Convertir means “to convert, transform, turn,” and pronominal convertir-se en means “to become, turn into.” It follows the productive incoative -ir pattern: stressed present cells insert -eix- in the Central teaching baseline (converteixo, converteixes, converteix, converteixen), while first- and second-person plural keep convert- (convertim, convertiu). Past, future, conditional, gerund, and participle also lack the extension.
The wider distribution of this present-tense extension is mapped on the incoative -ir page.
The core syntax mirrors the change of state. Transitive convertir X en Y names an external agent that transforms X; pronominal X convertir-se en Y presents X itself as undergoing the change. English “become” contains no visible reflexive element, so English speakers often omit se or the governed preposition en.
Nonfinite forms
| Form | Catalan | English guide |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | convertir | to convert; to transform |
| Perfect infinitive | haver convertit | to have converted / transformed |
| Gerund | convertint | converting; transforming |
| Perfect gerund | havent convertit | having converted / transformed |
| Participle | convertit; convertida, convertits, convertides | converted; transformed |
There is no -eix- in convertint or convertit. In perfect tenses the participle is invariable—les naus s'han convertit en museus—because haver carries tense and person. Agreeing forms appear in adjectival or passive use: una fàbrica convertida en habitatges.
Indicative: simple and periphrastic tenses
| Tense | jo | tu | ell / ella / vostè | nosaltres | vosaltres | ells / elles / vostès |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | converteixo | converteixes | converteix | convertim | convertiu | converteixen |
| Imperfect | convertia | converties | convertia | convertíem | convertíeu | convertien |
| Periphrastic past | vaig convertir | vas convertir | va convertir | vam convertir | vau convertir | van convertir |
| Simple past | convertí | convertires | convertí | convertírem | convertíreu | convertiren |
| Future | convertiré | convertiràs | convertirà | convertirem | convertireu | convertiran |
| Conditional | convertiria | convertiries | convertiria | convertiríem | convertiríeu | convertirien |
The extension occupies the present “boot”: singular and third-person plural. It is not triggered merely by a present-time meaning; convertim and convertiu are present forms without it because their endings bear the stress. In the simple past, convertí is both first-person singular and third-person singular, so an expressed subject or the discourse context disambiguates it. The periphrastic past is the neutral conversational narrative form. The simple past is especially common in (formal/literary) narrative and remains spoken in some areas (regional: Balearic / Valencian).
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A l'estiu convertim el pati en un cinema a la fresca.
In summer, we turn the courtyard into an open-air cinema.
L'antic escorxador es va convertir en un centre cultural.
The former slaughterhouse became a cultural center.
Amb els anys, aquella afició es convertirà en la seva professió.
Over the years, that hobby will become their profession.
Indicative: compound tenses
| Tense | jo | tu | ell / ella / vostè | nosaltres | vosaltres | ells / elles / vostès |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present perfect | he convertit | has convertit | ha convertit | hem convertit | heu convertit | han convertit |
| Pluperfect | havia convertit | havies convertit | havia convertit | havíem convertit | havíeu convertit | havien convertit |
| Past anterior | haguí convertit | hagueres convertit | hagué convertit | haguérem convertit | haguéreu convertit | hagueren convertit |
| Future perfect | hauré convertit | hauràs convertit | haurà convertit | haurem convertit | haureu convertit | hauran convertit |
| Conditional perfect | hauria convertit | hauries convertit | hauria convertit | hauríem convertit | hauríeu convertit | haurien convertit |
The past anterior is primarily (formal/literary). The periphrastic anterior is vaig haver convertit, vas haver convertit, va haver convertit, vam haver convertit, vau haver convertit, van haver convertit. Pronominal clitics precede a finite compound: s'ha convertit, not ha convertit-se.
En pocs mesos han convertit tres locals buits en tallers d'artistes.
In a few months, they have converted three empty premises into artists' studios.
El camí s'havia convertit en un fangar després de la tempesta.
The path had turned into a mud pit after the storm.
Subjunctive: simple and compound forms
| Tense | jo | tu | ell / ella / vostè | nosaltres | vosaltres | ells / elles / vostès |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | converteixi | converteixis | converteixi | convertim | convertiu | converteixin |
| Imperfect | convertís | convertissis | convertís | convertíssim | convertíssiu | convertissin |
| Present perfect | hagi convertit | hagis convertit | hagi convertit | hàgim convertit | hàgiu convertit | hagin convertit |
| Pluperfect | hagués convertit | haguessis convertit | hagués convertit | haguéssim convertit | haguéssiu convertit | haguessin convertit |
Present subjunctive repeats the same distribution as the indicative present: -eix- in the singular and third-person plural, but convertim, convertiu in the first and second plural. The periphrastic subjunctive past is vagi convertir, vagis convertir, vagi convertir, vàgim convertir, vàgiu convertir, vagin convertir; its anterior adds haver convertit.
Busquem una solució que converteixi la calor residual en electricitat.
We're looking for a solution that converts waste heat into electricity.
No volíem que la discrepància es convertís en una baralla personal.
We didn't want the disagreement to turn into a personal fight.
Imperative and attached pronouns
| Addressee | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| tu | converteix | no converteixis |
| vostè | converteixi | no converteixi |
| nosaltres | convertim | no convertim |
| vosaltres | convertiu | no convertiu |
| vostès | converteixin | no converteixin |
Affirmative commands attach clitics: converteix-lo, converteixi-la, convertim-ho, convertiu-los. Negative commands put them before the verb: no el converteixis. With the pronominal meaning, use converteix-te en... and no et converteixis en....
Converteix-lo en PDF abans d'enviar-lo al registre.
Convert it to PDF before sending it to the registry.
No et converteixis en algú que només sap queixar-se.
Don't become someone who only knows how to complain.
Two argument structures, one change
Transitive convertir requires the entity changed as its direct object and normally introduces the result with en: convertir energia en moviment, convertir un garatge en habitatge. A direct-object clitic can replace that entity: el van convertir en magatzem. The result phrase is not the direct object and is not replaced by el/la.
La cooperativa vol convertir l'antiga escola en una residència per a gent gran.
The cooperative wants to turn the old school into a residence for older people.
Pronominal convertir-se en removes the external causer and makes the changing entity the subject: l'escola es converteix en residència. The reflexive-looking clitic is lexical here; the building is not literally acting on itself. That is why English “become” must be translated with convertir-se, not bare convertir.
Una conversa informal es pot convertir en un acord vinculant.
An informal conversation can turn into a binding agreement.
For adopting a religion or ideology, standard usage can take convertir-se a: convertir-se al budisme. This narrower construction does not replace en for an ordinary result state. Currency and measurement conversion likewise naturally uses en: convertir euros en dòlars, convertir milles en quilòmetres. The result marker is therefore not a free choice between a and en.
(Regional: Valencian) the incoative present uses forms such as convertisc, convertixes, convertix, convertim, convertiu, convertixen, with subjunctive convertisca.... (Regional: Balearic) forms in -esc occur, such as convertesc. These are systematic regional standards; do not mix one cell from them into an otherwise Central paradigm.
Common Mistakes
❌ L'empresa convertix residus en combustible.
Incorrect in the Central baseline—convertix is Valencian; Central Catalan uses converteix.
✅ L'empresa converteix residus en combustible.
The company converts waste into fuel.
❌ Nosaltres converteixem les dades en gràfics.
Incorrect—the incoative extension does not appear in first-person plural.
✅ Nosaltres convertim les dades en gràfics.
We convert the data into charts.
❌ El poble va convertir en una destinació turística.
Incorrect—becoming requires the pronominal clitic se.
✅ El poble es va convertir en una destinació turística.
The town became a tourist destination.
❌ Han convertit el dipòsit a un jardí comunitari.
Incorrect for transformation into a new entity—the result is normally introduced by en.
✅ Han convertit el dipòsit en un jardí comunitari.
They have turned the reservoir into a community garden.
❌ Les naus s'han convertides en espais de creació.
Incorrect—the participle in a haver compound remains invariable.
✅ Les naus s'han convertit en espais de creació.
The industrial buildings have become creative spaces.
Key Takeaways
The Central present alternates converteixo, converteixes, converteix, convertim, convertiu, converteixen. Outside that present system, use the unextended stem: convertia, convertí, convertiré, convertís, convertint, convertit. Transitive convertir X en Y has an external causer; pronominal convertir-se en Y means “become.” Preserve both se and the result preposition, and keep regional incoative series internally consistent.
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