contar Negative Imperative Conjugation
contar — to count
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no cuentes, no cuente, no contemos, no contéis, no cuenten.
contar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to tell a secret or not to count on something.
Notes on contar in the Negative Imperative
Follows the present subjunctive rules, including the o > ue stem change (except in nosotros/vosotros).
Example Sentences
No le cuentes mi secreto a nadie.
Don't tell my secret to anyone.
tú
No cuenten con ese dinero todavía.
Don't count on that money yet.
No contéis los puntos todavía.
Don't count the points yet (you all).
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: No cuenta.
Correct: No cuentes.
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive form, not the indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cuento
Contar is a stem-changing verb (o > ue) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: conté
The preterite of contar is regular: conté, contaste, contó, contamos, contasteis, contaron.
Imperfect
yo: contaba
The imperfect of contar is regular: contaba, contabas, contaba, contábamos, contabais, contaban.
Future
yo: contaré
The future tense of contar is regular: contaré, contarás, contará, contaremos, contaréis, contarán.
Conditional
yo: contaría
The conditional of contar is regular: contaría, contarías, contaría, contaríamos, contaríais, contarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cuente
The present subjunctive of contar keeps the o > ue stem change: cuente, cuentes, cuente, contemos, contéis, cuenten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contara
The imperfect subjunctive of contar is formed from the preterite: contara, contaras, contara, contáramos, contarais, contaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cuenta
The imperative of contar uses the stem-changed 'cuenta' for tú and 'cuente' for usted.