Conseguir

Conseguir is a Spanish verb meaning to obtain, to get, or to manage to do something. It is commonly used to express acquiring a tangible object, achieving a goal, or succeeding in an action, often implying some effort. It can be followed by an infinitive, as in conseguir hacer algo, or by a subordinate clause with the subjunctive, as in conseguir que alguien haga algo.

Etymology and scope: the verb derives from Latin consequī, with the prefix con- and the root sequī (to follow). Over time it came to mean reaching a result or obtaining what one seeks, a sense that persists in modern usage. Conocer and other related verbs share a historical link, but conseguir is distinct in its meaning of obtaining through effort.

Conjugation and main forms: conseguir is an irregular -ir verb with a stem change in the present tense and an irregular yo form. In the present indicative, the forms are consigo, consigues, consigue, conseguimos, conseguís, consiguen. The simple past (preterite) is conseguí, conseguiste, consiguió, conseguimos, conseguisteis, consiguieron. The imperfect is conseguía, conseguías, conseguía, conseguíamos, conseguíais, conseguían. The future is conseguiré, conseguirás, conseguirá, conseguiremos, conseguiréis, conseguirán, and the conditional is conseguiría, conseguirías, conseguiría, conseguiríamos, conseguiríais, conseguirían. The present subjunctive is consiga, consigas, consiga, consigamos, consigáis, consigan. The gerund is consiguiendo and the past participle is conseguido. The imperative forms include consigue, consigua, consigamos, conseguid, consigan (positive) and no consigas, no consiga, no consigamos, no consigáis, no consigan (negative).

Usage notes: conseguir is commonly used as a synonym of obtener or lograr, with a nuance of effort or persistence. It is also used with que + subjunctive to express obtaining that someone does something, such as “Conseguí que viniera.” Examples: “Conseguí el permiso,” “¿Conseguiste terminar el informe?”