investigar
/in-bes-ti-GAR/
to investigate
When someone tries to solve a crime or mystery, they 'investigar' (investigate).
investigar(verb)
to investigate
?a crime, a problem, a mystery
to look into
?a situation or rumor
,to inquire about
?asking for details
📝 In Action
La policía está investigando el robo en el banco.
A2The police are investigating the robbery at the bank.
¿Quién investigó la causa del accidente?
B1Who investigated the cause of the accident?
Necesitamos investigar si este producto es seguro antes de usarlo.
B1We need to investigate whether this product is safe before using it.
💡 Grammar Points
Verbs Ending in -gar
To keep the hard 'g' sound (like in 'go') when the ending starts with 'e', you must add a 'u'. This happens in the 'yo' preterite (investigué) and all present subjunctive forms (investigue, investiguemos).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite Spelling Error
Mistake: "Yo investigé (missing the 'u')"
Correction: Yo investigué (including the 'u'). If you write 'investigé', it would sound like 'in-ves-ti-HEH' instead of 'in-ves-ti-GEH'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Investigating People
When investigating a person (like a suspect), you usually need the personal 'a': 'Investigamos a el sospechoso' (We investigated the suspect).
To conduct an academic or scientific study, you need to 'investigar' (research).
investigar(verb)
to research
?academic or scientific study
to carry out research
?formal academic usage
📝 In Action
Los científicos están investigando la cura para esa enfermedad.
B1The scientists are researching the cure for that disease.
Mi tesis requiere que investigue fuentes históricas muy antiguas.
B2My thesis requires me to research very old historical sources.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Sobre'
When talking about the subject of your research, you often use the preposition 'sobre' (about/on): 'Investigó sobre el impacto del clima' (He researched on the impact of the climate).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Research and Study
Mistake: "Estudio la cura. (I study the cure.)"
Correction: Investigo la cura. (I research the cure.) 'Estudiar' is usually for personal learning; 'investigar' is for seeking new public knowledge.
⭐ Usage Tips
Noun Form
The noun form 'la investigación' (the research/investigation) is extremely useful and common in formal writing.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: investigar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the spelling change needed for 'investigar' in the past tense (preterite)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'investigar' un verbo reflexivo?
No, 'investigar' is generally not used as a reflexive verb (like 'investigarse'). It is always an action you perform on something or someone else (investigas *el caso*, investigas *al sospechoso*).
What is the difference between 'investigar' and 'buscar'?
'Buscar' simply means 'to look for' or 'to search' (often for a physical item, like 'buscar las llaves'). 'Investigar' means 'to investigate' or 'to research'—it implies a detailed, careful, and systematic search for facts or knowledge, not just locating an object.