Inklingo
Three stylized figures standing in a colorful room, looking expectantly forward with curious, questioning expressions, illustrating the action of asking.

preguntan

preh-GOON-tahn

VerbA1regular ar
they ask?3rd person plural (ellos/ellas),you all ask?3rd person plural formal (ustedes)
Also:they inquire?Seeking information,they wonder?Less common, implies curiosity

Quick Reference

infinitivepreguntar
gerundpreguntando
past Participlepreguntado

📝 In Action

Los turistas siempre preguntan por la catedral.

A1

The tourists always ask about the cathedral.

Mis padres preguntan cuándo vamos a volver a casa.

A2

My parents ask when we are going to return home.

Ustedes preguntan mucho, y eso es bueno.

B1

You all ask a lot of questions, and that is good.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • consultan (they consult)
  • averiguan (they find out)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • preguntan la horathey ask the time
  • preguntan por tithey ask about you

💡 Grammar Points

The 'They/You All' Form

This form, 'preguntan', is always used when the action of asking is done by a group of people ('they', 'ellos/ellas') or a formal group you are addressing ('you all', 'ustedes').

Asking for Information vs. Asking for Things

Use 'preguntar' only when asking a question to get information. If you are asking for a physical object or a favor, you must use the verb 'pedir' instead.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'por' incorrectly

Mistake: "Ellos preguntan por el precio."

Correction: Ellos preguntan el precio. (You usually don't need 'por' when asking for a direct object, like the price.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'por'

You do need 'por' when asking 'about' someone or something: 'Preguntan por María' (They ask about Maria).

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedpregunta
yopregunto
preguntas
ellos/ellas/ustedespreguntan
nosotrospreguntamos
vosotrospreguntáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpreguntaba
yopreguntaba
preguntabas
ellos/ellas/ustedespreguntaban
nosotrospreguntábamos
vosotrospreguntabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedpreguntó
yopregunté
preguntaste
ellos/ellas/ustedespreguntaron
nosotrospreguntamos
vosotrospreguntasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedpregunte
yopregunte
preguntes
ellos/ellas/ustedespregunten
nosotrospreguntemos
vosotrospreguntéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpreguntara
yopreguntara
preguntaras
ellos/ellas/ustedespreguntaran
nosotrospreguntáramos
vosotrospreguntarais

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: preguntan

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'preguntan'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'preguntan' only used for questions?

Yes, 'preguntar' is strictly for asking a question or seeking information. If you want to ask for a favor, money, or a physical item, you must use the verb 'pedir' (they ask for = 'piden').

Does 'preguntan' mean 'they ask' or 'you all ask'?

It means both! It is the 3rd person plural form, used for 'ellos' (they), 'ellas' (they, female), and 'ustedes' (you all, formal). Context usually makes the meaning clear.