Mirar is a Spanish verb. Mirar means “to watch” in English. Verb conjugation is a process. Verb conjugation shows how verbs change. The changes depend on tense. The changes depend on mood. The changes depend on person. Mastering mirar conjugation enables communication. Mastering mirar conjugation allows for detailed expression. Detailed expression involves various tenses. Detailed expression involves various subjects. Mirar conjugation connects speakers. Mirar conjugation connects speakers through shared understanding. Shared understanding relies on proper usage.
Alright, amigos, let’s dive headfirst into the vibrant world of Spanish verbs! Today, we’re shining a spotlight on a true star of the show: the verb mirar. Now, mirar simply means “to look” or “to watch,” but trust me, it’s way more exciting than it sounds. Think of it as your trusty sidekick for navigating countless everyday situations, from mirando at breathtaking sunsets to mirar your favorite telenovela!
Why mirar, you ask? Well, mastering verb conjugations is like unlocking a secret code to fluency. It’s the key that opens doors to seamless conversations and a deeper understanding of the language. And guess what? Mirar is a regular verb, meaning its conjugation patterns are nice and predictable, making it a fantastic starting point for conquering the Spanish verb world.
Mirar is your go-to for describing what you see, what you observe, and what captures your attention. We use it to talk about mirar at the sky, mirar a show, or even mirar a someone. It’s a verb that gets you involved, front, and center, in all the action around you!
So, buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a mirar-velous journey through the tenses and moods of this essential verb. By the end of this guide, you’ll be conjugating mirar like a pro, ready to express yourself with confidence and flair. Let’s mirar at it!
Present Tense (Presente): “Mirar” in the Now
Alright, let’s dive into the presente! This is where the action is happening right now, or things we do regularly. Think of it as your everyday “I look,” “you watch,” “we are watching” kind of situations. It’s super useful and, luckily for us, mirar keeps it pretty straightforward in this tense.
Here’s the breakdown of how to conjugate mirar in the present tense. Study up and remember this because you’ll need it!
Pronoun | Conjugation | Translation |
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Yo | miro | I look/watch |
Tú | miras | You look/watch (informal) |
Él/Ella/Usted | mira | He/She/You look/watch (formal) |
Nosotros/as | miramos | We look/watch |
Vosotros/as | miráis | You look/watch (informal, Spain) |
Ellos/as/Ustedes | miran | They/You look/watch (formal) |
Putting Mirar into Practice: Example Sentences
Let’s get practical! Here are a few sentences to show how you’d use the present tense of mirar in real life:
- “Yo miro la televisión.” (I watch television.) Imagine settling down on the couch after a long day!
- “¿Tú miras el partido de fútbol?” (Are you watching the soccer game?) Perfect for asking your friend if they’re catching the big match.
- “Ella mira por la ventana.” (She looks out the window.) Maybe she’s daydreaming or waiting for someone special!
When to Use the Present Tense of Mirar
So, when do we whip out the presente of mirar? Here are the most common scenarios:
- Describing Current Actions: Things that are happening right now. For instance, “Estoy mirando este blog” (I am looking at this blog – estoy mirando is the present progressive, using the gerund, which we’ll cover later).
- Habits: Actions you do regularly. ” Miro las noticias todas las mañanas.” (I watch the news every morning.)
- General Truths: Things that are always true. While not super common with mirar, you could say something like “El sol mira la tierra” (The sun looks at the earth – a bit poetic!).
Mastering the present tense of mirar is your first step to talking about what you see and do every day! Keep practicing, and you’ll be mirando a future filled with Spanish fluency!
Past Tenses: Reliving the Viewed
Alright, let’s rewind a bit and dive into the past. Think of past tenses as your time machine for talking about all the looking and watching you’ve already done. We’re focusing on three amigos here: the Preterite, the Imperfect, and the Past Perfect.
Preterite Tense (Pretérito Perfecto Simple / Pasado Simple): Actions Completed
This is your go-to for talking about actions that started and finished in the past – boom, done! If you watched a whole movie yesterday, this is the tense you’ll use. Think of it as the “checked off the list” tense.
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Conjugation table:
- Yo miré (I looked/watched)
- Tú miraste (You looked/watched – informal)
- Él/Ella/Usted miró (He/She/You looked/watched – formal)
- Nosotros/Nosotras miramos (We looked/watched)
- Vosotros/Vosotras mirasteis (You looked/watched – informal plural, Spain)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes miraron (They/You looked/watched – formal plural)
- Example sentences: “Ayer miré una película.” (Yesterday I watched a movie.) ‘La semana pasada miré a mi amigo jugando al fútbol.’(Last week I watched my friend play soccer).
Imperfect Tense (Imperfecto): Ongoing or Habitual Actions
Now, the Imperfect is a bit more chill. It’s for describing actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past. Did you use to watch cartoons as a kid? This is your guy. It’s also useful for setting the scene, painting a picture of what was happening.
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Conjugation table:
- Yo miraba (I used to look/watch, I was looking/watching)
- Tú mirabas (You used to look/watch, You were looking/watching – informal)
- Él/Ella/Usted miraba (He/She/You used to look/watch, He/She/You were looking/watching – formal)
- Nosotros/Nosotras mirábamos (We used to look/watch, We were looking/watching)
- Vosotros/Vosotras mirabais (You used to look/watch, You were looking/watching – informal plural, Spain)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes miraban (They/You used to look/watch, They/You were looking/watching – formal plural)
- Example sentences: “Cuando era niño, miraba dibujos animados.” (When I was a child, I used to watch cartoons.) “De pequeño, todos los días miraba las estrellas” (When I was little, I looked at the stars every day).
Past Perfect Tense (Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto): Actions Before Other Past Actions
Finally, the Past Perfect! This one’s a bit of a mouthful, but it’s all about actions that happened before another action in the past. Think of it as the “past of the past.” “I had already watched the movie before reading the book.”
- Explanation of formation: haber in the imperfect tense + mirado.
- Example sentences: “Ya había mirado la película antes de leer el libro.” (I had already watched the movie before reading the book.) “Nunca había mirado un partido de fútbol antes de ayer” (I had never watched a soccer game before yesterday).
Future and Conditional: Gazing into Possibilities
Alright, let’s peek into what will be and what could be with “mirar”! This is where things get exciting because we’re not just talking about what is or was, but about possibilities and plans.
Future Tense (Futuro Simple): What Will Be
This tense is your crystal ball! Use it to talk about what you’ll be looking at or watching in the future. It’s straightforward, and once you nail the endings, you’ll be predicting the future like a pro.
Here’s the breakdown:
Pronoun | Conjugation |
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Yo | miraré |
Tú | mirarás |
Él/Ella/Usted | mirará |
Nosotros/Nosotras | miraremos |
Vosotros/Vosotras | miraréis |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | mirarán |
Check out these examples:
“Mañana miraré el amanecer.” (Tomorrow I will watch the sunrise.) Imagine standing there, coffee in hand, ready to mirar the sky light up.
“¿Mirarás la nueva película de superhéroes?” (Will you watch the new superhero movie?) Important question, right?
Conditional Tense (Condicional Simple): Hypothetical Actions
Now, for the “what if” scenarios! The conditional tense is perfect for expressing what you would do, given certain conditions. It’s like daydreaming in Spanish!
Conjugation table time:
Pronoun | Conjugation |
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Yo | miraría |
Tú | mirarías |
Él/Ella/Usted | miraría |
Nosotros/Nosotras | miraríamos |
Vosotros/Vosotras | miraríais |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | mirarían |
Let’s look at a few examples:
“Me gustaría mirar el mundo desde un avión.” (I would like to see the world from a plane.) Who wouldn’t?
“Si tuviera tiempo, miraría todas las temporadas de ‘La Casa de Papel’.” (If I had time, I would watch all the seasons of ‘Money Heist’.) A worthwhile goal, indeed!
So, there you have it! With the future and conditional tenses of “mirar” under your belt, you’re ready to talk about your dreams, plans, and hypothetical situations. Keep practicing, and you’ll be gazing into the possibilities in no time!
Perfect Tenses: Actions Completed in Relation to Time
Alright, let’s dive into the perfect world of perfect tenses! Don’t worry, it’s not about being a perfect student; it’s about actions that have been completed before a certain point in time. These tenses use the auxiliary verb haber (to have) plus the past participle of mirar, which is mirado. Ready? Let’s go!
Present Perfect Tense (Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto): Recently Completed Actions
Imagine telling your friend, “I have watched so many series this month!” That’s the present perfect in action. It combines the present tense of haber with mirado.
- Explanation: haber in the present tense + mirado.
Pronoun | Conjugation |
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Yo | He mirado (I have looked/watched) |
Tú | Has mirado (You have looked/watched) |
Él/Ella/Usted | Ha mirado (He/She/You has looked/watched) |
Nosotros/Nosotras | Hemos mirado (We have looked/watched) |
Vosotros/Vosotras | Habéis mirado (You have looked/watched) |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Han mirado (They/You have looked/watched) |
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Example Sentences:
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“He mirado muchas series este mes.” (I have watched many series this month.)
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“¿Has mirado la nueva película de Almodóvar?” (Have you watched the new Almodóvar film?)
- “Hemos mirado las fotos de tus vacaciones.” (We have watched the photos of your vacation.)
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Future Perfect Tense (Futuro Compuesto): Actions Completed by a Certain Time
This is the “I will have done it by then!” tense. It’s for talking about actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. Think of it as making a promise about something you’ll definitely finish.
- Explanation: haber in the future tense + mirado.
Pronoun | Conjugation |
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Yo | Habré mirado (I will have looked/watched) |
Tú | Habrás mirado (You will have looked/watched) |
Él/Ella/Usted | Habrá mirado (He/She/You will have looked/watched) |
Nosotros/Nosotras | Habremos mirado (We will have looked/watched) |
Vosotros/Vosotras | Habréis mirado (You will have looked/watched) |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habrán mirado (They/You will have looked/watched) |
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Example Sentences:
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“Para mañana, habré mirado todos los episodios.” (By tomorrow, I will have watched all the episodes.)
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“En una hora, habrás mirado el video tutorial.” (In one hour, you will have watched the video tutorial.)
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“Habremos mirado la ciudad desde la torre Eiffel cuando llegues.” (We will have looked the city from the Eiffel tower when you arrive.)
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Conditional Perfect Tense (Condicional Compuesto): Hypothetical Past Actions
This one’s for those “would have, could have, should have” moments. It’s for expressing what you would have done if circumstances had been different. Ah, the bittersweet pangs of regret…or maybe just a casual hypothetical!
- Explanation: haber in the conditional tense + mirado.
Pronoun | Conjugation |
---|---|
Yo | Habría mirado (I would have looked/watched) |
Tú | Habrías mirado (You would have looked/watched) |
Él/Ella/Usted | Habría mirado (He/She/You would have looked/watched) |
Nosotros/Nosotras | Habríamos mirado (We would have looked/watched) |
Vosotros/Vosotras | Habríais mirado (You would have looked/watched) |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Habrían mirado (They/You would have looked/watched) |
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Example Sentences:
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“Habría mirado la película si hubiera tenido tiempo.” (I would have watched the movie if I had had time.)
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“Habrías mirado las noticias si te lo hubiera dicho.” (You would have looked the news if I have told you)
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“Habríamos mirado al partido si no hubiéramos tenido que trabajar.” (We would have looked the match if we haven’t have to work.)
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So, there you have it! The perfect tenses of mirar aren’t so intimidating after all, right? Just remember the formula: haber + mirado, and you’re golden. Now go forth and use these tenses to impress your Spanish-speaking friends!
Moods: Indicative, Subjunctive, and Imperative – Setting the Tone for “Mirar”
Okay, folks, we’ve explored mirar through a whole rainbow of tenses, but now it’s time to dive into the moods! No, we’re not talking about whether mirar is feeling happy or sad. In Spanish grammar, “mood” refers to how the verb expresses an action. Think of it as the verb’s attitude! We’ve got three main moods to explore: Indicative (the factual friend), Subjunctive (the one full of doubts and wishes), and Imperative (the bossy boots). Let’s see how our verb mirar behaves in each of these scenarios.
Indicative Mood (Indicativo): Expressing Facts
First up, we have the indicative mood. This is where verbs chill out and state the plain truth. It’s your go-to for describing things that are, were, or will be. Basically, if you’re stating a fact or something you believe to be true, you’re probably in the indicative mood. Guess what? All those examples we’ve used so far – ” Yo miro la televisión” (I watch television), “Ayer miré una película” (Yesterday I watched a movie), ” Mañana miraré el amanecer” (Tomorrow I will watch the sunrise) – are all in the indicative mood. See? You’re already an indicative mood master.
Subjunctive Mood (Subjuntivo): Expressing Doubts, Wishes, and Emotions
Now, let’s get a little more… emotional. The subjunctive mood is where things get subjective. We use it when we’re not so sure about something, when we’re expressing a wish, a doubt, a possibility, or an emotion. It usually hangs out in dependent clauses – those parts of a sentence that can’t stand alone and often start with “que” (that).
Think of it like this: the subjunctive mood is for when you’re not quite committed to the truth. Here are a couple of examples with mirar:
- “Es importante que mires la información antes de tomar una decisión.” (It’s important that you look at the information before making a decision.) – The importance is subjective, so subjunctive!
- “Dudo que él mire este programa.” (I doubt that he watches this program.) – Doubt triggers the subjunctive.
See how mirar changes its form slightly? That’s the subjunctive mood in action! It expresses a bit of uncertainty or opinion.
Imperative Mood (Imperativo): Giving Commands
Alright, time to put on your boss hat! The imperative mood is all about giving orders or instructions. It’s direct, to the point, and leaves no room for argument (well, maybe a little). When you tell someone to do something, you’re using the imperative.
With mirar, the imperative gets straight to the point:
- “Mira!” (Look!) – Informal, singular “you” (tú)
- “Mire!” (Look!) – Formal, singular “you” (Usted)
- “Mirad!” (Look!) – Informal, plural “you” (vosotros – mainly used in Spain)
- “Miren!” (Look!) – Formal, plural “you” (Ustedes)
Here’s how you might use it in a sentence: “Mira el mapa para encontrar la dirección.” (Look at the map to find the address.) Direct, no-nonsense, and effective.
So, there you have it! The indicative, subjunctive, and imperative moods – three different ways mirar can express itself. Understanding these moods will add layers of depth and nuance to your Spanish, making you a much more expressive and effective communicator.
Non-Personal Forms: Mirar Beyond the Pronouns
So, we’ve wrestled with yo, tú, él, and the whole gang, bending mirar to our will in different tenses. But mirar, like a rebellious teenager, has forms that refuse to be tied down to a specific subject. These are the non-personal forms, and they’re surprisingly useful. Think of them as mirar‘s alter egos, ready to jump into action when you least expect it.
The Infinitive: Mirar in its Purest Form
The infinitive is the most basic form of a verb. It’s how you’ll find it listed in the dictionary. For mirar, that’s simply… mirar! It’s the untouched, un-conjugated essence of the verb “to look” or “to watch.”
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It acts like a noun sometimes! You can use it after another verb to express what you like to do.
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Example: “Me gusta mirar las estrellas.” (I like to look at the stars.) Here, mirar is expressing the general action of looking, not what someone is currently looking at. It’s a philosophical mirar, if you will.
The Gerund: Mirando – Action in Progress!
Ever caught someone in the middle of doing something? That’s where the gerund comes in! It’s the “-ing” form of the verb in English. For mirar, it’s mirando. It signifies an action that’s actively happening.
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Picture this: you’re strolling through a park, and what are you doing? Mirando the scenery!
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Example: “Estoy mirando el paisaje.” (I am looking at the landscape.) This isn’t just any kind of looking; it’s active looking. You’re in the process of soaking in those views. Think of it as live-action mirar!
The Past Participle: Mirado – It’s Already Been Looked At!
And now for the past participle: mirado. This form is crucial for constructing perfect tenses. Remember those earlier sections? And it can also be used in passive voice construction.
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Think of the past participle as the “been there, done that” form.
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We’ve already seen it in action! Like in “He mirado muchas series este mes” (I have watched many series this month). Mirado combines with haber to create the present perfect tense, describing actions completed at some point in the past.
While a full discussion of the passive voice is beyond the scope of this section, keep in mind that mirado can be used with ser (to be) to indicate that something has been looked at (by someone or something).
- For instance, “La película fue mirada por miles de personas” (The movie was watched by thousands of people).
So there you have it! The non-personal forms of mirar. They might seem a bit abstract, but they’re essential tools for expressing a full range of ideas in Spanish.
Reflexive Constructions: Mirarse – Looking at Yourself
Ever caught your reflection and given yourself a little wink? Well, in Spanish, that’s where the reflexive form of mirar, mirarse, comes in! It’s all about the action of “looking” bouncing right back at the subject – looking at yourself. To nail this, you will need the help of reflexive pronouns that attach themselves to a verb.
Understanding Reflexive Pronouns
Think of reflexive pronouns as your personal helpers in this grammatical adventure. They tell you who is on the receiving end of the action. Here’s the breakdown:
- Me (myself)
- Te (yourself – informal)
- Se (himself, herself, yourself – formal)
- Nos (ourselves)
- Os (yourselves – informal plural, Spain)
- Se (themselves, yourselves – formal plural)
These pronouns always come before the conjugated verb.
Conjugation of Mirarse: A Reflection of You
Now, let’s put it all together. Here’s how you conjugate mirarse in the present tense:
- Yo me miro (I look at myself)
- Tú te miras (You look at yourself – informal)
- Él/Ella/Usted se mira (He/She/You look at himself/herself/yourself – formal)
- Nosotros/Nosotras nos miramos (We look at ourselves)
- Vosotros/Vosotras os miráis (You look at yourselves – informal plural, Spain)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes se miran (They/You look at themselves/yourselves – formal plural)
Examples in Action
Let’s see mirarse shine in some example sentences:
- “Ella se mira en el espejo.” (She looks at herself in the mirror.)
- “Yo me miro en el escaparate.” (I look at myself in the shop window.)
- “Nosotros nos miramos el uno al otro.” (We look at each other.)
- “¿Tú te miras a menudo?” (Do you look at yourself often?)
With mirarse, you can describe everything from admiring yourself in the mirror to catching a glimpse of yourself in a store window. So go on, give it a try – mírate and see what you can do!
Contextual Usage and Nuances of “Mirar”
Alright, amigos, so you’ve got the conjugations down, fantástico! But here’s a little secret: knowing how to conjugate mirar is only half the battle. The real fun begins when you start understanding how the context of a situation can completely change what you actually mean when you use mirar. It’s like being a detective, uncovering the hidden meanings!
Think of mirar as a chameleon. It can adapt and change its color depending on where it is. For instance, you might mirar el reloj (look at the clock) to check the time, but you wouldn’t say you’re looking for the clock using mirar. Instead, you’d use buscar (to search). See the difference? It’s all about the nuances!
Let’s break this down a bit further. While mirar generally means “to look” or “to watch,” it doesn’t always directly translate. You wouldn’t use mirar to say you’re “looking for” your keys. That’s buscar’s job! Similarly, if you’re “looking after” someone, you’d use the verb cuidar (to take care of). So, you cuidar to “look after” your baby sibling while your parents goes out, but it doesn’t mean you mirar your baby sibling.
And there’s more! Sometimes, mirar teams up with prepositions to create new meanings. For example, mirar por can mean “to look after” in some contexts, especially when talking about ensuring the well-being of someone or something. But remember, context is king! It’s essential to pay attention to what’s being said and how it’s being said to fully grasp the intended meaning.
So, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open! By paying attention to the context and surrounding words, you’ll become a mirar master in no time! ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
How does the verb “mirar” change across different tenses in Spanish?
The verb “mirar,” which translates to “to look” or “to watch” in English, undergoes systematic changes across different tenses to indicate when the action occurs. The present tense conjugations include “miro,” “miras,” “mira,” “miramos,” “miráis,” and “miran,” each corresponding to a different subject pronoun. The preterite tense, used for completed actions in the past, features forms such as “miré,” “miraste,” “miró,” “miramos,” “mirasteis,” and “miraron.” The imperfect tense, describing ongoing or habitual past actions, uses conjugations like “miraba,” “mirabas,” “miraba,” “mirábamos,” “mirabais,” and “miraban.” The future tense indicates actions that will occur, with forms like “miraré,” “mirarás,” “mirará,” “miraremos,” “miraréis,” and “mirarán.” The conditional tense expresses hypothetical actions, using “miraría,” “mirarías,” “miraría,” “miraríamos,” “miraríais,” and “mirarían.”
What are the subjunctive mood conjugations for “mirar” in Spanish?
The subjunctive mood of “mirar” expresses hypothetical, uncertain, or desired actions, which is different from indicative mood that describe facts. In the present subjunctive, the forms are “mire,” “mires,” “mire,” “miremos,” “miréis,” and “miren.” The imperfect subjunctive has two sets of conjugations: “mirara,” “miraras,” “mirara,” “miráramos,” “mirarais,” “miraran” and “mirase,” “mirases,” “mirase,” “mirásemos,” “miraseis,” “mirasen.” These forms are typically used in subordinate clauses that follow expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion. The future subjunctive, though less common, includes “mirare,” “mirares,” “mirare,” “miráremos,” “mirareis,” and “miraren,” primarily found in legal or literary contexts.
How is the imperative mood of the verb “mirar” used to give commands?
The imperative mood of “mirar” is used to give direct commands or instructions, and it has different forms depending on the subject and level of formality. For the informal “tú” command, the form is “mira.” For the formal “usted” command, the form is “mire.” The “nosotros” command, used to suggest a joint action, is “miremos.” For the informal plural “vosotros” command, the form is “mirad.” The formal plural “ustedes” command uses “miren.” These forms allow speakers to directly instruct others to perform the action of looking or watching.
What are the compound tenses of “mirar” and how are they formed?
Compound tenses of “mirar” are formed by combining the auxiliary verb “haber” with the past participle “mirado,” creating tenses that indicate completed actions relative to a specific point in time. The present perfect tense, “he mirado,” “has mirado,” “ha mirado,” “hemos mirado,” “habéis mirado,” “han mirado,” describes actions completed recently or with relevance to the present. The past perfect (pluperfect) tense, “había mirado,” “habías mirado,” “había mirado,” “habíamos mirado,” “habíais mirado,” “habían mirado,” refers to actions completed before another past action. The future perfect tense, “habré mirado,” “habrás mirado,” “habrá mirado,” “habremos mirado,” “habréis mirado,” “habrán mirado,” indicates actions that will be completed by a future time. The conditional perfect tense, “habría mirado,” “habrías mirado,” “habría mirado,” “habríamos mirado,” “habríais mirado,” “habrían mirado,” expresses actions that would have been completed under certain conditions.
So, there you have it! Hopefully, this has cleared up any confusion you had about conjugating “mirar.” Now you can go forth and confidently describe all the looking you’re doing, have done, and will do! Happy Spanish-ing!