0<\/em>(After the flight has begun, you cannot exit the plane.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

As a Noun<\/h3>\n

The past participle in Spanish is also occasionally used as a noun<\/a>.\u00a0With a little practice recognizing past participles being used as nouns, you\u2019ll begin to pick up a natural rhythm for what can be used as a noun and what cannot.<\/p>\n

A simple way to think about it is that the past participle as a noun often corresponds to the \u2013ed<\/em> object nouns in English<\/strong>. For example, the painted one (el pintado<\/em>), the drowned one (el ahogado) <\/em>or the affected one (el afectado<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Although not all nouns in Spanish are past participles of verbs, a great number are derived from a common root. So by learning the verb, you’re likely learning a noun (or two) anyway. For example, the verb amar<\/em> could become amado<\/em> (the loved one) or amante<\/em> (the lover).\u00a0Amado<\/em>\u00a0is the participle.<\/p>\n

Here are some other participles that are used as nouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Infinitive verb<\/th>Participle<\/th>Meaning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
decir <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el dicho <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the saying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hacer <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el hecho <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the fact <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
estar <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el estado <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the state of being<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
herir <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el herido <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the injured<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
poner <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el puesto <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the post\/position<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
acusar <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el acusado <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the accused<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
volver <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> la vuelta <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the turn\/a walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
morir <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> el muerto <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the dead person<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tostar <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> la tostada <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>the toasted sandwich
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

With Other Verbs<\/h3>\n

The participle can be paired up with verbs other than haber<\/em> to achieve a few more useful effects in Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verb<\/th>Explanation<\/th>Examples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
With the verb ser<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Used to form the passive voice. The participle is in the adjective form and agrees with the noun it describes.<\/td> La casa fue destruida<\/u> por un hurac\u00e1n.<\/em> <\/a>\n (The house was destroyed by a hurricane.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With verbs that express state of being or a result of an action (parecer, quedar(se), estar, mostrar, resultar<\/strong><\/em>, etc.)<\/td>Again, the participle is used as an adjective and has the same form as the noun.<\/td> La mesa est\u00e1 rota<\/u>.<\/em> <\/a>\n (The table is broken.)
\n
\n El dibujo result\u00f3 mejorado<\/u> por la lluvia.<\/em> <\/a>\n (The painting was improved by the rain.)
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With action verbs<\/strong><\/td>The participle can be used as an adverb to indicate how the action is done or the result of an action. It must agree with the subject. <\/td> Los perros miran obsesionados<\/u>\u00a0a los gatos.<\/em> (The dogs look obsessed at\u00a0the cats.) <\/a>\n
\n
\n Carolina nunca llega relajada<\/u>. <\/em>(Carolina never arrives relaxed.) <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With the verb tener<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Used to indicate the result of a repeated or extended action. Must agree with the object to which it refers.<\/td> Tengo dicho<\/u> que no salimos los lunes.<\/em> <\/a>\n (I\u2019ve said repeatedly that we shouldn\u2019t go out on Mondays.)
\n
\n Mi hermana tiene guardado<\/u> dinero para mi sobrina.<\/em> <\/a>\n (My sister has money saved for my niece.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With the verb dejar<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Used to indicate that the action has been completed earlier as a precaution. Must agree with the object to which it refers.<\/td> Mi madre nos dej\u00f3 hecha<\/u> la cena.<\/em> <\/a>\n (My mother left us dinner already made.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With the verb llevar<\/strong><\/em><\/td>Used to indicate the accumulation of a continuous action. Must agree with the object to which it refers.<\/td> Josh ya lleva gastados<\/u> 1000 euros este mes.<\/em> <\/a>\n (Josh has already spent 1,000 euros this month.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The Past Participle Versus the Gerund<\/h2>\n

So I know that by now it seems like you can use the past participle for pretty much anything. While it has many uses, there are a few things you cannot use it for.<\/p>\n

It’s generally not used as an adverb<\/strong> (except when it is; see above). Instead, use the gerund.<\/a> Or, if you want to get real fancy, you can use the two together in various ways, as shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Use <\/th>Example<\/th>Meaning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Perfect tense + gerund as an adverb<\/td> He ido corriendo<\/u> al mercado. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>I have run to the market.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The perfect participle<\/td> Habiendo entrado<\/u>, fui directo al ba\u00f1o. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Having entered, I went straight to the bathroom.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perfect progressive tenses<\/td> Sven ha estado bailando<\/u> toda la noche.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Sven has been dancing all night.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The Past Participle Versus the Infinitive<\/h2>\n

Most of the time, the past participle is also not used as a noun (except when it is; see above). Instead, use the infinitive<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Use<\/th>Examples<\/th>Meaning<\/th><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Use the infinitive as a noun<\/td> Ganar<\/u> es mejor que perder<\/u>.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>Winning is better than losing.<\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Make the perfect infinitive by using haber<\/em> with the participle<\/td> Haber vivido<\/u> en los a\u00f1os treinta habr\u00eda sido muy dif\u00edcil.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>To have lived in the thirties would have been very difficult.<\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Use deber<\/em> followed by the perfect infinitive to express probability in past time (instead of using subjunctive and conditionals)<\/td> Deben haber perdido<\/u> los juguetes.<\/em> <\/a>\n
\n
\n Debe haber tomado<\/u> el gorro.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>		They must have lost the toys.
\n
\nHe must have taken the hat.<\/td>		<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Resources for Past Participle Practice<\/h2>\n

Look at your past participle boss-ness. You can sling a past participle with the best of them now. But just to make sure, here are a couple resources\u00a0that you can use\u00a0to practice.<\/p>\n