compramos
/kohm-PRAH-mohs/
we buy
This image shows the general action: We buy food at the market.
compramos(verb)
we buy
?habitual or general action
,we are buying
?action happening right now
we purchase
?slightly more formal synonym
📝 In Action
Todos los sábados compramos comida en el mercado.
A1Every Saturday we buy food at the market.
Ahora mismo compramos los boletos para el cine.
A2Right now, we are buying the movie tickets.
💡 Grammar Points
Present Tense for 'We'
This form ('-amos') is how you talk about actions that 'we' do habitually or right now. It's the standard ending for all '-ar' verbs in the 'nosotros' (we) form.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Present and Past
Mistake: "Using 'compramos' without context and assuming it's always the present tense."
Correction: Always check for time words (like 'ayer' or 'siempre'). If the sentence mentions a specific time in the past, it means 'we bought'.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Nosotros' Shortcut
In Spanish, you often don't need to say the pronoun 'nosotros' (we) because the '-amos' ending clearly indicates who is doing the action.
This image illustrates the completed action: We bought many items yesterday.
compramos(verb)
we bought
?completed action in the past
we purchased
?formal past action
📝 In Action
Ayer compramos un coche nuevo para la familia.
A2Yesterday we bought a new car for the family.
Cuando estuvimos en Madrid, compramos muchos recuerdos.
B1When we were in Madrid, we bought many souvenirs.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite Tense for 'We'
This form ('-amos') is identical to the present tense 'we' form for all regular '-ar' verbs. You must rely on time markers (like 'last week') or context to know it means the past.
Completed Action
The preterite tense is used for actions that started and finished at a definite point in the past, like a single purchase.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Imperfect Instead
Mistake: "Saying 'Comprábamos un coche' (We were buying a car) when you mean the purchase was completed ('We bought a car')."
Correction: Use 'compramos' (preterite) for single, finished events; use 'comprábamos' (imperfect) for habitual or ongoing past actions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
Since 'compramos' can mean 'we buy' or 'we bought,' always try to include a word like 'ayer' (yesterday) or 'siempre' (always) to clarify the timing.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: compramos
Question 1 of 2
In the sentence 'Cada viernes compramos flores frescas,' what time frame does 'compramos' refer to?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'compramos' means 'we buy' or 'we bought'?
You must look at the time words in the sentence. If you see words like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'la semana pasada' (last week), or a specific past date, it means 'we bought.' If you see words like 'siempre' (always), 'cada día' (every day), or nothing at all, it usually means 'we buy' or 'we are buying.'
Is 'compramos' ever used for 'they' or 'you all'?
No. 'Compramos' is strictly the 'nosotros' (we) form. The 'they/you all' form is 'compran' (present) or 'compraron' (past).