Recibir Conjugation: All Spanish Tenses

Recibir (to receive, to get) is a very common Spanish verb and it is completely regular: it follows the -ir verb pattern in every tense. Note that it is spelled with a b, like escribir and vivir.

Indicative Tenses of Recibir

Recibir in the Present (Presente)

Habits, current facts and general truths: Recibo muchos correos cada día (I receive a lot of emails every day).

Present tense rules →

Recibir in the Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Completed actions at a specific moment in the past: Ayer recibí un paquete sorpresa (Yesterday I received a surprise package).

Preterite rules →

Recibir in the Present Perfect (Pretérito perfecto)

Past connected to the present: Hoy he recibido tres llamadas del banco (Today I have received three calls from the bank).

Present perfect rules →

Recibir in the Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Habitual or ongoing actions in the past: De niño recibía una paga cada semana (As a child I used to get an allowance every week).

Imperfect rules →

Recibir in the Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

An action before another past action: Cuando llamé, ya había recibido la carta (When I called, she had already received the letter).

Past perfect rules →

Recibir in the Future (Futuro simple)

Plans and predictions: Mañana recibiré la respuesta definitiva (Tomorrow I will receive the final answer).

Future tense rules →

Recibir in the Future Perfect (Futuro perfecto)

An action that will be completed in the future: Para el viernes ya habremos recibido el pago (By Friday we will have received the payment).

Future perfect rules →

Recibir in the Conditional (Condicional simple)

Advice and hypothetical situations: Con ese plan recibirías más beneficios (With that plan you would get more benefits).

Conditional rules →

Recibir in the Conditional Perfect (Condicional compuesto)

Hypotheses about the past: Habría recibido el premio, pero no me presenté (I would have received the prize, but I didn't show up).

Conditional perfect rules →

Subjunctive Tenses of Recibir

Present Subjunctive of Recibir (Presente de subjuntivo)

Wishes, doubts and emotions: Espero que recibas pronto buenas noticias (I hope you receive good news soon).

Present subjunctive rules →

Present Perfect Subjunctive of Recibir (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

Evaluating a recent past action: Me alegro de que hayas recibido el regalo (I'm glad you have received the gift).

Perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperfect Subjunctive of Recibir (Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)

Hypothetical conditions: Si recibieras la beca, podrías estudiar fuera (If you received the scholarship, you could study abroad).

Imperfect subjunctive rules →

Past Perfect Subjunctive of Recibir (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

Unreal hypotheses about the past: Si hubieras recibido el aviso, no habrías venido (If you had received the notice, you wouldn't have come).

Past perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperative of Recibir

Affirmative Commands of Recibir (Imperativo afirmativo)

Orders and requests: ¡Recibe a los invitados con una sonrisa! (Greet the guests with a smile!)

Affirmative commands rules →

Negative Commands of Recibir (Imperativo negativo)

Prohibitions and negative advice: No recibas a nadie sin avisar (Don't let anyone in without notice).

Negative commands rules →

Expressions with Recibir

• Recibir con los brazos abiertos - to welcome with open arms
• Recibir a alguien - to greet someone, to welcome a person
• Recibir una negativa - to get a refusal, to be turned down
• Recibir órdenes - to take orders from a superior