preocupan
preh-oh-KOO-pahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Los resultados de las elecciones me preocupan mucho.
A2The election results worry me a lot.
¿Esos ruidos extraños te preocupan a ti también?
B1Do those strange noises worry you too?
Mis padres dicen que las notas de mi hermano no les preocupan.
B1My parents say my brother's grades don't concern them.
Los cambios en el clima preocupan a la comunidad científica.
B2The climate changes concern the scientific community.
💡 Grammar Points
Subject-Verb Agreement (Plural)
Since this form ends in '-an' (third-person plural), the things that are causing the worry must be plural (e.g., 'los ruidos,' 'las noticias,' or 'ellos').
The 'Gustar' Structure
Like the verb 'gustar' (to like), 'preocupar' is often used 'backward' in Spanish: the plural thing causing the emotion is the subject ('preocupan'), and the person feeling the emotion is the indirect object pronoun ('me', 'te', 'le', etc.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Active vs. Reflexive
Mistake: "Using 'preocupan' when you mean 'they worry themselves' (e.g., 'Ellos preocupan por el examen')."
Correction: Use the reflexive form 'se preocupan' when the people are worrying themselves: 'Ellos se preocupan por el examen' (They worry about the exam).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Cause
If you are listing multiple things that cause you anxiety, use 'preocupan'. If only one thing causes anxiety, use 'preocupa' (the singular form).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: preocupan
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'preocupan'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'preocupan' and 'se preocupan'?
'Preocupan' means 'they cause worry to someone else' (e.g., 'Las deudas nos preocupan' = The debts worry us). 'Se preocupan' means 'they worry themselves' (e.g., 'Ellos se preocupan por el futuro' = They worry about the future). Use the 'se' form when the subject is the one feeling the emotion.