pretender Present Conjugation
pretender — to intend
The present indicative of pretender is: pretendo, pretendes, pretende, pretendemos, pretendéis, pretenden.
pretender Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present indicative to say you (or someone else) intend, aim, or try to do something right now, or as a general habit or truth.
Notes on pretender in the Present
Pretender is a regular -er verb in the present indicative. All forms follow the standard conjugation rules.
Example Sentences
Yo pretendo terminar este proyecto hoy.
I intend to finish this project today.
yo
¿Pretendes engañarme?
Are you trying to fool me?
tú
Ella pretende ser una experta.
She claims to be an expert.
él/ella/usted
Pretendemos viajar el próximo año.
We aim to travel next year.
nosotros
Ellos pretenden conseguir un buen trabajo.
They are aiming to get a good job.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'pretender' to mean 'to pretend' (like acting).
Correct: 'Pretender' means 'to intend,' 'to aim,' or 'to try.' For 'to pretend' (act), use 'fingir'.
Why: This is a false cognate issue; while similar, the meanings differ.
Mistake: Incorrect conjugation for 'vosotros'.
Correct: The vosotros form is 'pretendéis'.
Why: Learners might forget the 'i' or the accent.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: pretendí
The preterite of pretender is regular: pretendí, pretendiste, pretendió, pretendimos, pretendisteis, pretendieron.
Imperfect
yo: pretendía
The imperfect of pretender is: pretendía, pretendías, pretendía, pretendíamos, pretendíais, pretendían.
Future
yo: pretenderé
The future tense of pretender uses the infinitive stem: pretenderé, pretenderás, pretenderá, pretenderemos, pretenderéis, pretenderán.
Conditional
yo: pretendería
The conditional of pretender is: pretendería, pretenderías, pretendería, pretenderíamos, pretenderíais, pretenderían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: pretenda
The present subjunctive of pretender is: pretenda (yo/él/ella/usted), pretendamos (nosotros), pretendáis (vosotros), pretendan (ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pretendiera
The imperfect subjunctive of pretender has two forms for each pronoun: pretendiera/pretendiese, pretendieras/pretendieses, etc.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: pretende
Imperative forms of pretender are: pretende (tú), pretenda (usted), pretendamos (nosotros), pretended (vosotros), pretendan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no pretendas
Negative commands for pretender use the present subjunctive: no pretendas (tú), no pretenda (usted), no pretendamos (nosotros), no pretendáis (vosotros), no pretendan (ustedes).