explicar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
explicar — to explain
The present subjunctive of explicar features a 'c' to 'qu' spelling change: explique, expliques, explique, expliquemos, expliquéis, expliquen.
explicar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when you want someone to explain something, or when expressing doubt or hope about an explanation. It often follows phrases like 'Quiero que...' or 'Espero que...'.
Notes on explicar in the Present Subjunctive
This tense has a spelling change (c to qu) in all forms to keep the hard 'k' sound. Without it, the 'c' would sound like an 's' (ex-plee-seh).
Example Sentences
Quiero que me expliques por qué llegas tarde.
I want you to explain to me why you are late.
tú
Es necesario que el profesor explique el tema otra vez.
It is necessary that the teacher explains the topic again.
él/ella/usted
No creo que ellos expliquen el secreto.
I don't think they will explain the secret.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'explice' instead of 'explique'.
Correct: explique
Why: In Spanish, 'ce' sounds like 'se'. To keep the 'k' sound from 'explicar', you must change the 'c' to 'qu' before an 'e'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: explico
The present tense of explicar is regular: explico, explicas, explica, explicamos, explicáis, explican.
Preterite
yo: expliqué
The preterite of explicar has a spelling change only in the 'yo' form: expliqué.
Imperfect
yo: explicaba
The imperfect of explicar is regular: explicaba, explicabas, explicaba, explicábamos, explicabais, explicaban.
Future
yo: explicaré
The future tense of explicar is fully regular: explicaré, explicarás, explicará, explicaremos, explicaréis, explicarán.
Conditional
yo: explicaría
The conditional of explicar is regular: explicaría, explicarías, explicaría, explicaríamos, explicaríais, explicarían.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: explicara
The imperfect subjunctive of explicar is regular: explicara, explicaras, explicara, explicáramos, explicarais, explicaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: explica
The affirmative imperative of explicar uses 'explica' (tú) and 'explique' (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no expliques
The negative imperative of explicar always uses the 'qu' spelling change: no expliques, no explique, no expliquen.