contar present tense conjugation
Contar (to count, to tell) in the present tense: cuento, cuentas, cuenta, contamos, contáis, cuentan.
Presente Present
| yo | regular: conto |
|---|---|
| tú | regular: contas |
| él/ella/usted | regular: conta |
| nosotros | |
| vosotros | |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | regular: contan |
ending regular · irr breaks the pattern · tap a form to hear it
When to use the present tense
The present (presente de indicativo) describes what happens now, what happens regularly, and fixed facts. It is also used for the near future: “Mañana salgo a las ocho.”
How it is formed
Regular endings attach to the stem (infinitive minus -ar/-er/-ir): -ar → o, as, a, amos, áis, an; -er → o, es, e, emos, éis, en; -ir → o, es, e, imos, ís, en.
Contar is irregular here. 4 of 6 forms break the pattern (dark tiles above); the regular pattern would give conto, contas, conta, contan.
Contar in a sentence
- Cuento el dinero cada semana.I count the money every week.
- Me contó una historia interesante.He told me an interesting story.
o→ue stem change; 'contar con' means 'to count on/rely on'.
FAQ
What is the present tense of contar?
Contar in the Spanish present tense: yo cuento, tú cuentas, él/ella/usted cuenta, nosotros contamos, vosotros contáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes cuentan.
Is contar irregular in the present tense?
Yes. 4 of 6 forms break the regular pattern: yo cuento (regular would be conto); tú cuentas (regular would be contas); él/ella/usted cuenta (regular would be conta); ellos/ellas/ustedes cuentan (regular would be contan).
When do you use the Spanish present tense?
The present (presente de indicativo) describes what happens now, what happens regularly, and fixed facts. It is also used for the near future: “Mañana salgo a las ocho.”
How is the present tense formed?
Regular endings attach to the stem (infinitive minus -ar/-er/-ir): -ar → o, as, a, amos, áis, an; -er → o, es, e, emos, éis, en; -ir → o, es, e, imos, ís, en.
Full contar conjugation, all tenses →
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