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.
Here is the conjugation of buscar (to look for) affected by this spelling change:
| yo | busque |
| tú | busques |
| él / ella / Ud. | busque |
| nosotros / nosotras | busquemos |
| vosotros/vosotras | busquéis |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | busquen |
Read and listen to these examples:
There are other useful verbs that have the same c > qu 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:
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.
See Verb list: -car verbs that c > qu in El Presente de Subjuntivo
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Examples and resources
Los alumnos quieren que el profesor explique de nuevo la lección.The pupils want the teacher to explain the lesson again.
Aunque yo me equivoque a veces, casi siempre tengo razón.Despite getting things wrong sometimes, I am right most of the time.
