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Spanish · Verb · #422 most common

citar

to quote
to cite

Regular-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.

yocito
citas
él/ellacita
nosotroscitamos
vosotroscitáis
ellos/ellascitan

Cito a mi profesor en el ensayo.

I quote my teacher in the essay.

Ella cita a varios autores en su libro.

She quotes several authors in her book.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yocité
citaste
él/ellacitó
nosotroscitamos
vosotroscitasteis
ellos/ellascitaron

Cité un pasaje interesante de la novela.

I quoted an interesting passage from the novel.

El periodista citó las palabras del testigo.

The journalist quoted the words of the witness.

3.

Imperfecto

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

yocitaba
citabas
él/ellacitaba
nosotroscitábamos
vosotroscitabais
ellos/ellascitaban

Cuando estudiaba, siempre citaba mis fuentes.

When I was studying, I always quoted my sources.

Ella citaba a su autor favorito en cada clase.

She used to quote her favorite author in every class.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yocitaré
citarás
él/ellacitará
nosotroscitaremos
vosotroscitaréis
ellos/ellascitarán

Citaré la información relevante en mi presentación.

I will quote the relevant information in my presentation.

El profesor citará ejemplos históricos en su charla.

The teacher will quote historical examples in his talk.

5.

Condicional

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

yocitaría
citarías
él/ellacitaría
nosotroscitaríamos
vosotroscitaríais
ellos/ellascitarían

Citaría más autores si tuviera más tiempo.

I would quote more authors if I had more time.

Ella citaría a su abuela si supiera la historia.

She would quote her grandmother if she knew the story.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

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

yocite
cites
él/ellacite
nosotroscitemos
vosotroscitéis
ellos/ellasciten

Es importante que cites correctamente las fuentes.

It is important that you quote the sources correctly.

Espero que él cite a los autores adecuados.

I hope that he quotes the right authors.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

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

yocitara
citaras
él/ellacitara
nosotroscitáramos
vosotroscitarais
ellos/ellascitaran

Si yo citara más, tendría mejores calificaciones.

If I quoted more, I would have better grades.

Si ella citara a los expertos, su trabajo sería más sólido.

If she quoted the experts, her work would be stronger.

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "citar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"citar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
How do you conjugate "citar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "citar" conjugates as: citas, cito, citan, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "citar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "citar" conjugates as: citaste, cité, citaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "citar" in Spanish?
"citar" (to quote, to cite) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.