Non-finite forms
Infinitivo and Gerundio
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitivo | defender | Dictionary form and base form for many compound structures. |
| Gerundio | defendiendo | Used with estar for progressive forms, for example estar defendiendo. |
Spanish verb conjugation
Defender conjugation
defender is an irregular Spanish -ER verb meaning defend. In the present tense: yo defiendo, tú defiendes, él/ella defiende, nosotros defendemos, vosotros defendéis, ellos defienden. Full conjugation across 18 tenses below.
Rank #220-ERIrregular18 tense tables
At a glance
- Infinitive
- defender
- Gerundio
- defendiendo
- Meaning
- defend
- Pattern
- Irregular
- Difficulty
- Level 2
Conjugation tables
Study tense
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Defender across the MuyVerbs tense system
Study present continuous
Presente
Present
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defiendo | Yo defiendo mis ideas con firmeza.I defend my ideas firmly. |
| tú | defiendes | Tú defiendes a tu hermano siempre.You defend your brother always. |
| él | defiende | Él defiende su trabajo con argumentos.He defends his work with arguments. |
| nosotros | defendemos | Nosotros defendemos nuestros derechos.We defend our rights. |
| vosotros | defendéis | Vosotros defendéis la verdad en público.You defend the truth in public. |
| ellos | defienden | Ellos defienden su postura con calma.They defend their position calmly. |
Pretérito Perfecto
Present Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | he defendido | Yo he defendido mis ideas hoy.I have defended my ideas today. |
| tú | has defendido | Tú has defendido a tu hermano otra vez.You have defended your brother again. |
| él | ha defendido | Él ha defendido su trabajo muy bien.He has defended his work very well. |
| nosotros | hemos defendido | Nosotros hemos defendido nuestros derechos.We have defended our rights. |
| vosotros | habéis defendido | Vosotros habéis defendido la verdad.You have defended the truth. |
| ellos | han defendido | Ellos han defendido su postura hasta ahora.They have defended their position until now. |
Pretérito Indefinido
Preterite
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defendí | Ayer yo defendí mis ideas ante todos.Yesterday I defended my ideas in front of everyone. |
| tú | defendiste | Tú defendiste a tu hermano en la reunión.You defended your brother in the meeting. |
| él | defendió | Él defendió su trabajo con calma.He defended his work calmly. |
| nosotros | defendimos | Nosotros defendimos nuestros derechos ayer.We defended our rights yesterday. |
| vosotros | defendisteis | Vosotros defendisteis la verdad sin miedo.You defended the truth without fear. |
| ellos | defendieron | Ellos defendieron su postura al final.They defended their position in the end. |
Pretérito Imperfecto
Imperfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defendía | Yo defendía mis ideas siempre.I used to defend my ideas always. |
| tú | defendías | Tú defendías a tu hermano constantemente.You used to defend your brother constantly. |
| él | defendía | Él defendía su trabajo con orgullo.He used to defend his work proudly. |
| nosotros | defendíamos | Nosotros defendíamos nuestros derechos juntos.We used to defend our rights together. |
| vosotros | defendíais | Vosotros defendíais la verdad en clase.You used to defend the truth in class. |
| ellos | defendían | Ellos defendían su postura con paciencia.They used to defend their position patiently. |
Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
Past Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | había defendido | Yo había defendido mis ideas antes.I had defended my ideas before. |
| tú | habías defendido | Tú habías defendido a tu hermano ya.You had defended your brother already. |
| él | había defendido | Él había defendido su trabajo previamente.He had defended his work previously. |
| nosotros | habíamos defendido | Nosotros habíamos defendido nuestros derechos antes.We had defended our rights before. |
| vosotros | habíais defendido | Vosotros habíais defendido la verdad esa mañana.You had defended the truth that morning. |
| ellos | habían defendido | Ellos habían defendido su postura antes.They had defended their position before. |
Pretérito Anterior
Preterite Anterior
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hube defendido | Cuando yo hube defendido mis ideas, me senté.When I had defended my ideas, I sat down. |
| tú | hubiste defendido | En cuanto tú hubiste defendido a tu hermano, se calmó.As soon as you had defended your brother, he calmed down. |
| él | hubo defendido | Después de que él hubo defendido su trabajo, sonrió.After he had defended his work, he smiled. |
| nosotros | hubimos defendido | Apenas nosotros hubimos defendido nuestros derechos, terminó el debate.As soon as we had defended our rights, the debate ended. |
| vosotros | hubisteis defendido | Una vez que vosotros hubisteis defendido la verdad, os escucharon.Once you had defended the truth, they listened to you. |
| ellos | hubieron defendido | Cuando ellos hubieron defendido su postura, hubo silencio.When they had defended their position, there was silence. |
Futuro
Future
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defenderé | Yo defenderé mis ideas mañana.I will defend my ideas tomorrow. |
| tú | defenderás | Tú defenderás a tu hermano otra vez.You will defend your brother again. |
| él | defenderá | Él defenderá su trabajo bien.He will defend his work well. |
| nosotros | defenderemos | Nosotros defenderemos nuestros derechos.We will defend our rights. |
| vosotros | defenderéis | Vosotros defenderéis la verdad.You will defend the truth. |
| ellos | defenderán | Ellos defenderán su postura.They will defend their position. |
Futuro Perfecto
Future Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | habré defendido | Para entonces yo habré defendido mis ideas.By then I will have defended my ideas. |
| tú | habrás defendido | Tú habrás defendido a tu hermano ya.You will have defended your brother already. |
| él | habrá defendido | Él habrá defendido su trabajo para esa hora.He will have defended his work by that time. |
| nosotros | habremos defendido | Nosotros habremos defendido nuestros derechos antes.We will have defended our rights beforehand. |
| vosotros | habréis defendido | Vosotros habréis defendido la verdad para entonces.You will have defended the truth by then. |
| ellos | habrán defendido | Ellos habrán defendido su postura ya.They will have defended their position already. |
Condicional
Conditional
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defendería | Yo defendería mis ideas sin gritar.I would defend my ideas without shouting. |
| tú | defenderías | Tú defenderías a tu hermano siempre.You would defend your brother always. |
| él | defendería | Él defendería su trabajo mejor.He would defend his work better. |
| nosotros | defenderíamos | Nosotros defenderíamos nuestros derechos con calma.We would defend our rights calmly. |
| vosotros | defenderíais | Vosotros defenderíais la verdad también.You would defend the truth too. |
| ellos | defenderían | Ellos defenderían su postura otra vez.They would defend their position again. |
Condicional Perfecto
Conditional Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | habría defendido | Yo habría defendido mis ideas sin gritar.I would have defended my ideas without shouting. |
| tú | habrías defendido | Tú habrías defendido a tu hermano siempre.You would have defended your brother always. |
| él | habría defendido | Él habría defendido su trabajo mejor.He would have defended his work better. |
| nosotros | habríamos defendido | Nosotros habríamos defendido nuestros derechos con calma.We would have defended our rights calmly. |
| vosotros | habríais defendido | Vosotros habríais defendido la verdad también.You would have defended the truth too. |
| ellos | habrían defendido | Ellos habrían defendido su postura otra vez.They would have defended their position again. |
Subjuntivo Presente
Present Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defienda | Es bueno que yo defienda mis ideas.It is good that I defend my ideas. |
| tú | defiendas | Quiero que tú defiendas a tu hermano.I want you to defend your brother. |
| él | defienda | Es importante que él defienda su trabajo.It is important that he defend his work. |
| nosotros | defendamos | Deseo que nosotros defendamos nuestros derechos.I wish that we defend our rights. |
| vosotros | defendáis | Es mejor que vosotros defendáis la verdad.It is better that you defend the truth. |
| ellos | defiendan | Temo que ellos no defiendan su postura.I fear that they may not defend their position. |
Subjuntivo Pretérito Perfecto
Present Perfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | haya defendido | Dudo que yo haya defendido bien mis ideas.I doubt that I have defended my ideas well. |
| tú | hayas defendido | No creo que tú hayas defendido a tu hermano ya.I do not think that you have defended your brother already. |
| él | haya defendido | Es posible que él haya defendido su trabajo bien.It is possible that he has defended his work well. |
| nosotros | hayamos defendido | Es probable que nosotros hayamos defendido nuestros derechos.It is likely that we have defended our rights. |
| vosotros | hayáis defendido | No parece que vosotros hayáis defendido la verdad todavía.It does not seem that you have defended the truth yet. |
| ellos | hayan defendido | Puede que ellos hayan defendido su postura.They may have defended their position. |
Subjuntivo Pretérito Imperfecto
Imperfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defendiera | Si yo defendiera mis ideas, me respetarían más.If I defended my ideas, they would respect me more. |
| tú | defendieras | Si tú defendieras a tu hermano, confiaría en ti.If you defended your brother, he would trust you. |
| él | defendiera | Si él defendiera su trabajo, lo entenderían mejor.If he defended his work, they would understand it better. |
| nosotros | defendiéramos | Si nosotros defendiéramos nuestros derechos, cambiaría algo.If we defended our rights, something would change. |
| vosotros | defendierais | Si vosotros defendierais la verdad, habría claridad.If you defended the truth, there would be clarity. |
| ellos | defendieran | Si ellos defendieran su postura, seguiría el debate.If they defended their position, the debate would continue. |
Subjuntivo Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
Past Perfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiera defendido | Si yo hubiera defendido mis ideas, me habrían respetado más.If I had defended my ideas, they would have respected me more. |
| tú | hubieras defendido | Si tú hubieras defendido a tu hermano, habría confiado en ti.If you had defended your brother, he would have trusted you. |
| él | hubiera defendido | Si él hubiera defendido su trabajo, lo habrían entendido mejor.If he had defended his work, they would have understood it better. |
| nosotros | hubiéramos defendido | Si nosotros hubiéramos defendido nuestros derechos, algo habría cambiado.If we had defended our rights, something would have changed. |
| vosotros | hubierais defendido | Si vosotros hubierais defendido la verdad, habría habido claridad.If you had defended the truth, there would have been clarity. |
| ellos | hubieran defendido | Si ellos hubieran defendido su postura, habría seguido el debate.If they had defended their position, the debate would have continued. |
Subjuntivo Futuro
Future Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | defendiere | Si algún día yo defendiere mis ideas, hablaré claro.If someday I should defend my ideas, I will speak clearly. |
| tú | defendieres | Si tú defendieres a tu hermano, te lo agradecerá.If you should defend your brother, he will thank you. |
| él | defendiere | Si él defendiere su trabajo, lo escucharán.If he should defend his work, they will listen to him. |
| nosotros | defendiéremos | Si nosotros defendiéremos nuestros derechos, cambiará algo.If we should defend our rights, something will change. |
| vosotros | defendiereis | Si vosotros defendiereis la verdad, os respetarán.If you should defend the truth, they will respect you. |
| ellos | defendieren | Si ellos defendieren su postura, seguirá el debate.If they should defend their position, the debate will continue. |
Subjuntivo Futuro Perfecto
Future Perfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiere defendido | Cuando yo hubiere defendido mis ideas, descansaré.When I shall have defended my ideas, I will rest. |
| tú | hubieres defendido | Cuando tú hubieres defendido a tu hermano, se calmará.When you shall have defended your brother, he will calm down. |
| él | hubiere defendido | Cuando él hubiere defendido su trabajo, sonreirá.When he shall have defended his work, he will smile. |
| nosotros | hubiéremos defendido | Cuando nosotros hubiéremos defendido nuestros derechos, hablaremos.When we shall have defended our rights, we will talk. |
| vosotros | hubiereis defendido | Cuando vosotros hubiereis defendido la verdad, habrá silencio.When you shall have defended the truth, there will be silence. |
| ellos | hubieren defendido | Cuando ellos hubieren defendido su postura, decidirán.When they shall have defended their position, they will decide. |
Imperativo Afirmativo
Affirmative Imperative
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | - | — |
| tú | defiende | Tú, defiende tus ideas.You, defend your ideas. |
| él | defienda | Que él defienda su trabajo.Let him defend his work. |
| nosotros | defendamos | defendamos nuestros derechos ahora.Let us defend our rights now. |
| vosotros | defended | Vosotros, defended la verdad.You, defend the truth. |
| ellos | defiendan | Que ellos defiendan su postura.Let them defend their position. |
Imperativo Negativo
Negative Imperative
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | - | — |
| tú | no defiendas | No no defiendas lo indefendible.Do not defend the indefensible. |
| él | no defienda | Que él no no defienda mentiras.Let him not defend lies. |
| nosotros | no defendamos | No no defendamos errores evidentes.Let us not defend obvious mistakes. |
| vosotros | no defendáis | No no defendáis la injusticia.Do not defend injustice. |
| ellos | no defiendan | Que ellos no no defiendan una postura vacía.Let them not defend an empty position. |
Free web drill
Practice defender
1 / 1
Presente•yo
Yo ___ mis ideas con firmeza.
I defend my ideas firmly.
Need grammar help?How to form Presente
Use Presente for facts, habits, current states, and regular actions.
Formation
- 1Remove the infinitive ending: -ar, -er, or -ir.
- 2Add the present endings for the subject.
- 3Watch high-frequency irregulars like ser, estar, ir, tener, hacer, and decir.
Pattern
-ar: o, as, a, amos, áis, an-er: o, es, e, emos, éis, en-ir: o, es, e, imos, ís, en
Examples
hablar -> yo hablocomer -> él comevivir -> vosotros vivís
Presente is the base system. Master the endings first, then handle irregular yo forms and stem changes.
Grammar to master with defender
Related Spanish grammar topics
Concepts that come up every time you conjugate defender. Each is a short, focused guide.
Common questions
Defender conjugation — frequently asked
Short, direct answers to what learners search most about defender.
- What does 'defender' mean in English?
- In Spanish, 'defender' means to defend. It is a irregular -ER verb used across all 18 standard Spanish tenses.
- Is defender an irregular verb in Spanish?
- Yes, defender is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the regular -ER ending pattern in every tense — some forms change stem or use unique endings. The complete conjugation table on this page shows every irregular form.
- How do you conjugate defender in the present tense?
- Present tense (Presente) of defender: yo defiendo, tú defiendes, él/ella/usted defiende, nosotros defendemos, vosotros defendéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes defienden.
- How do you conjugate defender in the preterite?
- Preterite (Pretérito Indefinido) of defender: yo defendí, tú defendiste, él/ella/usted defendió, nosotros defendimos, vosotros defendisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes defendieron. This tense expresses completed past actions at a defined point in time.
- What is the imperfect tense of defender?
- Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfecto) of defender: yo defendía, tú defendías, él/ella/usted defendía, nosotros defendíamos, vosotros defendíais, ellos/ellas/ustedes defendían. The imperfect describes past habits, ongoing actions, and background states.
- What is the past participle of defender?
- The past participle of defender is 'defendido'. It is used to form compound tenses with the auxiliary verb haber — for example, 'he defendido' (I have defended), 'has defendido', 'ha defendido'.
- What is the gerundio (present participle) of defender?
- The gerundio of defender is 'defendiendo'. It pairs with estar to form the present continuous (estoy defendiendo) and other progressive tenses, indicating an action in progress.
Related verbs
Continue with verbs that share the same ending and difficulty band.