Abrir Conjugation: All Spanish Tenses

Abrir (to open) is a very common Spanish verb. It is almost regular: it follows the -ir verb pattern in every tense, except for its participle, which is irregular: abierto (not "abrido"). Just like escribir → escrito, that form appears in every compound tense.

Indicative Tenses of Abrir

Abrir in the Present (Presente)

Habits, current facts and general truths: Abro la tienda a las nueve (I open the shop at nine).

Present tense rules →

Abrir in the Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Completed actions at a specific moment in the past: Ayer abrí todas las ventanas (Yesterday I opened all the windows).

Preterite rules →

Abrir in the Present Perfect (Pretérito perfecto)

Past connected to the present: Hoy he abierto una cuenta nueva (Today I have opened a new account).

Present perfect rules →

Abrir in the Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Habitual or ongoing actions in the past: De niño abría los regalos antes de tiempo (As a child I used to open presents too early).

Imperfect rules →

Abrir in the Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

An action before another past action: Cuando llegué, ya habían abierto la puerta (When I arrived, they had already opened the door).

Past perfect rules →

Abrir in the Future (Futuro simple)

Plans and predictions: Mañana abriré la nueva sucursal (Tomorrow I will open the new branch).

Future tense rules →

Abrir in the Future Perfect (Futuro perfecto)

An action that will be completed in the future: Para las diez ya habré abierto la oficina (By ten I will have opened the office).

Future perfect rules →

Abrir in the Conditional (Condicional simple)

Advice and hypothetical situations: Yo en tu lugar abriría esa carta enseguida (If I were you, I would open that letter right away).

Conditional rules →

Abrir in the Conditional Perfect (Condicional compuesto)

Hypotheses about the past: Habría abierto la ventana, pero hacía mucho frío (I would have opened the window, but it was very cold).

Conditional perfect rules →

Subjunctive Tenses of Abrir

Present Subjunctive of Abrir (Presente de subjuntivo)

Wishes, doubts and emotions: Quiero que abras las cortinas (I want you to open the curtains).

Present subjunctive rules →

Present Perfect Subjunctive of Abrir (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

Evaluating a recent past action: Espero que hayas abierto la caja con cuidado (I hope you have opened the box carefully).

Perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperfect Subjunctive of Abrir (Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)

Hypothetical conditions: Si abrieras la ventana, entraría aire fresco (If you opened the window, fresh air would come in).

Imperfect subjunctive rules →

Past Perfect Subjunctive of Abrir (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

Unreal hypotheses about the past: Si hubieras abierto antes, no se habría estropeado (If you had opened it earlier, it would not have spoiled).

Past perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperative of Abrir

Affirmative Commands of Abrir (Imperativo afirmativo)

Orders and requests: ¡Abre la puerta, por favor! (Open the door, please!)

Affirmative commands rules →

Negative Commands of Abrir (Imperativo negativo)

Prohibitions and negative advice: No abras la puerta a desconocidos (Don't open the door to strangers).

Negative commands rules →

Expressions with Abrir

• Abrir la puerta - to open the door; figuratively, to open up an opportunity
• Abrir los ojos - to realize the truth, to wake up to reality
• Abrir una cuenta - to open a bank or user account
• Abrir paso - to make way, to clear a path for someone
• En un abrir y cerrar de ojos - in the blink of an eye, in an instant