lavar Present Conjugation
lavar — to wash
The present of lavar is regular: lavo, lavas, lava, lavamos, laváis, lavan.
lavar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present for current habits, like washing your hair every day, or for things you are washing right now.
Notes on lavar in the Present
Lavar is a standard -ar verb with no stem changes or irregularities in the present tense.
Example Sentences
Me lavo las manos antes de comer.
I wash my hands before eating.
yo
Juan lava su ropa los lunes.
Juan washes his clothes on Mondays.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros siempre lavamos las verduras.
We always wash the vegetables.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing 'lavo' with 'limpio'.
Correct: lavo
Why: 'Lavar' specifically involves water/soap, while 'limpiar' is the general term for cleaning.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: lavé
The preterite of lavar is regular: lavé, lavaste, lavó, lavamos, lavasteis, lavaron.
Imperfect
yo: lavaba
The imperfect of lavar is regular: lavaba, lavabas, lavaba, lavábamos, lavabais, lavaban.
Future
yo: lavaré
The future of lavar is regular: lavaré, lavarás, lavará, lavaremos, lavaréis, lavarán.
Conditional
yo: lavaría
The conditional of lavar is regular: lavaría, lavarías, lavaría, lavaríamos, lavaríais, lavarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: lave
The present subjunctive of lavar is regular: lave, laves, lave, lavemos, lavéis, laven.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: lavara
The imperfect subjunctive of lavar is regular: lavara, lavaras, lavara, laváramos, lavarais, lavaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: lava
The affirmative imperative of lavar is: lava (tú), lave (usted), lavemos (nosotros), lavad (vosotros), laven (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no laves
The negative imperative of lavar uses the present subjunctive: no laves, no lave, no lavemos, no lavéis, no laven.