defender
to defend
📚 defender is a stem-changing verb (e-ie). Learn more in our Stem-Changing Verbs Guide
Non-Conjugated Forms
defender
to defend
defendiendo
Present Participle
defendido
Used in perfect tenses
Indicative Mood
Used for statements of fact, certainty, and objective reality
| Person | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | defiendo | defendí | defendía | defenderé | defendería |
| tú | defiendes | defendiste | defendías | defenderás | defenderías |
| él/ella/usted | defiende | defendió | defendía | defenderá | defendería |
| nosotros | defendemos | defendimos | defendíamos | defenderemos | defenderíamos |
| vosotros | defendéis | defendisteis | defendíais | defenderéis | defenderíais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | defienden | defendieron | defendían | defenderán | defenderían |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Perfect Tenses
Compound tenses using auxiliary verb "haber" + past participle
| Person | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he defendido | había defendido | habré defendido | habría defendido |
| tú | has defendido | habías defendido | habrás defendido | habrías defendido |
| él/ella/usted | ha defendido | había defendido | habrá defendido | habría defendido |
| nosotros | hemos defendido | habíamos defendido | habremos defendido | habríamos defendido |
| vosotros | habéis defendido | habíais defendido | habréis defendido | habríais defendido |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han defendido | habían defendido | habrán defendido | habrían defendido |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Subjunctive Mood
Used for doubt, emotion, desire, possibility, and hypothetical situations
The imperfect subjunctive has two forms: -ra (more common in speech) and -se (more literary, common in Spain). Both are equally correct and interchangeable.
| Person | Literary / Spain | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | defienda | defendiera | defendiese |
| tú | defiendas | defendieras | defendieses |
| él/ella/usted | defienda | defendiera | defendiese |
| nosotros | defendamos | defendiéramos | defendiésemos |
| vosotros | defendáis | defendierais | defendieseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | defiendan | defendieran | defendiesen |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Literary / Spain
Imperative Mood
Used for commands, requests, and instructions
| Person | |
|---|---|
| yo | - |
| tú | defiende |
| él/ella/usted | defienda |
| nosotros | defendamos |
| vosotros | defended |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | defiendan |
| Quick Test |
🎯 Practice defender
Test your knowledge of defender conjugations across multiple tenses
Stem Change Pattern: e-ie
This verb follows the e-ie pattern. The stem change occurs in present indicative and present subjunctive, affecting the "boot" forms (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, ellos/ellas/ustedes). Some -ir verbs also have stem changes in preterite (él/ella and ellos/ellas forms).
Usage Tips
- Indicative: Use for facts, statements, and objective reality
- Subjunctive: Use after expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, or uncertainty
- Imperative: Use for direct commands and requests
- Perfect Tenses: Use to express actions completed relative to another time
Examples and Common Phrases
Examples
Common Phrases
Verb Information
Category
Actions
Ending Type
-er verb
Verb Type
Stem-changing verb
Importance Rank
#78 out of 100
Usage Tips
Remember the "Boot"
Stem-changing verbs change in a "boot" shape: yo, tú, él/ella, and ellos/ellas change, but nosotros and vosotros don't. Draw a boot around the changing forms to remember!
Practice Suggestion
Try creating your own sentences with this verb. Start with simple present tense sentences and gradually work up to more complex constructions.