enseñado
/en-seh-NYAH-doh/
taught
Visualizing the past participle 'taught' (as in, knowledge has been imparted).
enseñado(Past Participle)
taught
?as part of a compound verb tense (e.g., has taught)
,shown
?as part of a compound verb tense (e.g., has shown)
instructed
?formal usage
📝 In Action
Mi hermana ha enseñado español por cinco años.
A2My sister has taught Spanish for five years.
¿Te han enseñado a usar esta máquina?
B1Have they taught you how to use this machine?
Habíamos enseñado la ruta antes de salir.
B2We had shown the route before leaving.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
'Enseñado' is the fixed form used with the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past, like 'He enseñado' (I have taught) or 'Había enseñado' (I had taught).
It Never Changes
Unlike when it acts as an adjective, the past participle form used with 'haber' never changes gender or number. It is always 'enseñado', regardless of who did the teaching.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Auxiliary Verbs
Mistake: "He *es* enseñado (Incorrectly using 'ser' or 'estar')."
Correction: Use 'haber' (to have) for compound tenses: 'Él *ha* enseñado'. Save 'ser' or 'estar' for passive voice or adjective use.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Completed Action
Use 'enseñado' with 'haber' when you want to emphasize that the teaching or showing action is completely finished.
Visualizing the adjective 'educated' or well-schooled.
enseñado(Adjective)
educated
?well-schooled
,trained
?well-drilled (e.g., an animal)
well-mannered
?referring to behavior (less common than 'educado')
📝 In Action
Es un niño muy enseñado y respeta a los mayores.
B1He is a very well-mannered/educated child and respects his elders.
La perra enseñada sabe sentarse y dar la pata.
A2The trained dog (female) knows how to sit and shake hands.
Ellas son chicas enseñadas en las artes de la cocina.
B2They are girls educated/trained in the culinary arts.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Required
When used as an adjective, 'enseñado' must match the noun it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): enseñado, enseñada, enseñados, enseñadas.
Use with 'Ser' or 'Estar'
This adjective often appears with the verb 'ser' (to be, permanent quality) or 'estar' (to be, temporary state), as in 'Él es enseñado' (He is an educated person).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: "Las niñas son enseñado."
Correction: Since 'niñas' is feminine plural, you must say: 'Las niñas son enseñadas'.
⭐ Usage Tips
More than just 'Taught'
While literally meaning 'taught,' when describing people, 'enseñado' often implies 'well-mannered' or 'properly raised,' especially in older or regional usage.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: enseñado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'enseñado' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'enseñado' the same as 'educado'?
They are very similar! 'Educado' usually means 'polite' or 'well-mannered' and is more common in modern usage. 'Enseñado' can mean 'well-mannered' but also strongly emphasizes the idea of having received formal instruction or training.
How do I know when to use 'enseñado' with 'haber' versus 'ser/estar'?
Use 'haber' (e.g., *Ha enseñado*) to form a verb tense (telling what action was completed). Use 'ser' or 'estar' (e.g., *Es enseñado*) when you are using 'enseñado' as a descriptive adjective, meaning 'trained' or 'educated'.