contestar
to answer
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Presente
Presente
Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.
| yo | contesto |
| tú | contestas |
| él/ella | contesta |
| nosotros | contestamos |
| vosotros | contestáis |
| ellos/ellas | contestan |
Yo contesto las preguntas en clase.
I answer the questions in class.
Ella siempre contesta el teléfono rápidamente.
She always answers the phone quickly.
2.Pretérito Indefinido
Pretérito Indefinido
Completed actions at a specific point in the past.
| yo | contesté |
| tú | contestaste |
| él/ella | contestó |
| nosotros | contestamos |
| vosotros | contestasteis |
| ellos/ellas | contestaron |
Ayer contesté un correo importante.
Yesterday, I answered an important email.
Él contestó todas las llamadas durante la reunión.
He answered all the calls during the meeting.
3.Imperfecto
Imperfecto
Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.
| yo | contestaba |
| tú | contestabas |
| él/ella | contestaba |
| nosotros | contestábamos |
| vosotros | contestabais |
| ellos/ellas | contestaban |
Cuando era niño, siempre contestaba las preguntas de mis padres.
When I was a child, I always answered my parents' questions.
Ella contestaba con calma cada vez que la interrogaban.
She answered calmly every time she was questioned.
4.Futuro Simple
Futuro Simple
Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.
| yo | contestaré |
| tú | contestarás |
| él/ella | contestará |
| nosotros | contestaremos |
| vosotros | contestaréis |
| ellos/ellas | contestarán |
Mañana contestaré todas las dudas que tengan.
Tomorrow, I will answer all the questions you have.
Ellos contestarán el examen la próxima semana.
They will answer the exam next week.
5.Condicional
Condicional
Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
| yo | contestaré |
| tú | contestarás |
| él/ella | contestará |
| nosotros | contestaremos |
| vosotros | contestaréis |
| ellos/ellas | contestarán |
Yo contestaría si tuviera más información.
I would answer if I had more information.
Ella contestaría, pero está ocupada en este momento.
She would answer, but she is busy right now.
6.Subjuntivo Presente
Subjuntivo Presente
Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.
| yo | conteste |
| tú | contestes |
| él/ella | conteste |
| nosotros | contestemos |
| vosotros | contestéis |
| ellos/ellas | contesten |
Es importante que yo conteste a tiempo.
It's important that I answer on time.
Espero que ella conteste mis mensajes pronto.
I hope that she answers my messages soon.
7.Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.
| yo | contestara |
| tú | contestaras |
| él/ella | contestara |
| nosotros | contestáramos |
| vosotros | contestárais |
| ellos/ellas | contestaran |
Si yo contestara, te ayudaría.
If I answered, I would help you.
Si ellos contestaran, podríamos resolver el problema.
If they answered, we could solve the problem.
"contestar" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "contestar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
- "contestar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
- How do you conjugate "contestar" in the present tense?
- In the Presente, "contestar" conjugates as: contestas, contesto, contestan, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "contestar" in Spanish?
- In the Pretérito Indefinido, "contestar" conjugates as: contestaste, contesté, contestaron, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "contestar" in Spanish?
- "contestar" (to answer) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.