contaminar Present Conjugation
contaminar — to pollute
The present indicative of contaminar (contamino, contaminas, etc.) describes current or habitual pollution.
contaminar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for actions of polluting that are happening right now, are habitual, or are general truths. For example, factories that regularly pollute, or the general fact that pollution harms the environment.
Notes on contaminar in the Present
Contaminar is a regular -ar verb in the present indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Yo contamino el medio ambiente con mi coche.
I pollute the environment with my car.
yo
Esta planta industrial contamina mucho.
This industrial plant pollutes a lot.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros contaminamos el aire cuando quemamos combustibles fósiles.
We pollute the air when we burn fossil fuels.
nosotros
Ellos contaminan las aguas con vertidos ilegales.
They pollute the waters with illegal dumping.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present for a completed past action.
Correct: If the pollution happened and finished, use the preterite: 'La fábrica contaminó'. If it's ongoing or habitual, use the present: 'La fábrica contamina'.
Why: The present tense refers to current or habitual actions, not completed ones.
Mistake: Incorrect 'vosotros' form.
Correct: The correct form for 'vosotros' is 'contamináis', with an accent on the 'i'.
Why: The accent marks the correct stress for this plural 'you' form.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: contaminé
The preterite of contaminar is regular: contaminé, contaminaste, contaminó, contaminamos, contaminasteis, contaminaron.
Imperfect
yo: contaminaba
The imperfect of contaminar (contaminaba, contaminabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual pollution in the past.
Future
yo: contaminaré
The future tense of contaminar (contaminaré, contaminarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: contaminaría
The conditional of contaminar (contaminaría, contaminarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical outcomes ('would pollute').
Present Subjunctive
yo: contamine
The present subjunctive of contaminar (contamine, contamines, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contaminara
The imperfect subjunctive of contaminar (contaminara/contaminase) expresses hypothetical or past subjunctive situations.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contamina
Use the imperative of contaminar for direct commands like 'contamina' (tú) or 'contaminen' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no contamines
Negative commands for contaminar use the present subjunctive, like 'no contamines' (tú) or 'no contaminen' (ustedes).