Inklingo
A row of apples where the colors switch between red and green.

alternar

to alternate

Complete conjugation tables and interactive practice exercises. This is a regular -ar verb.

The Spanish verb alternar means to alternate.

Present tense:

yoalterno
alternas
él/ella/ustedalterna
nosotrosalternamos
vosotrosalternáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesalternan

Complete Conjugation Tables

Reference all tenses and moods

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternaran
yoalternara
alternaras
vosotrosalternarais
nosotrosalternáramos
él/ella/ustedalternara

The imperfect subjunctive (alternara/alternase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and polite requests.

Forms, examples & usage →

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternen
yoalterne
alternes
vosotrosalternéis
nosotrosalternemos
él/ella/ustedalterne

The present subjunctive (alterne, alternes, alternemos, alternen, alternéis) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.

Forms, examples & usage →

imperative

negative

no alternes
vosotrosno alternéis
ustedesno alternen
nosotrosno alternemos
ustedno alterne

Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no alternes' (tú), 'no alterne' (usted), 'no alternemos' (nosotros), 'no alternen' (ustedes), 'no alternéis' (vosotros).

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affirmative

alterna
vosotrosalternad
ustedesalternen
nosotrosalternemos
ustedalterne

Use 'alterna' (tú), 'alterne' (usted), 'alternemos' (nosotros), 'alternen' (ustedes), 'alternad' (vosotros) for direct commands.

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indicative

conditional

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternarían
yoalternaría
alternarías
vosotrosalternaríais
nosotrosalternaríamos
él/ella/ustedalternaría

The conditional 'alternaría', 'alternarías', 'alternaría', 'alternaríamos', 'alternaríais', 'alternarían' expresses hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.

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preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternaron
yoalterné
alternaste
vosotrosalternasteis
nosotrosalternamos
él/ella/ustedalternó

The preterite of 'alternar' is regular: alterné, alternaste, alternó, alternamos, alternasteis, alternaron.

Forms, examples & usage →

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternaban
yoalternaba
alternabas
vosotrosalternabais
nosotrosalternábamos
él/ella/ustedalternaba

The imperfect 'alternaba', 'alternabas', 'alternaba', 'alternábamos', 'alternabais', 'alternaban' describes habitual or ongoing past actions.

Forms, examples & usage →

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternan
yoalterno
alternas
vosotrosalternáis
nosotrosalternamos
él/ella/ustedalterna

The present tense 'alterno', 'alternas', 'alterna', 'alternamos', 'alternáis', 'alternan' describes habitual actions, current actions, and general truths.

Forms, examples & usage →

future

ellos/ellas/ustedesalternarán
yoalternaré
alternarás
vosotrosalternaréis
nosotrosalternaremos
él/ella/ustedalternará

The future tense 'alternaré', 'alternarás', 'alternará', 'alternaremos', 'alternaréis', 'alternarán' indicates actions that will happen.

Forms, examples & usage →

Practice Conjugations

Test your knowledge with interactive exercises

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Take alternar from tables to real Spanish

Conjugation tables are the start. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see 'alternar' in action across real sentences — and build the instinct that native speakers have.