Conjugate Spanish stem-changing -car verbs (c > qu) in the present subjunctive (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

Take the fastest path to fluent Spanish

Spanish verbs ending in -car replace the -c- with a -qu- in El Presente de Subjuntivo. This is to preserve the sound from the infinitive.

As an example, the verb buscar (to look for) is affected by this change.

Conjugate buscar in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish

yo busque
busques
él / ella / Ud. busque
nosotros / nosotras busquemos
vosotros/vosotras busquéis
ellos / ellas / Uds.   busquen

Read and listen to these examples:

Deja que yo busque la carretera en el mapa.Let me look for the road on the map.

Es bueno que busques más opciones.It is good that you are looking for other options. [you=tú]

Quiero que Matías busque trabajo.I want Matías to look for work.

Busquemos otro bar. Este es muy ruidoso.Let's look for another bar. This one is very noisy.

Queremos que busquéis una solución rápidamente.We want you to look for a solution quickly. [you=vosotros]

Dudo que busquen un coche deportivo.I doubt they are looking for a sports car.

Prefiero que ustedes busquen información en el folleto.I prefer that you look for information on the brochure.

There are other useful verbs that have the same cqu spelling change. For example: aparcar (to park), modificar (to modify), explicar (to explain) or equivocarse (to get something wrong). 
Look at and listen to these examples:

Será mejor que aparques lejos del centro.It'd be better if you park far from the town centre. [you=tú]

No modifiquéis los informes de ventas.Do not modify the sales reports.

Es necesario que nos expliquen bien la situación.It is vital that they explain the situation clearly.

Aunque yo me equivoque a veces, casi siempre tengo razón.Despite getting things wrong sometimes, I am right most of the time.

Los alumnos quieren que el profesor explique de nuevo la lección.The pupils want the teacher to explain the lesson again.

Tan pronto como aparquéis, avisadnos.As soon as you park, let us know. [you=vosotros]

See List of Spanish -car verbs that change c > qu in the present of subjunctive

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

Queremos que busquéis una solución rápidamente.We want you to look for a solution quickly. [you=vosotros]
Tan pronto como aparquéis, avisadnos.As soon as you park, let us know. [you=vosotros]
Será mejor que aparques lejos del centro.It'd be better if you park far from the town centre. [you=tú]
Dudo que busquen un coche deportivo.I doubt they are looking for a sports car.
Deja que yo busque la carretera en el mapa.Let me look for the road on the map.
Aunque yo me equivoque a veces, casi siempre tengo razón.Despite getting things wrong sometimes, I am right most of the time.
Los alumnos quieren que el profesor explique de nuevo la lección.The pupils want the teacher to explain the lesson again.
Busquemos otro bar. Este es muy ruidoso.Let's look for another bar. This one is very noisy.
No modifiquéis los informes de ventas.Do not modify the sales reports.
Es necesario que nos expliquen bien la situación.It is vital that they explain the situation clearly.
Quiero que Matías busque trabajo.I want Matías to look for work.
Prefiero que ustedes busquen información en el folleto.I prefer that you look for information on the brochure.
Es bueno que busques más opciones.It is good that you are looking for other options. [you=tú]
Getting that for you now...