derramar Present Conjugation
derramar — to spill
The present tense of derramar means 'to spill' (derramo, derramas, derrama...) and is used for current or habitual actions.
derramar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for actions happening right now ('I am spilling'), habitual actions ('He spills coffee every morning'), or general truths ('Water spills easily').
Notes on derramar in the Present
Derramar is regular in the present indicative. The verb follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo derramo un poco de leche cada mañana.
I spill a little milk every morning.
yo
¿Tú derramas agua al lavar los platos?
Do you spill water when washing the dishes?
tú
El niño derrama la sopa a propósito.
The child spills the soup on purpose.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros derramamos vino en la fiesta.
We spill wine at parties.
nosotros
Ellos derraman basura por la ventana.
They spill trash out the window.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present progressive ('estar' + gerund) for habitual actions.
Correct: Use the simple present for habits: 'Derramo café' (I spill coffee), not 'Estoy derramando café'.
Why: The simple present tense in Spanish covers both actions happening now and habitual actions, unlike English which often uses progressive for 'happening now'.
Mistake: Confusing 'derramamos' (present) with 'derramamos' (preterite).
Correct: Context usually clarifies: 'Ayer derramamos' (preterite) vs. 'Hoy derramamos' (present).
Why: The nosotros form is identical in both present and preterite, requiring context to differentiate.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: derramé
The preterite of derramar indicates completed actions like 'I spilled' (derramé) or 'they spilled' (derramaron).
Imperfect
yo: derramaba
The imperfect of derramar describes ongoing or habitual past actions like 'used to spill' (derramaba) or 'was spilling' (derramaba).
Future
yo: derramaré
The future tense of derramar predicts future actions ('will spill' - derramaré, derramarás...).
Conditional
yo: derramaría
The conditional of derramar expresses hypothetical actions ('would spill' - derramaría) or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: derrame
The present subjunctive of derramar (derrame, derrames, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: derramara
The imperfect subjunctive of derramar (derramara/derramase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: derrama
Use the imperative of derramar for direct commands: ¡derrama!, ¡derrame!, ¡derramemos!, ¡derramad!, ¡derramen!.
Negative Imperative
yo: no derrames
Use negative commands with 'no' plus the present subjunctive: ¡no derrames!, ¡no derrame!, ¡no derramemos!, ¡no derraméis!, ¡no derramen!.