buscar Present Conjugation
buscar — to look for
The present tense of buscar is completely regular: busco, buscas, busca, buscamos, buscáis, buscan.
buscar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use this for current searches, habits, or when asking for help in a store (e.g., 'I am looking for...').
Notes on buscar in the Present
Buscar is a regular -ar verb in the present tense. No spelling changes occur here because the 'c' is followed by 'o' or 'a', which keeps the hard 'k' sound.
Example Sentences
Busco un regalo para mi madre.
I'm looking for a gift for my mother.
yo
Ella siempre busca excusas.
She is always looking for excuses.
él/ella/usted
¿Qué buscan ustedes aquí?
What are you guys looking for here?
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: busco a un libro
Correct: busco un libro
Why: Unlike English 'look FOR', the 'for' is built into the verb 'buscar'. Don't add a preposition unless you are looking for a specific person (the 'personal a').
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'buscar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: busqué
The preterite of buscar has a spelling change in the 'yo' form (busqué) to keep the 'k' sound.
Imperfect
yo: buscaba
The imperfect of buscar is regular: buscaba, buscabas, buscaba, buscábamos, buscabais, buscaban.
Future
yo: buscaré
The future tense of buscar is regular: add the endings -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the infinitive.
Conditional
yo: buscaría
The conditional of buscar is regular: add -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive.
Present Subjunctive
yo: busque
The present subjunctive of buscar uses the 'qu' spelling change: busque, busques, busque, busquemos, busquéis, busquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: buscara
The imperfect subjunctive of buscar is regular: buscara, buscaras, buscara, buscáramos, buscarais, buscaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: busca
The imperative of buscar uses 'busca' (tú) and 'busque' (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no busques
The negative imperative always uses the 'qu' spelling: no busques, no busque, no busquemos, no busquéis, no busquen.