esforzar Present Conjugation
esforzar — to make an effort
Esforzar is a stem-changing verb (o > ue) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
esforzar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to talk about the effort someone makes habitually or currently, such as working hard at a job or trying to learn a language.
Notes on esforzar in the Present
This is a radical-changing verb where the 'o' becomes 'ue' when stressed. The nosotros (esforzamos) and vosotros (esforzáis) forms keep the original 'o'.
Example Sentences
Yo me esfuerzo mucho en mis clases de español.
I make a big effort in my Spanish classes.
yo
Ella se esfuerza por terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
She makes an effort to finish the project on time.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros nos esforzamos cada día más.
We push ourselves harder every day.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'esforzo' instead of 'esfuerzo'.
Correct: esfuerzo
Why: The stem must change from 'o' to 'ue' in the first person singular.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: esforcé
The preterite of esforzar features a spelling change (z > c) in the 'yo' form: esforcé.
Imperfect
yo: esforzaba
Esforzar is completely regular in the imperfect: esforzaba, esforzabas, esforzaba...
Future
yo: esforzaré
The future tense is regular: add endings to the full infinitive esforzar-.
Conditional
yo: esforzaría
The conditional is regular: esforzaría, esforzarías, esforzaría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: esfuerce
The present subjunctive follows the stem change (o > ue) and the spelling change (z > c).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: esforzara
The imperfect subjunctive uses the preterite base: esforzara, esforzaras...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: esfuerza
The imperative uses 'esfuerza' for tú and 'esfuercen' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no esfuerces
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms after 'no'.