Volver: How to Conjugate the Spanish Verb, to Return

Volver is a common Spanish verb that usually means "to return," "to come back," or something similar; in the reflexive form, volverse, it also can mean "to become."

Volver is a stem-changing verb; to conjugate volver, change the -o- to -ue- when stressed. Volver also has an irregular past participle.

Irregular forms are shown below in boldface. Translations are given as a guide and in real life may vary with context. Verbs that follow the conjugation pattern of volver include absolver, devolver, disolver, desenvolver, resolver and revolver.

Infinitive of Volver

volver (to return)

Gerund of Volver

volviendo (returning)

Participle of Volver

vuelto (returned)

Present Indicative of Volver

yo vuelvo, tú vuelves, usted/él/ella vuelve, nosotros/as volvemos, vosotros/as volvéis, ustedes/ellos/ellas vuelven (I return, you return, he returns, etc.)

Preterite of Volver

yo volví, tú volviste, usted/él/ella volvió, nosotros/as volvimos, vosotros/as volvisteis, ustedes/ellos/ellas volvieron (I returned, you returned, she returned, etc.)

Imperfect Indicative of Volver

yo volvía, tú volvías, usted/él/ella volvía, nosotros/as volvíamos, vosotros/as volvíais, ustedes/ellos/ellas volvían (I used to return, you used to return, he returned, etc.)

Future Indicative of Volver

yo volveré, tú volverás, usted/él/ella volverá, nosotros/as volveremos, vosotros/as volveréis, ustedes/ellos/ellas volverán (I will return, you will return, he will return, etc.)

Conditional of Volver

yo volvería, tú volverías, usted/él/ella volvería, nosotros/as volveríamos, vosotros/as volveríais, ustedes/ellos/ellas volverían (I would return, you would return, she would return, etc.)

Present Subjunctive of Volver

que yo vuelva, que tú vuelvas, que usted/él/ella vuelva, que nosotros/as volvamos, que vosotros/as volváis, que ustedes/ellos/ellas vuelvan (that I return, that you return, that she return, etc.)

Imperfect Subjunctive of Volver

que yo volviera (volviese), que tú volvieras (volvieses), que usted/él/ella volviera (volviese), que nosotros/as volviéramos (volviésemos), que vosotros/as volvierais (volvieseis), que ustedes/ellos/ellas volvieran (volviesen) (that I return, that you return, that he return, etc.)

Imperative of Volver

vuelve (tú), no vuelvas (tú), vuelva (usted), volvamos (nosotros/as), volved (vosotros/as), no volváis (vosotros/as), vuelvan (ustedes) (return, don't return, return, let's return, etc.)

Compound Tenses of Volver

The perfect tenses are made by using the appropriate form of haber and the past participle, vuelto. The progressive tenses use estar with the gerund, volviendo.

Sample Sentences Showing Conjugation of Volver and Similarly Conjugated Verbs

Hay cosas que nunca no van a volver. (There are things that are never coming back. Infinitive.)

Se ha resuelto el problema. (The problem has resolved itself. Present perfect.)

El viento vuelve a complicar los aterrizajes en el aeropuerto. (The wind is complicating landings at the airport again. Present indicative.)

Se prepara una solución de bromuro de sodio disolviendo 4 gramos de la sal en 50 gramos de agua. (A solution of sodium bromide is prepared by dissolving 4 grams of the salt in 50 grams of water. Gerund.)

Revolvió en su mente todo lo que sabía. (Everything he knew stirred around in his mind. Preterite.)

Algunas veces volvían a ponerse las mismas ropas sin lavarlas. (Sometimes they would put on the same clothes again without washing them. Imperfect.)

Sé que volverás muy pronto. (I know you are coming back very soon. Future.)

Mi amiga me dijo que le devolvería el dinero a Harry. (My friend told me she would return the money to Harry. Conditional.)

La comisión pidió hoy la intervención del Ministerio de Trabajo para que resuelva el conflicto laboral. (The commission today asked for the intervention of the Labor Department in order to resolve the labor conflict. Present subjunctive.)

Mi presencia era suficiente para que me absolviera de los cargos. (My presence was enough for me to be absolved of the charges. Imperfect subjunctive.)

No vuelvas nunca más. (Don't ever come back again. Imperative.)