Meaning and behavior
What does provocar mean?
Provocar means to cause or provoke, to prompt. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to tease sexually; to fancy, would like.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- provocar
- Gerund
- provocando
- Past participle
- provocado
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the preterite.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of provocar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| yo | provoco |
| tú | provocas |
| él / ella / usted | provoca |
| nosotros / nosotras | provocamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | provocáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | provocan |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of provocar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| yo | provoqué |
| tú | provocaste |
| él / ella / usted | provocó |
| nosotros / nosotras | provocamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | provocasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | provocaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of provocar, or for background information.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| yo | provocaba |
| tú | provocabas |
| él / ella / usted | provocaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | provocábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | provocabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | provocaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of provocar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| yo | provocaré |
| tú | provocarás |
| él / ella / usted | provocará |
| nosotros / nosotras | provocaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | provocaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | provocarán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| yo | provoque |
| tú | provoques |
| él / ella / usted | provoque |
| nosotros / nosotras | provoquemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | provoquéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | provoquen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of provocar that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| tú | provoca |
| usted | provoque |
| nosotros / nosotras | provoquemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | provocad |
| ustedes | provoquen |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of provocar.
| Subject | Provocar |
|---|---|
| tú | no provoques |
| usted | no provoque |
| nosotros / nosotras | no provoquemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no provoquéis |
| ustedes | no provoquen |
Verified context
Examples with provocar
Esto provocó el enfado de mucha gente.
This made many people angry.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRLa conducción descuidada provoca accidentes.
Careless driving causes accidents.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRLa invención de la televisión provocó un cambio drástico en nuestra vida cotidiana.
The invention of TV caused a drastic change in our daily life.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Provocar FAQ
What does provocar mean?
Provocar means to cause or provoke, to prompt.
Is provocar regular or irregular?
Provocar is a irregular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of provocar?
The gerund of provocar is provocando.
What is the past participle of provocar?
The past participle of provocar is provocado.
How is provocar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is provoco, provocas, provoca, provocamos, provocan.
How is provocar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is provoqué, provocaste, provocó, provocamos, provocaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.