compensar Conditional Conjugation
compensar — to compensate
The conditional of compensar (compensaría, compensarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
compensar Conditional Forms
When to Use the Conditional
Use the conditional of 'compensar' for hypothetical situations ('I would compensate if...'), polite requests ('Would you compensate...?'), or to talk about what was going to happen in the past ('He said he would compensate').
Notes on compensar in the Conditional
Compensar is regular in the conditional tense. The stem is the infinitive 'compensar', and the endings are added.
Example Sentences
Yo compensaría tu esfuerzo con un bono.
I would compensate for your effort with a bonus.
yo
¿Compensarías la espera con un café?
Would you compensate for the wait with a coffee?
tú
Él compensaría el error si tuviera la oportunidad.
He would compensate for the mistake if he had the chance.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros compensaríamos la pérdida.
We would compensate for the loss.
nosotros
Ellos compensarían la falta de tiempo con más dedicación.
They would compensate for the lack of time with more dedication.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect subjunctive instead of the conditional for 'would'.
Correct: Use the conditional for 'would': 'Compensaría tu ayuda'.
Why: While related, the conditional is the direct translation for 'would' in many hypothetical and polite contexts, whereas the imperfect subjunctive often appears in 'if' clauses.
Mistake: Confusing the conditional with the future tense.
Correct: The future ('compensaré') speaks of certainty, the conditional ('compensaría') speaks of hypotheticals or politeness.
Why: Both use the infinitive stem, but the endings are different, and the meaning is distinct.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'compensar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: compenso
The present tense of compensar (compenso, compensas, etc.) is for actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: compensé
The preterite of compensar is regular: compensé, compensaste, compensó, compensamos, compensasteis, compensaron.
Imperfect
yo: compensaba
The imperfect of compensar (compensaba, compensabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of compensating.
Future
yo: compensaré
The future tense of compensar (compensaré, compensarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Present Subjunctive
yo: compense
The present subjunctive of compensar (compense, compenses, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, emotion, wishes, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: compensara
The imperfect subjunctive of compensar (e.g., compensara, compensase) is used for hypothetical situations or past wishes/doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: compensa
Commands in the imperative for compensar are: compensa (tú), compense (usted), compensemos (nosotros), compensad (vosotros), compensen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no compenses
Negative commands for compensar use the present subjunctive: no compenses (tú), no compense (usted), no compensemos (nosotros), no compenséis (vosotros), no compensen (ustedes).