gobernar Present Conjugation
gobernar — to govern
Gobernar follows a stem change (e to ie) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros: gobierno, gobiernas, gobierna, gobernamos, gobernáis, gobiernan.
gobernar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to discuss who is currently in power, how a country is managed, or general facts about leadership and administration.
Notes on gobernar in the Present
This is a 'boot verb' (stem-changing). The 'e' in the root changes to 'ie' when the syllable is stressed. The 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms stay regular.
Example Sentences
El presidente gobierna con mucha prudencia.
The president governs with a lot of prudence.
él/ella/usted
Yo gobierno mi propia empresa.
I govern (run) my own company.
yo
Nosotros gobernamos este pueblo desde hace años.
We have been governing this town for years.
nosotros
Ellos gobiernan bajo una nueva ley.
They govern under a new law.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: goberno
Correct: gobierno
Why: Learners often forget the 'e' to 'ie' stem change in the 'yo' form.
Mistake: gobiernamos
Correct: gobernamos
Why: The stem change should not be applied to the 'nosotros' form.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'gobernar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: goberné
Gobernar is completely regular in the preterite: goberné, gobernaste, gobernó, gobernamos, gobernasteis, gobernaron.
Imperfect
yo: gobernaba
Gobernar is regular in the imperfect: gobernaba, gobernabas, gobernaba, gobernábamos, gobernabais, gobernaban.
Future
yo: gobernaré
The future of gobernar is regular: gobernaré, gobernarás, gobernará, gobernaremos, gobernaréis, gobernarán.
Conditional
yo: gobernaría
The conditional of gobernar is regular: gobernaría, gobernarías, gobernaría, gobernaríamos, gobernaríais, gobernarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: gobierne
The present subjunctive of gobernar follows the 'ie' stem change: gobierne, gobiernes, gobierne, gobernemos, gobernéis, gobiernen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: gobernara
The imperfect subjunctive of gobernar is regular: gobernara, gobernaras, gobernara, gobernáramos, gobernarais, gobernaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: gobierna
The imperative uses the 'ie' stem change for most commands: gobierna (tú), gobierne (usted), gobernad (vosotros), gobiernen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no gobiernes
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no gobiernes (tú), no gobierne (usted), no gobernéis (vosotros), no gobiernen (ustedes).