persigue
/per-SEE-gheh/
chases
This image shows a dog that chases (persigue) a ball.
persigue(verb)
chases
?He/She/It chases
,pursues
?He/She/It pursues
follows
?tracking movement, often with hostile intent
📝 In Action
El gato persigue al ratón por toda la casa.
A2The cat chases the mouse all over the house.
Mi sombra me persigue cuando camino bajo el sol.
B1My shadow follows me when I walk under the sun.
¡Persigue al coche! No dejes que se escape.
B1Chase the car! Don't let it get away.
💡 Grammar Points
The E to I Change
The verb perseguir is irregular. The 'e' in the stem changes to 'i' in most present tense forms (like persigue), but not in the 'we' (nosotros) or 'you plural informal' (vosotros) forms.
Statement or Command?
'Persigue' can mean 'He/She/It chases' (a statement) OR 'Chase!' (an informal command to one person, tú). Context is key to knowing which one it is.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Él perseguimos la verdad."
Correction: Él persigue la verdad. Remember to change the 'e' to 'i' in this form.
⭐ Usage Tips
Mental Trick
Think of persigue as being related to sigue (he/she follows), which also has the 'i' sound, making the irregularity easier to recall.
The runner pursues (persigue) the finish line, striving for the objective.
persigue(verb)
pursues
?striving for a goal or objective
,seeks
?looking for something abstract like happiness or truth
strives for
?working hard to achieve
📝 In Action
Ella persigue la excelencia en todo lo que hace.
B2She pursues excellence in everything she does.
El científico persigue una nueva teoría sobre el universo.
C1The scientist pursues a new theory about the universe.
💡 Grammar Points
Common Structure
When used figuratively, persigue usually takes a direct object that is an abstract noun, like 'la felicidad' (happiness) or 'la verdad' (truth).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning is great for essays, professional conversations, and talking about life goals, giving your Spanish a more mature sound.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
subjunctive
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: persigue
Question 1 of 1
Which of the following sentences uses 'persigue' as an informal command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'persigue' means 'chases' or 'pursues a goal'?
If the thing being chased is physical (a car, a person, a ball), it means 'chase.' If the thing is abstract (a dream, happiness, a better life), it means 'pursue' or 'seek.'
Why does *perseguir* change spelling in the present tense?
It’s an irregular verb pattern where the 'e' in the middle of the verb changes to 'i' in most singular forms. This happens in similar verbs like *seguir* (to follow).