motivar Present Conjugation
motivar — to motivate
The present indicative of motivar (motivo, motivas, motiva, motivamos, motiváis, motivan) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
motivar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for things happening right now ('Te motivo ahora mismo'), habitual actions ('Siempre me motiva su energía'), or general truths ('El buen ambiente motiva a la gente').
Notes on motivar in the Present
Motivar is regular in the present indicative. All forms follow the standard -ar conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo motivo a mis estudiantes con ejemplos prácticos.
I motivate my students with practical examples.
yo
¿Tú motivas a tus amigos a hacer deporte?
Do you motivate your friends to play sports?
tú
Ella motiva al equipo cada mañana.
She motivates the team every morning.
él/ella/usted
Ellos nos motivan con su ejemplo de perseverancia.
They motivate us with their example of perseverance.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present tense for a recently completed action.
Correct: Use the preterite 'motivó' for a completed action, e.g., 'Su discurso motivó a todos'.
Why: The present tense implies ongoing or habitual action, not a finished event.
Mistake: Incorrect conjugation for 'vosotros'.
Correct: The correct form is 'motiváis'.
Why: The vosotros present indicative ending for -ar verbs is -áis.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: motivé
The preterite of motivar is regular: motivé, motivaste, motivó, motivamos, motivasteis, motivaron.
Imperfect
yo: motivaba
The imperfect of motivar (motivaba, motivabas, motivaba, motivábamos, motivabais, motivaban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: motivaré
The future tense of motivar (motivaré, motivarás, motivará, motivaremos, motivaréis, motivarán) expresses actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: motivaría
The conditional of motivar (motivaría, motivarías, motivaría, motivaríamos, motivaríais, motivarían) is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: motive
The present subjunctive of motivar (motive, motives, motivemos, motiven, motivéis) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: motivara
The imperfect subjunctive of motivar (e.g., motivara, motivaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or suggestions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: motiva
Commands in the imperative for motivar: motiva (tú), motive (usted), motivemos (nosotros), motiven (ustedes), motivad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no motives
Negative commands for motivar use the present subjunctive: no motives (tú), no motive (usted), no motivemos (nosotros), no motiven (ustedes), no motivéis (vosotros).