colar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
colar — to strain
The present subjunctive of colar follows the o > ue stem change: cuele, cueles, cuele, colemos, coléis, cuelen.
colar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this after expressions of desire or necessity, like 'Espero que cueles el caldo' (I hope you strain the broth).
Notes on colar in the Present Subjunctive
Like the present indicative, this tense has a stem change (o > ue) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Example Sentences
Es necesario que cueles el aceite.
It is necessary that you strain the oil.
tú
No quiero que ellos se cuelen en la fila.
I don't want them to cut (sneak) in line.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'cuelemos' instead of 'colemos'.
Correct: colemos
Why: The stem change o > ue does not apply to the nosotros form in the present subjunctive for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cuelo
Colar changes its stem from 'o' to 'ue' in the present tense, except for nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: colé
Colar is completely regular in the preterite: colé, colaste, coló, colamos, colasteis, colaron.
Imperfect
yo: colaba
Colar is regular in the imperfect: colaba, colabas, colaba, colábamos, colabais, colaban.
Future
yo: colaré
The future of colar is regular: colaré, colarás, colará, colaremos, colaréis, colarán.
Conditional
yo: colaría
The conditional of colar is regular: colaría, colarías, colaría, colaríamos, colaríais, colarían.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: colara
The imperfect subjunctive of colar is regular: colara, colaras, colara, coláramos, colarais, colaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cuela
The imperative uses 'cuela' (tú) and 'cuele' (usted), following the stem change.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cueles
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no cueles, no cuele, no colemos, no coléis, no cuelen.