intentamos
een-ten-TAH-mos
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Intentamos aprender algo nuevo cada día.
A2We try to learn something new every day.
Si intentamos hablar español, mejoraremos rápido.
B1If we try to speak Spanish, we will improve quickly.
Ayer intentamos arreglar el coche, pero no pudimos.
A2Yesterday we tried to fix the car, but we couldn't.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Nosotros' Form
This word specifically means 'we' are performing the action. The verb intentar is regular, so the 'nosotros' ending is always -amos in the present tense.
Following with 'a'
Unlike English ('we try to do'), Spanish often uses the verb directly followed by the action: 'Intentamos hacer la tarea' (We try to do the homework). No 'a' is needed after intentar.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tenses
Mistake: "Intentamos (Present) vs. Intentábamos (Imperfect)"
Correction: 'Intentamos' usually means 'we try now.' If you want to talk about a continuous effort in the past (e.g., 'We used to try'), use 'intentábamos'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Effort
Use 'intentamos' to show that you and your group are putting in effort, regardless of success. It emphasizes the process.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: intentamos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'intentamos' to mean 'we tried' (past action)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'intentamos' sometimes mean 'we try' and sometimes 'we tried'?
This is a common feature in Spanish: the 'nosotros' (we) form is identical in both the simple present tense ('we try') and the simple past tense (preterite, 'we tried'). You have to look at the time words used in the sentence (like 'ayer' or 'hoy') to know which meaning is correct.
Is 'intentamos' the same as 'tratamos'?
They are very close synonyms! Both mean 'we try.' 'Intentamos' often emphasizes a conscious effort or attempt, while 'tratamos' is slightly more flexible and can also mean 'we deal with' or 'we treat.'