comparecer Present Conjugation
comparecer — to appear
Comparecer has a 'z' in the 'yo' form (comparezco) but is otherwise a regular -er verb.
comparecer Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense when talking about a current legal appearance, a public statement being made now, or a habitual requirement to show up before an authority.
Notes on comparecer in the Present
This is a 'zc' verb. Like 'conocer', it adds a 'z' before the 'c' only in the first person singular (yo) to keep the pronunciation soft.
Example Sentences
Yo comparezco ante el juez mañana por la mañana.
I am appearing before the judge tomorrow morning.
yo
El testigo comparece para dar su declaración.
The witness appears to give their statement.
él/ella/usted
Normalmente, los acusados comparecen por videollamada.
Normally, the defendants appear via video call.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'compareco' instead of 'comparezco'.
Correct: comparezco
Why: Verbs ending in -ecer follow the 'zc' pattern in the 'yo' form to maintain the soft 'c' sound.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: comparecí
Comparecer is completely regular in the preterite: comparecí, compareciste, compareció.
Imperfect
yo: comparecía
Comparecer is regular in the imperfect: comparecía, comparecías, comparecía.
Future
yo: compareceré
Comparecer is regular in the future; simply add the endings to the full infinitive.
Conditional
yo: comparecería
The conditional of comparecer is regular: comparecería, comparecerías, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: comparezca
All forms of the present subjunctive for comparecer use the 'zc' stem: comparezca, comparezcas, etc.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: compareciera
Formed from the 'ellos' preterite, results in compareciera, comparecieras, etc.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: comparece
The imperative uses 'comparece' for 'tú' and the 'zc' forms for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no comparezcas
The negative imperative always uses the 'zc' subjunctive forms: no comparezcas, no comparezca.