vigilar Present Conjugation
vigilar — to guard
The present tense 'vigilo/vigilan' describes actions happening now or habitual actions.
vigilar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for things you do regularly ('Siempre vigilo mi casa') or actions happening right at this moment ('Ahora vigilo la puerta'). It's also used for general truths.
Notes on vigilar in the Present
Vigilar is regular in the present indicative.
Example Sentences
Yo vigilo a los pacientes en el hospital.
I watch over the patients in the hospital.
yo
¿Tú vigilas el tráfico desde aquí?
Do you watch the traffic from here?
tú
Ella vigila el negocio mientras el dueño está fuera.
She watches over the business while the owner is away.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros vigilamos la entrada del edificio.
We guard the entrance of the building.
nosotros
Ellos vigilan las cámaras de seguridad.
They monitor the security cameras.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'estar vigilando' for habitual actions.
Correct: For habits, use the simple present: 'vigilo', not 'estoy vigilando'.
Why: 'Estar + gerund' emphasizes an action in progress right now, while the simple present covers habits.
Mistake: Using the Spanish present for English simple past.
Correct: If the action is completed in the past, use the preterite ('vigilé') or imperfect ('vigilaba'), not the present.
Why: Spanish uses different tenses for past actions; the present is strictly for the now or habitual.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: vigilé
The preterite 'vigilé/vigilaron' describes completed actions in the past.
Imperfect
yo: vigilaba
The imperfect 'vigilaba/vigilaban' describes ongoing or habitual past actions and background.
Future
yo: vigilaré
The future tense 'vigilaré/vigilarán' indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: vigilaría
The conditional 'vigilaría/vigilarían' expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: vigile
The present subjunctive 'vigile/vigilen' expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: vigilara
The imperfect subjunctive 'vigilara/vigilaran' is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: vigila
Use 'vigila' for tú, 'vigile' for usted/ustedes, and 'vigilen' for ustedes/ellos/ellas commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no vigiles
Use 'no vigiles' for tú, 'no vigile' for usted, and 'no vigilen' for ustedes/ellos/ellas negative commands.