Mastering Spanish ‘Oír’: A Comprehensive Guide to Conjugation

Understanding the conjugation of the Spanish verb ‘oír’ (to hear) is crucial for effective communication in Spanish. As an irregular verb, ‘oír’ presents unique challenges that require careful attention.

This article provides a detailed exploration of ‘oír’ conjugation, covering its various forms, tenses, and moods. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use ‘oír’ in your Spanish conversations and writing.

By mastering ‘oír’, you’ll enhance your ability to understand and express nuances related to hearing and perception in Spanish.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of ‘Oír’
• Structural Breakdown of ‘Oír’ Conjugation
• Types and Categories of ‘Oír’ Conjugation
  • Indicative Mood
  • Subjunctive Mood
  • Imperative Mood
• Examples of ‘Oír’ Conjugation
  • Present Indicative Examples
  • Preterite Indicative Examples
  • Imperfect Indicative Examples
  • Future Indicative Examples
  • Conditional Indicative Examples
  • Present Subjunctive Examples
  • Imperfect Subjunctive Examples
  • Future Subjunctive Examples (Rare)
  • Imperative Examples
• Usage Rules for ‘Oír’
• Common Mistakes in ‘Oír’ Conjugation
• Practice Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
  • Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation
  • Exercise 3: Error Correction
• Advanced Topics
  • Idiomatic Expressions with ‘Oír’
  • Periphrastic Constructions with ‘Oír’
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of ‘Oír’

The Spanish verb ‘oír’ translates to “to hear” in English. It describes the act of perceiving sound through the ears. ‘Oír’ is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation patterns deviate from the standard rules that apply to regular verbs ending in -ar, -er, or -ir. The irregularity primarily affects its stem in certain tenses and moods. Understanding these irregularities is key to accurate usage.

‘Oír’ belongs to the class of verbs that express sensory perception. Its function is to indicate the reception of auditory information.

It is frequently used in contexts where someone is listening to something, overhearing a conversation, or noticing a sound. The verb can also imply understanding or paying attention, depending on the context.

For example, “Oigo música” means “I hear music.” This simple sentence demonstrates the basic function of ‘oír’ – the perception of sound. The verb can be used in a variety of tenses and moods to express different nuances of hearing, such as past experiences, future expectations, or hypothetical situations.

Structural Breakdown of ‘Oír’ Conjugation

The conjugation of ‘oír’ involves several key elements: the verb stem, the endings that indicate tense and person, and the irregularities that make it unique. The infinitive form is ‘oír’.

The stem changes in certain tenses, which is the primary source of its irregularity. Let’s break it down:

1. Verb Stem: The stem of ‘oír’ is ‘o-‘. However, this stem changes in certain tenses, particularly in the present indicative and subjunctive.

2. Endings: The endings added to the stem vary depending on the tense, mood, and person. These endings follow a general pattern for -ir verbs, but the stem changes create irregularities.

3. Irregularities: The main irregularity in ‘oír’ occurs in the present indicative and subjunctive. The ‘i’ in the stem changes to ‘y’ when it is between two vowels (except in the nosotros and vosotros forms in the present indicative). For example, yo oigo (I hear) becomes él oye (he hears). This stem change is crucial to understanding the verb’s conjugation.

4. Tense Formation: Compound tenses are formed using the auxiliary verb haber (to have) and the past participle oído (heard). For example, he oído means “I have heard.” The past participle remains constant regardless of the subject.

Types and Categories of ‘Oír’ Conjugation

The conjugation of ‘oír’ varies depending on the mood and tense. The three main moods are indicative, subjunctive, and imperative.

Each mood has multiple tenses that express different time frames and levels of certainty.

Indicative Mood

The indicative mood is used to express facts and certainties. It includes tenses such as present, preterite, imperfect, future, and conditional.

These tenses describe actions that are happening, have happened, used to happen, will happen, or would happen.

Present Indicative: Describes actions happening now. Irregularity: ‘i’ changes to ‘y’ except in nosotros and vosotros forms. Example: Yo oigo (I hear), Él oye (He hears).

Preterite Indicative: Describes completed actions in the past. This tense is regular. Example: Yo oí (I heard), Ellos oyeron (They heard).

Imperfect Indicative: Describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past. This tense is regular. Example: Yo oía (I used to hear), Nosotros oíamos (We used to hear).

Future Indicative: Describes actions that will happen in the future. This tense is regular. Example: Yo oiré (I will hear), Ustedes oirán (You all will hear).

Conditional Indicative: Describes actions that would happen under certain conditions. This tense is regular. Example: Yo oiría (I would hear), Ella oiría (She would hear).

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express doubts, wishes, emotions, and possibilities. It is often used in dependent clauses after certain conjunctions or expressions.

Present Subjunctive: Expresses present doubts, wishes, or possibilities. Irregularity: ‘i’ changes to ‘y’ in all forms. Example: Que yo oiga (That I hear), Que él oiga (That he hears).

Imperfect Subjunctive: Expresses past doubts, wishes, or possibilities. Two forms exist: -ra and -se. Example: Que yo oyera/oyese (That I heard), Que ellos oyeran/oyesen (That they heard).

Future Subjunctive: Rarely used in modern Spanish, primarily found in legal or formal contexts. Example: Si yo oyere (If I should hear).

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used to give commands or instructions. It only has forms for tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros, and ustedes.

Affirmative Imperative: Gives a positive command. Example: Oye (Hear – informal), Oiga (Hear – formal).

Negative Imperative: Gives a negative command. Uses the subjunctive form. Example: No oigas (Don’t hear – informal), No oiga (Don’t hear – formal).

Examples of ‘Oír’ Conjugation

The following tables provide examples of ‘oír’ conjugation in various tenses and moods. Each table includes the subject pronouns, the conjugated form of the verb, and an example sentence to illustrate its use.

Present Indicative Examples

The present indicative describes actions happening now. Note the stem change from ‘i’ to ‘y’ except in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oigo	Yo oigo música clásica.	I hear classical music.
Tú	Oyes	Tú oyes el canto de los pájaros.	You hear the singing of the birds.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oye	Él oye la radio por la mañana.	He hears the radio in the morning.
Nosotros	Oímos	Nosotros oímos las olas del mar.	We hear the waves of the sea.
Vosotros	Oís	Vosotros oís el tren pasar.	You all hear the train passing.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyen	Ellos oyen a los niños jugar en el parque.	They hear the children playing in the park.
Yo	Oigo	Oigo un ruido extraño en la cocina.	I hear a strange noise in the kitchen.
Tú	Oyes	¿Oyes lo que te estoy diciendo?	Do you hear what I’m saying to you?
Él/Ella/Usted	Oye	Ella oye muy bien con sus nuevos audífonos.	She hears very well with her new hearing aids.
Nosotros	Oímos	Oímos las noticias en la radio todos los días.	We hear the news on the radio every day.
Vosotros	Oís	¿Oís el murmullo de la gente en la calle?	Do you all hear the murmur of the people in the street?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyen	Ellos oyen los gritos de los manifestantes.	They hear the shouts of the protesters.
Yo	Oigo	Oigo a mi vecino tocar la guitarra.	I hear my neighbor playing the guitar.
Tú	Oyes	Oyes el tic-tac del reloj?	Do you hear the ticking of the clock?
Él/Ella/Usted	Oye	El bebé oye la voz de su madre.	The baby hears his mother’s voice.
Nosotros	Oímos	Oímos el despertador sonar cada mañana.	We hear the alarm clock ringing every morning.
Vosotros	Oís	Oís el viento soplar fuerte?	Do you all hear the wind blowing strongly?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyen	Oyen los fuegos artificiales en la noche.	They hear the fireworks at night.

Preterite Indicative Examples

The preterite indicative describes completed actions in the past. This tense is regular for ‘oír’.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oí	Yo oí un trueno anoche.	I heard thunder last night.
Tú	Oíste	Tú oíste la noticia en la televisión.	You heard the news on television.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyó	Ella oyó un ruido en el jardín.	She heard a noise in the garden.
Nosotros	Oímos	Nosotros oímos el concierto en el parque.	We heard the concert in the park.
Vosotros	Oísteis	Vosotros oísteis la explosión desde lejos.	You all heard the explosion from afar.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeron	Ellos oyeron a los músicos tocar en la calle.	They heard the musicians playing in the street.
Yo	Oí	Oí una conversación interesante en el autobús.	I heard an interesting conversation on the bus.
Tú	Oíste	¿Oíste el timbre de la puerta?	Did you hear the doorbell?
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyó	Él oyó el anuncio en la radio.	He heard the announcement on the radio.
Nosotros	Oímos	Oímos los aplausos después de la obra.	We heard the applause after the play.
Vosotros	Oísteis	Oísteis los gritos de alegría en el estadio.	You all heard the shouts of joy in the stadium.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeron	Ellos oyeron las campanas de la iglesia.	They heard the church bells.
Yo	Oí	Oí a mi abuela contar historias antiguas.	I heard my grandmother telling old stories.
Tú	Oíste	Oíste al profesor explicar la lección?	Did you hear the teacher explain the lesson?
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyó	Ella oyó al bebé llorar durante la noche.	She heard the baby crying during the night.
Nosotros	Oímos	Oímos el discurso del presidente en la televisión.	We heard the president’s speech on television.
Vosotros	Oísteis	Oísteis el sonido de las olas en la playa?	Did you all hear the sound of the waves on the beach?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeron	Oyeron los vítores de la multitud.	They heard the cheers of the crowd.

Imperfect Indicative Examples

The imperfect indicative describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past. This tense is regular.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oía	Yo oía a mi abuelo contar historias.	I used to hear my grandfather tell stories.
Tú	Oías	Tú oías música clásica cuando eras niño.	You used to hear classical music when you were a child.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oía	Ella oía el canto de los pájaros cada mañana.	She used to hear the birds singing every morning.
Nosotros	Oíamos	Nosotros oíamos las noticias en la radio.	We used to hear the news on the radio.
Vosotros	Oíais	Vosotros oíais el tren pasar desde vuestra casa.	You all used to hear the train passing from your house.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oían	Ellos oían a los niños jugar en el parque.	They used to hear the children playing in the park.
Yo	Oía	Oía el viento soplar a través de las ventanas.	I used to hear the wind blowing through the windows.
Tú	Oías	¿Oías las historias de fantasmas que contaba tu abuela?	Did you use to hear the ghost stories your grandmother told?
Él/Ella/Usted	Oía	Él oía los sermones del cura los domingos.	He used to hear the priest’s sermons on Sundays.
Nosotros	Oíamos	Oíamos los cuentos antes de dormir.	We used to hear stories before going to sleep.
Vosotros	Oíais	Oíais el agua correr por el río cerca del pueblo.	You all used to hear the water running through the river near the town.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oían	Oían las canciones de cuna antes de acostarse.	They used to hear lullabies before going to bed.
Yo	Oía	Oía a mi madre cantar mientras cocinaba.	I used to hear my mother singing while she cooked.
Tú	Oías	Oías los aplausos después de cada presentación.	You used to hear the applause after each presentation.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oía	Ella oía el sonido del mar desde su ventana.	She used to hear the sound of the sea from her window.
Nosotros	Oíamos	Oíamos las campanas de la iglesia cada domingo.	We used to hear the church bells every Sunday.
Vosotros	Oíais	Oíais los fuegos artificiales durante las fiestas.	You all used to hear the fireworks during the festivals.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oían	Oían el tren pasar a lo lejos cada noche.	They used to hear the train passing in the distance every night.

Future Indicative Examples

The future indicative describes actions that will happen in the future. This tense is regular.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oiré	Yo oiré el concierto la próxima semana.	I will hear the concert next week.
Tú	Oirás	Tú oirás las noticias mañana por la mañana.	You will hear the news tomorrow morning.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oirá	Ella oirá la respuesta pronto.	She will hear the answer soon.
Nosotros	Oiremos	Nosotros oiremos el discurso del presidente.	We will hear the president’s speech.
Vosotros	Oiréis	Vosotros oiréis la verdad algún día.	You all will hear the truth someday.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirán	Ellos oirán el anuncio en la radio.	They will hear the announcement on the radio.
Yo	Oiré	Oiré la lluvia golpear contra el techo esta noche.	I will hear the rain hitting the roof tonight.
Tú	Oirás	Oirás mi opinión sobre este asunto.	You will hear my opinion on this matter.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oirá	Él oirá el resultado de la prueba la semana que viene.	He will hear the result of the test next week.
Nosotros	Oiremos	Oiremos el sonido de las olas en la playa.	We will hear the sound of the waves on the beach.
Vosotros	Oiréis	Oiréis las campanas de boda en la iglesia.	You all will hear the wedding bells in the church.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirán	Oirán las felicitaciones cuando ganen el premio.	They will hear the congratulations when they win the award.
Yo	Oiré	Oiré a los pájaros cantar en la primavera.	I will hear the birds singing in the spring.
Tú	Oirás	Oirás lo que tengo que decirte.	You will hear what I have to tell you.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oirá	Ella oirá las buenas noticias pronto.	She will hear the good news soon.
Nosotros	Oiremos	Oiremos el nuevo álbum de nuestra banda favorita.	We will hear the new album of our favorite band.
Vosotros	Oiréis	Oiréis la verdad en el juicio.	You all will hear the truth in the trial.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirán	Oirán los aplausos de la multitud.	They will hear the applause of the crowd.

Conditional Indicative Examples

The conditional indicative describes actions that would happen under certain conditions. This tense is regular.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oiría	Yo oiría el concierto si tuviera tiempo.	I would hear the concert if I had time.
Tú	Oirías	Tú oirías la verdad si me preguntaras.	You would hear the truth if you asked me.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiría	Ella oiría la buena noticia si estuviera aquí.	She would hear the good news if she were here.
Nosotros	Oiríamos	Nosotros oiríamos el discurso si llegáramos a tiempo.	We would hear the speech if we arrived on time.
Vosotros	Oiríais	Vosotros oiríais la diferencia si escucharais con atención.	You all would hear the difference if you listened carefully.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirían	Ellos oirían el anuncio si encendieran la radio.	They would hear the announcement if they turned on the radio.
Yo	Oiría	Oiría el mar desde mi balcón si viviera en la costa.	I would hear the sea from my balcony if I lived on the coast.
Tú	Oirías	Oirías mis consejos si fueras más prudente.	You would hear my advice if you were more prudent.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiría	Él oiría las campanas de la iglesia si no estuviera tan lejos.	He would hear the church bells if he weren’t so far away.
Nosotros	Oiríamos	Oiríamos el concierto si tuviéramos entradas.	We would hear the concert if we had tickets.
Vosotros	Oiríais	Oiríais la diferencia si probarais el nuevo equipo de sonido.	You all would hear the difference if you tried the new sound equipment.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirían	Ellos oirían la verdad si alguien se la contara.	They would hear the truth if someone told them.
Yo	Oiría	Oiría a los pájaros cantar si no hubiera tanto ruido.	I would hear the birds singing if there wasn’t so much noise.
Tú	Oirías	Oirías las buenas noticias si tuvieras paciencia.	You would hear the good news if you were patient.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiría	Ella oiría la propuesta si la dejaran hablar.	She would hear the proposal if they let her speak.
Nosotros	Oiríamos	Oiríamos el debate si pudiéramos encontrarlo en la radio.	We would hear the debate if we could find it on the radio.
Vosotros	Oiríais	Oiríais la música si no estuvierais hablando tan alto.	You all would hear the music if you weren’t talking so loudly.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oirían	Ellos oirían la alarma si no estuvieran durmiendo tan profundamente.	They would hear the alarm if they weren’t sleeping so deeply.

Present Subjunctive Examples

The present subjunctive expresses present doubts, wishes, or possibilities. Note the stem change from ‘i’ to ‘y’ in all forms.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oiga	Espero que yo oiga buenas noticias pronto.	I hope that I hear good news soon.
Tú	Oigas	Dudo que tú oigas la verdad de él.	I doubt that you hear the truth from him.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiga	Es necesario que él oiga las instrucciones.	It is necessary that he hear the instructions.
Nosotros	Oigamos	Es importante que nosotros oigamos todas las opiniones.	It is important that we hear all opinions.
Vosotros	Oigáis	Es posible que vosotros oigáis rumores.	It is possible that you all hear rumors.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oigan	Es probable que ellos oigan la alarma.	It is likely that they hear the alarm.
Yo	Oiga	No creo que oiga nada interesante hoy.	I don’t think I’ll hear anything interesting today.
Tú	Oigas	Es raro que oigas ese tipo de música aquí.	It’s rare that you hear that kind of music here.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiga	Es fundamental que oiga todos los detalles del plan.	It’s essential that he hear all the details of the plan.
Nosotros	Oigamos	Es preferible que oigamos la versión original.	It’s preferable that we hear the original version.
Vosotros	Oigáis	Es dudoso que oigáis una respuesta favorable.	It’s doubtful that you’ll hear a favorable response.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oigan	Es importante que oigan ambas caras de la historia.	It’s important that they hear both sides of the story.
Yo	Oiga	Espero que oiga el veredicto pronto.	I hope that I hear the verdict soon.
Tú	Oigas	Es posible que oigas algo diferente mañana.	It’s possible that you hear something different tomorrow.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oiga	Es urgente que oiga las instrucciones del médico.	It’s urgent that he hear the doctor’s instructions.
Nosotros	Oigamos	Es necesario que oigamos todas las opiniones antes de decidir.	It’s necessary that we hear all opinions before deciding.
Vosotros	Oigáis	Es importante que oigáis los consejos de los expertos.	It’s important that you hear the advice of the experts.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oigan	Es crucial que oigan el anuncio antes de que sea demasiado tarde.	It’s crucial that they hear the announcement before it’s too late.

Imperfect Subjunctive Examples

The imperfect subjunctive expresses past doubts, wishes, or possibilities. Two forms exist: -ra and -se.

Both are equally valid.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation (-ra)	Conjugation (-se)	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oyera	Oyese	Si yo oyera/oyese la verdad, estaría más tranquilo.	If I heard the truth, I would be more at peace.
Tú	Oyeras	Oyeses	Dudaba que tú oyeras/oyeses bien desde tan lejos.	I doubted that you heard well from so far away.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyera	Oyese	Quería que él oyera/oyese mi opinión sobre el asunto.	I wanted him to hear my opinion on the matter.
Nosotros	Oyéramos	Oyésemos	Esperábamos que nosotros oyéramos/oyésemos buenas noticias.	We hoped that we would hear good news.
Vosotros	Oyerais	Oyeseis	Era importante que vosotros oyerais/oyeseis todas las versiones.	It was important that you all hear all versions.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeran	Oyesen	No creía que ellos oyeran/oyesen el anuncio.	I didn’t believe they heard the announcement.
Yo	Oyera	Oyese	Ojalá que yo oyera/oyese una canción hermosa en la radio.	I wish I heard a beautiful song on the radio.
Tú	Oyeras	Oyeses	Si tú oyeras/oyeses lo que yo oí, estarías sorprendido.	If you heard what I heard, you would be surprised.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyera	Oyese	Me molestaba que él no oyera/oyese mis advertencias.	It bothered me that he didn’t hear my warnings.
Nosotros	Oyéramos	Oyésemos	Desearía que oyéramos/oyésemos el concierto en vivo.	I wish we heard the concert live.
Vosotros	Oyerais	Oyeseis	Era crucial que oyerais/oyeseis las instrucciones claramente.	It was crucial that you all heard the instructions clearly.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeran	Oyesen	Era improbable que ellos oyeran/oyesen la verdad completa.	It was unlikely that they heard the complete truth.
Yo	Oyera	Oyese	Si yo oyera/oyese el sonido del mar, me sentiría mejor.	If I heard the sound of the sea, I would feel better.
Tú	Oyeras	Oyeses	Dudaba que oyeras/oyeses mi llamada en medio del ruido.	I doubted you heard my call in the middle of the noise.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyera	Oyese	Quería que él oyera/oyese la explicación antes de juzgar.	I wanted him to hear the explanation before judging.
Nosotros	Oyéramos	Oyésemos	Esperábamos que oyéramos/oyésemos el resultado del partido.	We hoped that we would hear the result of the match.
Vosotros	Oyerais	Oyeseis	Era importante que oyerais/oyeseis los consejos de los expertos.	It was important that you heard the advice of the experts.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeran	Oyesen	No creía que oyeran/oyesen la alarma a tiempo.	I didn’t believe they heard the alarm in time.

Future Subjunctive Examples (Rare)

The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish, primarily found in legal or formal contexts.

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Oyere	Si yo oyere algo, te lo haré saber.	If I should hear anything, I will let you know.
Tú	Oyeres	Si tú oyeres algún ruido, avísame inmediatamente.	If you should hear any noise, let me know immediately.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyere	Si él oyere la señal, deberá actuar.	If he should hear the signal, he must act.
Nosotros	Oyéremos	Si nosotros oyéremos la campana, sabremos que es hora.	If we should hear the bell, we will know it is time.
Vosotros	Oyereis	Si vosotros oyereis la orden, debéis obedecerla.	If you all should hear the order, you must obey it.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeren	Si ellos oyeren algo sospechoso, informarán a la policía.	If they should hear something suspicious, they will inform the police.
Yo	Oyere	En caso de que yo oyere la alarma, saldré inmediatamente.	In case I should hear the alarm, I will leave immediately.
Tú	Oyeres	Si oyeres alguna novedad, infórmame lo antes posible.	If you should hear any news, inform me as soon as possible.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyere	Si oyere el veredicto, nos lo comunicará.	If he should hear the verdict, he will communicate it to us.
Nosotros	Oyéremos	Si oyéremos la llamada, responderemos de inmediato.	If we should hear the call, we will respond immediately.
Vosotros	Oyereis	Si oyereis algún sonido extraño, investigadlo con cuidado.	If you should hear any strange sound, investigate it carefully.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeren	Si oyeren la confirmación, procederán con el plan.	If they should hear the confirmation, they will proceed with the plan.
Yo	Oyere	Si yo oyere el nombre del ganador, te llamaré.	If I should hear the name of the winner, I’ll call you.
Tú	Oyeres	Si oyeres la señal, sabrás que es el momento.	If you should hear the signal, you’ll know it’s the moment.
Él/Ella/Usted	Oyere	Si ella oyere la respuesta, estará muy contenta.	If she should hear the answer, she will be very happy.
Nosotros	Oyéremos	Si oyéremos la melodía, recordaremos viejos tiempos.	If we should hear the melody, we will remember old times.
Vosotros	Oyereis	Si oyereis el mensaje, sabréis qué hacer.	If you should hear the message, you’ll know what to do.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Oyeren	Si oyeren la noticia, se sorprenderán.	If they should hear the news, they will be surprised.

Imperative Examples

The imperative mood is used to give commands or instructions. It only has forms for tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros, and ustedes.

Subject	Affirmative Command	Negative Command	Example Sentence	English Translation
Tú (informal)	Oye	No oigas	Oye la música, es muy relajante. / No oigas los rumores, no son ciertos.	Listen to the music, it’s very relaxing. / Don’t listen to the rumors, they are not true.
Usted (formal)	Oiga	No oiga	Oiga con atención, por favor. / No oiga las críticas negativas.	Listen carefully, please. / Don’t listen to the negative criticism.
Nosotros	Oigamos	No oigamos	Oigamos a los expertos para tomar la mejor decisión. / No oigamos a los que nos desaniman.	Let’s listen to the experts to make the best decision. / Let’s not listen to those who discourage us.
Vosotros (informal)	Oíd	No oigáis	Oíd con atención las instrucciones. / No oigáis a los pesimistas.	Listen carefully to the instructions. / Don’t listen to the pessimists.
Ustedes (formal)	Oigan	No oigan	Oigan el anuncio antes de que termine. / No oigan los comentarios malintencionados.	Listen to the announcement before it ends. / Don’t listen to the malicious comments.
Tú (informal)	Oye	No oigas	Oye bien lo que te digo. / No oigas a quienes te critican sin razón.	Listen well to what I’m telling you. / Don’t listen to those who criticize you without reason.
Usted (formal)	Oiga	No oiga	Oiga mis consejos, le serán útiles. / No oiga las mentiras que dicen de él.	Listen to my advice, it will be useful to you. / Don’t listen to the lies they say about him.
Nosotros	Oigamos	No oigamos	Oigamos las opiniones de todos antes de decidir. / No oigamos las voces del odio.	Let’s listen to everyone’s opinions before deciding. / Let’s not listen to the voices of hate.
Vosotros (informal)	Oíd	No oigáis	Oíd atentamente las explicaciones. / No oigáis los chismes.	Listen carefully to the explanations. / Don’t listen to the gossip.
Ustedes (formal)	Oigan	No oigan	Oigan la señal antes de actuar. / No oigan los comentarios negativos.	Listen for the signal before acting. / Don’t listen to the negative comments.
Tú (informal)	Oye	No oigas	Oye a tu corazón, él sabe la verdad. / No oigas las voces que te confunden.	Listen to your heart, it knows the truth. / Don’t listen to the voices that confuse you.
Usted (formal)	Oiga	No oiga	Oiga la propuesta con atención. / No oiga los prejuicios.	Listen to the proposal carefully. / Don’t listen to the prejudices.
Nosotros	Oigamos	No oigamos	Oigamos las necesidades de la comunidad. / No oigamos las promesas vacías.	Let’s listen to the needs of the community. / Let’s not listen to the empty promises.
Vosotros (informal)	Oíd	No oigáis	Oíd la llamada de la naturaleza. / No oigáis las razones para rendirse.	Listen to the call of nature. / Don’t listen to the reasons to give up.
Ustedes (formal)	Oigan	No oigan	Oigan la voz de la experiencia. / No oigan las críticas destructivas.	Listen to the voice of experience. / Don’t listen to the destructive criticism.

Usage Rules for ‘Oír’

To use ‘oír’ correctly, consider the following rules:

1. Irregular Stem Change: Remember that the ‘i’ in the stem changes to ‘y’ in the present indicative and present subjunctive, except for the nosotros and vosotros forms in the present indicative. For example, yo oigo, tú oyes, él oye, nosotros oímos, vosotros oís, ellos oyen.

2. Prepositions: ‘Oír’ is often followed by the preposition ‘a’ when the object is a person. For example, “Oigo a María” means “I hear María.” When the object is a thing or sound, ‘a’ is not required: “Oigo la música” (I hear the music).

3. Reflexive Constructions: ‘Oír’ can be used reflexively with the pronoun ‘se’ to mean “to be heard” or “to understand each other.” For example, “No se oyen bien” means “They can’t hear each other well.”

4. Compound Tenses: When forming compound tenses, use the auxiliary verb haber and the past participle oído. For example, “He oído eso antes” means “I have heard that before.”

5. Subjunctive Usage: Use the subjunctive mood in clauses that express doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty. These clauses are often introduced by conjunctions such as que, si, para que, etc. For example, “Es importante que oigas la verdad” (It’s important that you hear the truth).

Common Mistakes in ‘Oír’ Conjugation

Several common mistakes can occur when conjugating ‘oír’. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them.

1. Incorrect Stem Change: Forgetting to change the ‘i’ to ‘y’ in the present indicative and present subjunctive is a frequent error. Remember that this change applies to all forms except nosotros and vosotros in the present indicative.

2. Misusing Prepositions: Forgetting to use the preposition ‘a’ before a person is another common mistake. Always include ‘a’ when the direct object is a person.

3. Incorrect Imperative Forms: Using the wrong form of the imperative can lead to confusion. Make sure to use the correct form for tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros, and ustedes.

4. Confusing Preterite and Imperfect: Mixing up the preterite and imperfect tenses is a general mistake in Spanish, but it applies to ‘oír’ as well. Use the preterite for completed actions and the imperfect for ongoing or habitual actions in the past.

5. Neglecting Subjunctive Mood: Failing to use the subjunctive mood when it is required can change the meaning of the sentence. Ensure you use the subjunctive in clauses expressing doubt, desire, or uncertainty.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of ‘oír’ conjugation with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘oír’ in the tense indicated.

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Transform the following sentences using the tense indicated.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

Advanced Topics

Explore advanced usage of ‘oír’ in idiomatic expressions and periphrastic constructions.

Idiomatic Expressions with ‘Oír’

‘Oír’ appears in several idiomatic expressions that add color and nuance to the Spanish language. Understanding these expressions can enhance your comprehension and fluency.

1. Oír campanas y no saber dónde: To hear bells but not know where (to hear rumors but not know the source).

2. Oír misa: To hear mass (to be lectured or scolded).

3. Hacer oídos sordos: To turn a deaf ear (to ignore or disregard).

4. Dar que oír: To give something to talk about (to cause a scandal or stir).

5. Por lo que he oído: From what I have heard.

Periphrastic Constructions with ‘Oír’

Periphrastic constructions involve using ‘oír’ with other verbs to express certain nuances or aspects of hearing. These constructions provide alternative ways to express ideas and can add detail to your sentences.

1. Oír + infinitive: This construction is used to indicate hearing someone do something.

2. Dejar oír: To let be heard (to reveal or disclose).

3. Volver a oír: To hear again.

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation of ‘oír’ is an essential step in becoming proficient in Spanish. While ‘oír’ presents some irregularities, understanding its stem changes and practicing its various forms will enable you to use it confidently and accurately.

By studying the examples, rules, and exercises in this guide, you can improve your comprehension and expression related to hearing and perception in Spanish. Continue to practice and incorporate ‘oír’ into your everyday language use to solidify your understanding and fluency.