apuñalar Present Conjugation
apuñalar — to stab
The present tense of apuñalar describes habitual actions or things happening now: apuñalo, apuñalas, apuñala, apuñalamos, apuñaláis, apuñalan.
apuñalar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for actions happening right now, habitual actions ('He always stabs the balloons at the party'), or general truths. Given the verb's nature, it's often used metaphorically or in specific, often violent, contexts.
Notes on apuñalar in the Present
Apuñalar is regular in the present indicative. All regular -ar verbs follow the same pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo apuñalo la arena para entrenar.
I stab the sand to train.
yo
¿Tú apuñalas el saco de boxeo a menudo?
Do you stab the boxing bag often?
tú
El payaso apuñala globos con una aguja.
The clown stabs balloons with a needle.
él/ella/usted
Ellos apuñalan la madera para hacer esculturas.
They stab the wood to make sculptures.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present progressive ('estar' + gerund) when a simple present is more natural for habitual actions.
Correct: For habits, use the simple present: 'Él apuñala...' not 'Él está apuñalando...'.
Why: The simple present covers habitual actions, while the present progressive focuses on actions in progress right now.
Mistake: Confusing 'nosotros apuñalamos' with the preterite.
Correct: Context usually makes it clear whether 'apuñalamos' refers to a past completed action (preterite) or a current habitual one (present).
Why: The form is identical in both tenses for 'nosotros'.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'apuñalar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: apuñalé
The preterite of apuñalar is regular: apuñalé, apuñalaste, apuñaló, apuñalamos, apuñalasteis, apuñalaron.
Imperfect
yo: apuñalaba
The imperfect of apuñalar describes ongoing or habitual past actions: apuñalaba, apuñalabas, apuñalaba, apuñalábamos, apuñalabais, apuñalaban.
Future
yo: apuñalaré
The future tense of apuñalar indicates future actions: apuñalaré, apuñalarás, apuñalará, apuñalaremos, apuñaréis, apuñalarán.
Conditional
yo: apuñalaría
The conditional of apuñalar expresses hypotheticals ('would stab'): apuñalaría, apuñalarías, apuñalaría, apuñalaríamos, apuñalaríais, apuñalarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: apuñale
Present subjunctive for apuñalar expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions: apuñale (yo/él/ella/usted), apuñales (tú), apuñalemos (nosotros), apuñalen (ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: apuñalara
The imperfect subjunctive of apuñalar expresses past hypotheticals or wishes: apuñalara, apuñalaras, apuñaláramos, apuñalaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: apuñala
Commands in the imperative for apuñalar: apuñala (tú), apuñale (usted), apuñalemos (nosotros), apuñalen (ustedes), apuñala (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no apuñales
Negative commands for apuñalar use the present subjunctive: no apuñales (tú), no apuñale (usted), no apuñalemos (nosotros), no apuñalen (ustedes), no apuñales (vosotros).