buscamos
/boos-KAH-mos/
we look for
"We look for" (buscamos) describes a present action, like these children searching for something right now.
buscamos(Verb)
we look for
?present action
,we are looking for
?ongoing present action
we search
?general searching
📝 In Action
Todos los días, buscamos ideas nuevas para la clase.
A1Every day, we look for new ideas for the class.
¿Qué buscamos en esta tienda?
A1What are we looking for in this store?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'We' Form
This verb form tells you that 'we' (nosotros/nosotras) are the ones doing the action of searching right now.
Action vs. Result
Remember 'buscar' is the action of searching. Once you find it, you use 'encontrar' (to find).
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Subject
You usually don't need to say 'Nosotros buscamos...' in Spanish; 'Buscamos' already makes it clear that 'we' are the subject.
"We looked for" (buscamos) describes a completed past action, illustrated by these children who have successfully finished their search and found their lost pet.
buscamos(Verb)
we looked for
?completed past action
,we searched for
?completed past action
we tried to find
?past attempt
📝 In Action
Ayer buscamos las llaves por toda la casa, pero no estaban.
A2Yesterday we looked for the keys all over the house, but they weren't there.
Buscamos un nuevo apartamento el mes pasado.
A2We searched for a new apartment last month.
💡 Grammar Points
Present vs. Past
The form 'buscamos' is identical for the 'we' form in both the present (we look) and the simple past (we looked). You must rely on context or time words (like 'ayer' or 'la semana pasada') to know which one is meant.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'Buscamos un coche nuevo en 2020' (We look for a new car in 2020) when talking about the past."
Correction: This is technically correct, but if the context is unclear, use a time phrase to confirm the past: 'Buscamos un coche nuevo en 2020.' (The context confirms the past meaning.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Yo' Form Difference
While 'nosotros' (we) is the same for present and past, the 'yo' (I) form changes: 'Yo busco' (I look) vs. 'Yo busqué' (I looked). This is a helpful pattern to remember.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: buscamos
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase MUST be used if the action 'buscamos' happened last week?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'buscamos' the same for the present tense and the simple past tense?
For all regular -AR verbs in Spanish, the 'nosotros' (we) form is identical in the present tense (we do) and the simple past tense (we did). This is very common, so you must rely on time markers (like 'today' or 'yesterday') to understand the intended meaning.
How do I say 'Let's look for' (a command for 'us')?
That is the command form, which is different. You must use the subjunctive: '¡Busquemos!' (Let's look!).