alabar Present Conjugation
alabar — to praise
The present tense of 'alabar' is regular: alabo, alabas, alaba, alabamos, alabáis, alaban.
alabar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense of 'alabar' for actions happening right now ('I praise you now'), habitual actions ('She always praises my cooking'), or general truths ('Good leaders praise their teams').
Notes on alabar in the Present
Alabar is regular in the present indicative tense. All forms follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo alabo tu honestidad.
I praise your honesty.
yo
¿Tú alabas siempre el trabajo de los demás?
Do you always praise the work of others?
tú
Mi jefe alaba mis ideas en las reuniones.
My boss praises my ideas in meetings.
él/ella/usted
Alabamos el esfuerzo de los voluntarios.
We praise the volunteers' effort.
nosotros
Ellos alaban el nuevo sistema.
They praise the new system.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing 'alabamos' (present) with 'alabamos' (preterite).
Correct: Context usually makes it clear, but if needed, use time markers: 'Hoy alabamos...' (present) vs. 'Ayer alabamos...' (preterite).
Why: The nosotros form in both the present indicative and preterite is identical.
Mistake: Incorrect 'vosotros' form.
Correct: The correct form is 'alabáis', not 'alabas' or 'alaban'.
Why: The vosotros ending for regular -ar verbs in the present indicative is '-áis'.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'alabar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: alabé
The preterite of 'alabar' is regular: alabé, alabaste, alabó, alabamos, alabasteis, alabaron.
Imperfect
yo: alababa
The imperfect of 'alabar' is regular: alababa, alababas, alababa, alabábamos, alababais, alababan.
Future
yo: alabaré
The future tense of 'alabar' is regular: alabaré, alabarás, alabará, alabaremos, alabaréis, alabarán.
Conditional
yo: alabaría
The conditional of 'alabar' is regular: alabaría, alabarías, alabaría, alabaríamos, alabaríais, alabarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alabe
Use 'alabar' in the present subjunctive ('alabe', 'alaben') after doubt, wishes, emotions, or impersonal expressions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alabara
Use the imperfect subjunctive ('alabara'/'alabarais') for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alaba
Use 'alabar' for direct commands like '¡Alaba tú!' or '¡Alabemos nosotros!'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no alabes
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: 'no alabes' (you), 'no alaben' (they/you all).