cepillar Present Conjugation
cepillar — to brush
The present tense of cepillar (cepillo, cepillas, cepilla, etc.) describes habitual actions, things happening now, or general truths.
cepillar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for actions you do regularly, like brushing your teeth every day, or for describing something happening right now, like someone brushing a pet.
Notes on cepillar in the Present
Cepillar is regular in the present tense. All conjugations follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Me cepillo los dientes dos veces al día.
I brush my teeth twice a day.
yo
¿Tú siempre te cepillas el pelo por la mañana?
Do you always brush your hair in the morning?
tú
Ella se cepilla las uñas con una lima.
She files her nails with an emery board.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros cepillamos la ropa antes de plancharla.
We brush the clothes before ironing them.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present tense for a completed past action.
Correct: For actions completed in the past, use the preterite (e.g., 'Me cepillé') or imperfect (e.g., 'Me cepillaba').
Why: The present tense is for current or habitual actions, not finished ones.
Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating 'vosotros'.
Correct: The correct form is 'cepilláis', with the accent on the 'a'.
Why: The '-áis' ending is specific to the vosotros present tense for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: cepillé
The preterite of cepillar is regular: cepillé, cepillaste, cepilló, cepillamos, cepillasteis, cepillaron.
Imperfect
yo: cepillaba
The imperfect of cepillar (cepillaba, cepillabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: cepillaré
The future tense of cepillar (cepillaré, cepillarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cepillaría
The conditional of cepillar (cepillaría, cepillarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cepille
The present subjunctive of cepillar (cepille, cepilles, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cepillara
The imperfect subjunctive of cepillar (cepillara/cepillase) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cepilla
Use the imperative of cepillar for direct commands: ¡cepilla (tú), cepille (usted), etc.!
Negative Imperative
yo: no cepilles
Use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands: ¡no cepilles (tú), no cepille (usted), etc.!