Introduction
The Spanish verb resultar is one of those fascinating intermediate-level verbs that can confuse learners because it functions differently from many common verbs you might already know. Unlike straightforward action verbs, resultar operates as a linking verb, similar to ser or estar, and is frequently used in everyday Spanish conversation. Understanding how resultar works will significantly enhance your ability to express outcomes, results, and consequences in natural Spanish. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every aspect of this versatile verb, from its basic conjugation patterns to its nuanced uses in real-world contexts, helping you master resultar once and for all.
What is Resultar and How Does It Work?
The Basic Definition
The verb resultar primarily means to result, to turn out, or to end up in English. It is a regular -ar verb in the first conjugation group, which means it follows predictable patterns when conjugated. However, what makes resultar particularly interesting is that it functions as a linking verb (verbo copulativo), connecting the subject with information about the outcome or result of something.
Unlike action verbs that describe what someone does, resultar describes how something turns out or what happens as a consequence. This distinction is crucial for understanding when and how to use it correctly in Spanish sentences.
The Two Main Uses of Resultar
Resultar has two primary uses that every Spanish learner should recognize and understand. The first is when resultar is used with an adjective to describe how something turns out or appears. The second is when resultar is followed by a noun or noun phrase to indicate what something results in or becomes.
Both uses convey the idea of an outcome or consequence, but the grammatical structure differs slightly, which affects how the sentence is constructed.
Conjugating Resultar in Present Tense
Since resultar is a regular -ar verb, its conjugation follows the standard pattern for first-conjugation verbs. Here is the present tense conjugation:
Yo resultado – I result
Tu resultas – You result (informal)
El/ella/usted resulta – He/she/you results (formal)
Nosotros resultamos – We result
Vosotros resultais – You all result (Spain informal)
Ellos/ellas/ustedes resultan – They/you all result
These forms are perfectly regular, meaning there are no stem changes or irregularities to worry about. This makes resultar relatively straightforward to conjugate compared to many other Spanish verbs.
Using Resultar with Adjectives
Structure and Examples
One of the most common uses of resultar is pairing it with an adjective to express how something turns out. In this construction, the adjective describes the result or outcome. The structure is: Subject + resultar + adjective.
For example: El examen resulta muy dificil. This translates to The exam turns out to be very difficult. Here, the adjective dificil describes how the exam is perceived as a result.
Another example: La peliicula resulta aburrida. This means The movie turns out to be boring. The adjective aburrida indicates the quality or characteristic of the result.
Notice that when resultar is used with adjectives, the adjective must agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. If the subject is feminine plural, the adjective must also be feminine plural.
More Practical Examples
Let’s examine several real-world examples to solidify this concept:
El proyecto resulta muy interesante. – The project turns out to be very interesting.
Las clases resultan faciles. – The classes turn out to be easy.
Esta solucion resulta perfecta. – This solution turns out to be perfect.
Los precios resultan altos. – The prices turn out to be high.
In each of these examples, resultar connects the subject with an adjective that describes the outcome or final evaluation of that subject.
Using Resultar with Nouns and Noun Phrases
Expressing Outcomes and Results
Resultar can also be used with nouns and noun phrases to indicate what something becomes or results in. When used this way, resultar followed by a noun or noun phrase tells us the consequence or outcome of a situation.
The structure is: Subject + resultar + noun/noun phrase.
For example: Su proposicion resulta un desastre. This translates to His proposal turns out to be a disaster. The noun desastre indicates what the result is.
Another example: Los cambios resultan una mejora. This means The changes turn out to be an improvement. Here, mejora is the noun that describes the outcome.
When to Use This Construction
This construction is particularly useful when you want to emphasize what something becomes as a result of circumstances. It is slightly more emphatic than using an adjective and allows for more specific descriptions of the outcome.
Additional examples include:
Este trabajo resulta un exito total. – This work turns out to be a total success.
Las negociaciones resultan un fracaso. – The negotiations turn out to be a failure.
Su estrategia resulta una genialidad. – His strategy turns out to be a stroke of genius.
El resultado resulta una sorpresa agradable. – The result turns out to be a pleasant surprise.
Past Tense Conjugations of Resultar
Preterite Tense
For talking about specific events that resulted in something, you will need the preterite past tense. Since resultar is regular, the preterite conjugation is straightforward:
Yo resulte – I resulted
Tu resultaste – You resulted (informal)
El/ella/usted resulto – He/she/you resulted (formal)
Nosotros resultamos – We resulted
Vosotros resultasteis – You all resulted (Spain informal)
Ellos/ellas/ustedes resultaron – They/you all resulted
Example sentences in preterite:
El partido resulto muy emocionante. – The game turned out to be very exciting.
La fiesta resulto un exito. – The party turned out to be a success.
Sus palabras resultaron ofensivas. – His words turned out to be offensive.
Imperfect Tense
When describing how things used to turn out or habitually resulted in something, use the imperfect tense:
Yo resultaba
Tu resultabas
El/ella/usted resultaba
Nosotros resultabamos
Vosotros resultabais
Ellos/ellas/ustedes resultaban
Example: Aquellas reuniones siempre resultaban productivas. – Those meetings always used to turn out to be productive.
Resultar with Indirect Objects
Expressing Impact on People
An important and frequently used construction involves pairing resultar with an indirect object pronoun to show how something affects or impacts a person. This construction changes the focus slightly from what something is to how something seems or affects someone.
The structure is: Indirect object pronoun + resultar + adjective/noun + subject.
For example: Me resulta dificil. This translates literally to It results difficult to me, but in English we would say It seems difficult to me or I find it difficult.
Notice how the word order changes compared to the earlier constructions. The indirect object pronoun comes before the conjugated verb.
Practical Examples with Indirect Objects
Te resulta complicada la gramatica espanola? – Do you find Spanish grammar complicated?
Le resulta interesante el libro. – He finds the book interesting.
Nos resultan aburridas estas lecturas. – We find these readings boring.
Os resulta dificil el idioma. – You all find the language difficult.
This construction is extremely common in spoken Spanish and appears frequently in literature. It is important to recognize that when resultar is used with indirect objects, the agreement rules still apply: the adjective or noun must agree with the actual grammatical subject (which comes after the verb in this construction).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Confusion with Other Linking Verbs
A common mistake among learners is confusing resultar with ser or estar. While all three are linking verbs, they have different connotations. Resultar specifically emphasizes the outcome or result of something, not just a state of being. You should use resultar when you want to indicate that something turns out a certain way as a consequence.
Compare these sentences:
El proyecto es excelente. – The project is excellent (permanent quality).
El proyecto resulta excelente. – The project turns out to be excellent (as a result).
Agreement Errors
Learners often forget that adjectives used with resultar must agree in gender and number with the subject. Remember that in Spanish, all adjectives must match their subjects appropriately.
Word Order with Indirect Objects
When using resultar with indirect objects, many students place the components in the wrong order. Always remember: indirect object pronoun comes before the conjugated form of resultar.
Conclusion
Mastering resultar is an excellent way to move from intermediate Spanish toward more fluent, natural communication. This versatile verb allows you to express outcomes, consequences, and how things appear to different people with precision and sophistication. By understanding its regular conjugation patterns, learning how to use it with adjectives and nouns, and recognizing the indirect object construction, you have equipped yourself with a powerful tool for Spanish expression. Remember to practice these structures in context, pay attention to adjective agreement, and notice how native speakers use resultar in authentic materials. With consistent practice, using resultar will become second nature, and your Spanish communication will become noticeably more natural and nuanced.
