In Spanish, many adjectives are actually past participles — the same verb forms used to build compound tenses like the present perfect. When a past participle describes a noun, it agrees with that noun in gender and number, just like any other four-form adjective.
Formation Reminder
To form a regular past participle:
- -ar verbs: replace -ar with -ado (cantar → cantado)
- -er/-ir verbs: replace -er/-ir with -ido (comer → comido, vivir → vivido)
| Infinitive | Participle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cansar | cansado | tired |
| cerrar | cerrado | closed |
| comer | comido | eaten |
| perder | perdido | lost |
| dormir | dormido | asleep |
They Agree Like Normal Adjectives
Once a past participle is used as an adjective, it has all four forms.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cansado | un hombre cansado | a tired man |
| cansada | una mujer cansada | a tired woman |
| cansados | unos niños cansados | (some) tired kids |
| cansadas | unas niñas cansadas | (some) tired girls |
La puerta está cerrada.
The door is closed.
Las ventanas están cerradas.
The windows are closed.
Two Main Uses
Past participles can appear as adjectives in two typical patterns.
1. Describing a noun directly
They can modify a noun just like any other adjective — after or (less commonly) before it.
Necesito una hoja doblada.
I need a folded sheet of paper.
Encontraron las llaves perdidas.
They found the lost keys.
2. After the verb estar
Past participles often follow estar to describe a state that resulted from an action. This is one of the most common places you'll see them.
Estoy cansado.
I'm tired.
La cocina está limpia.
The kitchen is clean.
Los libros están abiertos sobre la mesa.
The books are open on the table.
See Adjectives with Estar for how participles fit into the ser/estar distinction.
Important: Don't Confuse with Compound Tenses
When a past participle is used with haber to form a compound tense (like the present perfect), it does not agree — it always ends in -o.
He comido mucho hoy.
I've eaten a lot today.
María ha estudiado toda la tarde.
María has studied all afternoon.
But when used as an adjective (especially with estar or ser), it does agree:
Estoy cansada.
I'm tired. (said by a female speaker)
Irregular Past Participles
Several very common verbs have irregular past participles. These still agree when used as adjectives.
| Infinitive | Participle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| abrir | abierto | open(ed) |
| cerrar | cerrado (regular) | closed |
| escribir | escrito | written |
| romper | roto | broken |
| hacer | hecho | done, made |
| decir | dicho | said |
| ver | visto | seen |
| morir | muerto | dead |
| poner | puesto | put, placed |
| volver | vuelto | returned |
| resolver | resuelto | solved, resolved |
| cubrir | cubierto | covered |
La ventana está abierta.
The window is open.
Los platos están rotos.
The plates are broken.
Encontraron el problema resuelto.
They found the problem solved.
More Examples
Los documentos firmados están en el escritorio.
The signed documents are on the desk.
Tengo una carta escrita a mano.
I have a handwritten letter.
Related Topics
- Past Participle as AdjectiveA2 — Past participles used as adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun and appear with estar for states and ser for the passive voice.
- Past Participle FormationA2 — Regular past participles end in -ado for -ar verbs and -ido for -er and -ir verbs, with twelve common irregulars and accented -ído for vowel stems.
- Adjectives with EstarA1 — Adjectives used with estar describe temporary states, locations, and conditions