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Spanish · Verb · #525 most common

contaminar

to contaminate


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.

yocontamino
contaminas
él/ellacontamina
nosotroscontaminamos
vosotroscontamináis
ellos/ellascontaminan

Las fábricas contaminan el aire todos los días.

The factories contaminate the air every day.

Es importante que no contaminemos nuestros ríos.

It is important that we do not contaminate our rivers.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yocontaminé
contaminaste
él/ellacontaminó
nosotroscontaminamos
vosotroscontaminasteis
ellos/ellascontaminaron

El derrame de petróleo contaminó la playa ayer.

The oil spill contaminated the beach yesterday.

La empresa contaminó el agua potable el año pasado.

The company contaminated the drinking water last year.

3.

Imperfecto

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

yocontaminaba
contaminabas
él/ellacontaminaba
nosotroscontaminábamos
vosotroscontaminabais
ellos/ellascontaminaban

Antes, muchas industrias contaminaban el medio ambiente sin preocuparse.

In the past, many industries contaminated the environment without worrying.

Cuando era niño, pensaba que los autos contaminaban menos.

When I was a child, I thought cars contaminated less.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yocontaminaré
contaminarás
él/ellacontaminará
nosotroscontaminaremos
vosotroscontaminaréis
ellos/ellascontaminarán

Si no tomamos medidas, el plástico contaminará nuestros océanos.

If we don't take action, plastic will contaminate our oceans.

Las nuevas leyes ayudarán a que las empresas no contaminen más.

The new laws will help companies not to contaminate anymore.

5.

Condicional

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

yocontaminaría
contaminarías
él/ellacontaminaría
nosotroscontaminaríamos
vosotroscontaminaríais
ellos/ellascontaminarían

Si tuviéramos más conciencia, no contaminaríamos tanto.

If we had more awareness, we wouldn't contaminate so much.

Las personas que reciclan reducirían la cantidad de basura que contamina.

People who recycle would reduce the amount of waste that contaminates.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

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

yocontamine
contamines
él/ellacontamine
nosotroscontaminemos
vosotroscontaminéis
ellos/ellascontaminen

Es necesario que todos evitemos contaminar el planeta.

It is necessary that we all avoid contaminating the planet.

Ojalá que el gobierno actúe antes de que contaminemos más.

I hope the government acts before we contaminate more.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

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

yocontaminara
contaminaras
él/ellacontaminara
nosotroscontamináramos
vosotroscontaminarais
ellos/ellascontaminaran

Si la gente supiera las consecuencias, no contaminaría.

If people knew the consequences, they wouldn't contaminate.

Si las empresas se preocuparan, no contaminaran tanto.

If companies cared, they wouldn't contaminate so much.

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "contaminar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"contaminar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
How do you conjugate "contaminar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "contaminar" conjugates as: contamino, contaminas, contamina, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "contaminar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "contaminar" conjugates as: contaminé, contaminaste, contaminó, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "contaminar" in Spanish?
"contaminar" (to contaminate) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.