Resolver means "to resolve," "to solve," or "to settle." It is doubly irregular: it is an o → ue stem-changing verb (so yo resuelvo, not resolvo), and its past participle is the irregular resuelto rather than resolvido.
The o→ue change happens only in stressed syllables — that is, in all singular forms and the third-person plural of the present indicative and subjunctive, plus the tú imperative. The nosotros form keeps the plain o because its stress falls on the ending.
Present Indicative
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resuelvo |
| tú | resuelves |
| él / ella / usted | resuelve |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolvemos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resuelven |
Siempre resuelvo los problemas con calma.
I always solve problems calmly.
Preterite
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resolví |
| tú | resolviste |
| él / ella / usted | resolvió |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolvimos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resolvieron |
The preterite has no stem change: resolver is regular here, like any -er verb.
Imperfect
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resolvía |
| tú | resolvías |
| él / ella / usted | resolvía |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolvíamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resolvían |
Antes resolvíamos todo hablando.
We used to resolve everything by talking.
Future
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resolveré |
| tú | resolverás |
| él / ella / usted | resolverá |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolveremos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resolverán |
Conditional
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resolvería |
| tú | resolverías |
| él / ella / usted | resolvería |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolveríamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resolverían |
Eso resolvería todo el asunto.
That would resolve the whole matter.
Present Subjunctive
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resuelva |
| tú | resuelvas |
| él / ella / usted | resuelva |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolvamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resuelvan |
The same o→ue change appears in the subjunctive, again skipping nosotros.
Espero que resuelvan esto pronto.
I hope they resolve this soon.
Imperfect Subjunctive (-ra forms)
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | resolviera |
| tú | resolvieras |
| él / ella / usted | resolviera |
| nosotros / nosotras | resolviéramos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | resolvieran |
Imperative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú (affirmative) | resuelve |
| tú (negative) | no resuelvas |
| usted | resuelva |
| nosotros | resolvamos |
| ustedes | resuelvan |
Resuelve los ejercicios antes de entregar el examen.
Solve the exercises before turning in the exam.
Non-Finite Forms
- Infinitive: resolver
- Gerund: resolviendo
- Past participle: resuelto (irregular)
Common Uses
Resolver is used for solving math problems, settling disputes, and making a firm decision. In compound tenses it always uses resuelto.
Por fin hemos resuelto el problema.
We've finally solved the problem.
Está resuelto a cambiar de carrera.
He's determined to change careers.
Related Topics
- Romper: Full ConjugationA2 — Complete conjugation of romper — a regular -er verb with the irregular past participle roto
- Escribir: Full ConjugationA2 — Complete conjugation of escribir — a regular -ir verb with an irregular past participle escrito
- Abrir: Full ConjugationA2 — Complete conjugation of abrir — a regular -ir verb with the irregular past participle abierto