zarpar Present Conjugation
zarpar — to set sail
The present indicative of zarpar (zarpo, zarpas, zarpa, zarpamos, zarpáis, zarpan) describes actions happening now or habitual actions.
zarpar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for when a ship is setting sail right now, or for habitual actions related to sailing, like a captain who always sets sail at dawn.
Notes on zarpar in the Present
Zarpar is regular in the present indicative. All forms follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
El barco zarpa en cinco minutos.
The ship sets sail in five minutes.
él/ella/usted
Zarpamos cada verano hacia las islas.
We set sail every summer towards the islands.
nosotros
¿Cuándo zarpa tu vuelo?
When does your flight set sail? (idiomatic for depart)
él/ella/usted
Yo zarpo al amanecer.
I set sail at dawn.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'estar zarpando' for a scheduled departure that is imminent but not yet happening.
Correct: Use the simple present: 'El barco zarpa a las 10'.
Why: The present progressive ('estar + gerund') is for actions in progress *right now*, while the simple present can also indicate near future or scheduled events.
Mistake: Incorrect conjugation for vosotros, using 'zarpan' instead of 'zarpáis'.
Correct: The correct form is 'zarpáis'.
Why: The '-áis' ending is specific to the vosotros present indicative for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: zarpé
The preterite of zarpar is regular: zarpé, zarpaste, zarpó, zarpamos, zarpasteis, zarparon, indicating completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: zarpaba
The imperfect of zarpar (zarpaba, zarpabas, zarpaba, zarpábamos, zarpabais, zarpaban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of setting sail.
Future
yo: zarparé
The future tense of zarpar (zarparé, zarparás, zarpará, zarparémos, zarparéis, zarparán) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: zarparía
The conditional of zarpar (zarparía, zarparías, zarparía, zarparíamos, zarparíais, zarparían) is used for hypotheticals ('would set sail') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: zarpe
The present subjunctive of zarpar (zarpe, zarpes, zarpe, zarpemos, zarpéis, zarpen) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: zarpara
The imperfect subjunctive of zarpar (zarpase, zarpases, zarpase, zarpásemos, zarpaseis, zarparan) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: zarpa
Imperative commands for zarpar are: zarpa (tú), zarpe (usted), zarpemos (nosotros), zarpen (ustedes), zarpad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no zarpes
Negative commands for zarpar use the present subjunctive: no zarpes (tú), no zarpe (usted), no zarpemos (nosotros), no zarpen (ustedes), no zarpéis (vosotros).