The Spanish verb traer, meaning “to bring,” is irregular and requires careful attention to its various conjugations across different tenses and moods.
Present Tense Conjugation of ‘Traer’
In the present tense, ‘traer’ exhibits irregularity in the first-person singular form:
| Subject Pronoun | Traer (Present) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | traigo | I bring |
| Tú | traes | You bring |
| Él/Ella/Usted | trae | He/She/You bring |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | traemos | We bring |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | traéis | You all bring |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | traen | They/You all bring |
Example: “Yo traigo los libros a clase.” (I bring the books to class.)
Preterite Tense Conjugation of ‘Traer’
The preterite tense of ‘traer’ is formed with a stem change to ‘traj-‘:
| Subject Pronoun | Traer (Preterite) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | traje | I brought |
| Tú | trajiste | You brought |
| Él/Ella/Usted | trajo | He/She/You brought |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | trajimos | We brought |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | trajisteis | You all brought |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | trajeron | They/You all brought |
Example: “Ellos trajeron comida a la fiesta.” (They brought food to the party.)
Imperfect Tense Conjugation of ‘Traer’
The imperfect tense is used for ongoing or habitual past actions:
| Subject Pronoun | Traer (Imperfect) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | traía | I used to bring |
| Tú | traías | You used to bring |
| Él/Ella/Usted | traía | He/She/You used to bring |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | traíamos | We used to bring |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | traíais | You all used to bring |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | traían | They/You all used to bring |
Example: “Nosotros traíamos regalos cada año.” (We used to bring gifts every year.)
Future Tense Conjugation of ‘Traer’
To express future actions, ‘traer’ is conjugated as follows:
| Subject Pronoun | Traer (Future) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | traeré | I will bring |
| Tú | traerás | You will bring |
| Él/Ella/Usted | traerá | He/She/You will bring |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | traeremos | We will bring |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | traeréis | You all will bring |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | traerán | They/You all will bring |
Example: “Ella traerá una sorpresa mañana.” (She will bring a surprise tomorrow.)
Subjunctive Mood Conjugation of ‘Traer’
The present subjunctive is used to express desires, doubts, or hypothetical situations:
| Subject Pronoun | Traer (Present Subjunctive) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | traiga | (that) I bring |
| Tú | traigas | (that) you bring |
| Él/Ella/Usted | traiga | (that) he/she/you bring |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | traigamos | (that) we bring |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | traigáis | (that) you all bring |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | traigan | (that) they/you all bring |
Example: “Espero que tú traigas el informe.” (I hope that you bring the report.)
Imperative Mood Conjugation of ‘Traer’
The imperative mood is used for giving commands or requests:
| Subject Pronoun | Traer (Affirmative) | Traer (Negative) |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | trae | no traigas |
| Usted | traiga | no traiga |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | traigamos | no traigamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | traed | no traigáis |
| Ustedes | traigan | no traigan |
Example: “¡Trae tus ideas a la reunión!” (Bring your ideas to the meeting!)
FAQ
1. What does ‘traer’ mean in English?
‘Traer’ translates to “to bring” in English.
2. Is ‘traer’ a regular or irregular verb?
‘Traer’ is an irregular verb, with stem changes in certain tenses and forms.
3. How is ‘traer’ conjugated in the present tense?
In the present tense, ‘traer’ is conjugated as follows: yo traigo, tú traes, él/ella/usted trae, nosotros/nosotras traemos, vosotros/vosotras traéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes traen.
4. What is the past participle of ‘traer’?
The past participle of ‘traer’ is ‘traído’.
5. How do you form the gerund of ‘traer’?
The gerund form of ‘traer’ is ‘trayendo’.
Understanding the various conjugations of ‘traer’ is essential for effective communication in Spanish, as it is a commonly used verb in both written and spoken language.
