encontramos
/en-kon-TRA-mos/
we find
As a present tense verb, encontramos means 'we find' (locating something right now or habitually).
encontramos(Verb)
we find
?present tense; locating something now or as a general habit
we meet
?present tense; when you run into someone
,we think / we consider
?present tense; expressing an opinion
📝 In Action
No encontramos las llaves. ¿Dónde están?
A1We can't find the keys. Where are they?
Siempre nos encontramos en el parque para caminar.
A2We always meet in the park to walk.
Encontramos que su idea es excelente.
B1We find his idea to be excellent.
💡 Grammar Points
Two Meanings, One Word
This exact word, 'encontramos', can mean 'we find' (present) or 'we found' (past). You have to use other words in the sentence, like 'ahora' (now) or 'ayer' (yesterday), to know which one it is.
No Stem Change for 'Nosotros'
The verb 'encontrar' changes its 'o' to 'ue' (like 'yo encuentro'), but this change doesn't happen for the 'we' (nosotros) form. It stays 'encontramos', which is easier to remember!
⭐ Usage Tips
Meeting vs. Finding
When you mean 'we meet' someone, it's very common to use 'nos encontramos'. The 'nos' shows that the action is happening between us. 'Encontramos a Juan' (We found Juan) is different from 'Nos encontramos con Juan' (We met up with Juan).
As a past tense verb (preterite), encontramos means 'we found' or, in the reflexive form, 'we met' (a completed action in the past).
encontramos(Verb)
we found
?past tense (preterite); a completed action of locating something
we met
?past tense (preterite); when you ran into someone at a specific time
📝 In Action
Ayer encontramos un restaurante italiano muy bueno.
A2Yesterday we found a very good Italian restaurant.
La semana pasada, nos encontramos en la fiesta de Ana.
A2Last week, we met at Ana's party.
Después de mucho buscar, por fin encontramos la salida.
B1After searching a lot, we finally found the exit.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Everything
To signal you mean 'we found' (past), use time words like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'anoche' (last night), or 'la semana pasada' (last week). Without them, people might think you mean the present.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'encontremos'
Mistake: "Ayer nos encontremos en el cine."
Correction: Ayer nos encontramos en el cine. 'Encontremos' is a special form used for wishes or commands, like 'Let's meet!' ('¡Encontrémonos!').
⭐ Usage Tips
Telling a Story
This form is perfect for telling a story about a specific event. For example: 'El sábado fuimos al centro y encontramos una tienda nueva.' (On Saturday we went downtown and we found a new store.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: encontramos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence clearly means 'We FOUND the book' (in the past)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'encontramos' means 'we find' or 'we found'?
You have to look at the other words in the sentence! Clues like 'ahora' (now) or 'cada día' (every day) point to the present ('we find'). Clues like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'anoche' (last night), or 'el año pasado' (last year) point to the past ('we found').
What's the difference between 'encontramos' and 'nos encontramos'?
Good question! 'Encontramos algo' means 'We find something' (like keys). 'Nos encontramos' often means 'we meet each other' or 'we find ourselves' in a certain situation. The little word 'nos' makes it about us.
Is 'encontramos' a regular verb form?
It's a bit of a trick! The verb 'encontrar' is irregular because the 'o' changes to 'ue' in some forms (like 'yo encuentro'). However, for the 'nosotros' (we) form, the change doesn't happen, so 'encontramos' looks just like a regular verb. It's an exception to the rule!