forman
/FOR-mahn/
they form
The blocks forman (they form) a pyramid shape.
forman(verb)
they form
?to create a shape or structure
,they shape
?to mold or influence
they build
?a physical structure
📝 In Action
Los estudiantes forman un equipo para el proyecto.
A2The students form a team for the project.
Las nubes forman figuras extrañas en el cielo.
B1The clouds form strange shapes in the sky.
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying the Speaker
'Forman' always refers to 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Forman' and 'Forman parte'
Mistake: "Using 'Forman un grupo' when you mean 'They are part of a group.'"
Correction: Use 'Forman un grupo' (They create a group). If you mean they belong to it, use 'Forman parte del grupo' (They form part of the group).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Training/Education (Reflexive)
When talking about people training or educating themselves (or being trained), the verb often becomes reflexive: 'Ellos se forman en la universidad' (They train/get educated at the university).
The individual tiles forman (they make up) the complete mosaic.
forman(verb)
they make up
?to constitute a total or whole
,they constitute
?to be the components of something
they comprise
?formal word for making up a whole
📝 In Action
Estos diez países forman la Unión Económica.
B1These ten countries make up the Economic Union.
Los átomos forman las moléculas.
B2Atoms constitute molecules.
💡 Grammar Points
Focus on the Plural Subject
Since 'forman' is plural, the subject of the sentence (the 'who' or 'what' doing the action) must also be plural, like 'Los países' or 'Las piezas'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Use
This meaning is often used when discussing organizational structure, chemistry, mathematics, or legal definitions.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: forman
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best translates 'Ellas forman la base del proyecto'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'forman' means 'create' or 'make up'?
Look at the direct object (what receives the action). If they are actively building something new (like 'un muro'), it means 'create.' If they are describing the components of an existing whole (like 'el equipo'), it means 'make up' or 'constitute'.
Is 'forman' a regular verb?
Yes! The infinitive 'formar' is a perfectly regular verb, meaning it follows all the standard patterns for verbs ending in -ar. This makes its conjugations easy to predict.