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:
Será mejor que aparques lejos del centro.It'd be better if you park far from the town centre. [you=tú]
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
Aunque yo me equivoque a veces, casi siempre tengo razón.Despite getting things wrong sometimes, I am right most of the time.
Es necesario que nos expliquen bien la situación.It is vital that they explain the situation clearly.
Queremos que busquéis una solución rápidamente.We want you to look for a solution quickly. [you=vosotros]
Prefiero que ustedes busquen información en el folleto.I prefer that you look for information on the brochure.
