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Spanish · Verb · #217 most common

acostar

to put to bed
to lie down

Irregular-ar ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yoacuesto
acuestas
él/ellaacuesta
nosotrosacostamos
vosotrosacostáis
ellos/ellasacuestan

Cada noche, acuesto a mis hijos a las ocho.

Every night, I put my children to bed at eight.

Ella se acuesta temprano durante la semana.

She lies down early during the week.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yoacosté
acostaste
él/ellaacostó
nosotrosacostamos
vosotrosacostasteis
ellos/ellasacostaron

Ayer, acosté a mi perro antes de cenar.

Yesterday, I put my dog to bed before dinner.

El sábado pasado, nos acostamos a la medianoche.

Last Saturday, we went to bed at midnight.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yoacostaba
acostabas
él/ellaacostaba
nosotrosacostábamos
vosotrosacostabais
ellos/ellasacostaban

Cuando era niño, siempre me acostaban a las nueve.

When I was a child, I was always put to bed at nine.

Mis abuelos me acostaban en su cama cuando los visitaba.

My grandparents would put me to bed in their bed when I visited them.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yoacostaré
acostarás
él/ellaacostará
nosotrosacostaremos
vosotrosacostaréis
ellos/ellasacostarán

Mañana, acostaré a los niños después de la película.

Tomorrow, I will put the kids to bed after the movie.

Cuando lleguemos a casa, se acostarán inmediatamente.

When we get home, they will lie down immediately.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yoacostaría
acostarías
él/ellaacostaría
nosotrosacostaríamos
vosotrosacostaríais
ellos/ellasacostarían

Si tuviera tiempo, acostaría a los niños más tarde.

If I had time, I would put the kids to bed later.

Ella acostaría a su gato si no estuviera tan cansada.

She would put her cat to bed if she weren't so tired.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yoacoste
acostes
él/ellaacoste
nosotrosacostemos
vosotrosacostéis
ellos/ellasacosten

Es importante que acuestes a los niños a tiempo.

It's important that you put the kids to bed on time.

Espero que él se acueste pronto esta noche.

I hope that he lies down soon tonight.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yoacostara
acostaras
él/ellaacostara
nosotrosacostáramos
vosotrosacostarais
ellos/ellasacostaran

Si yo fuera tú, acostara a los niños antes de la cena.

If I were you, I would put the kids to bed before dinner.

Ojalá que ellos se acostaran sin protestar.

I wish they would lie down without complaining.

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "acostar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"acostar" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -ar conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "acostar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "acostar" conjugates as: acuestas, acuesto, acuestan, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "acostar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "acostar" conjugates as: acostaste, acosté, acostaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "acostar" in Spanish?
"acostar" (to put to bed, to lie down) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.