contar Present Conjugation
contar — to count
Contar is a stem-changing verb (o > ue) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
contar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to talk about things you are counting right now, stories you tell often, or to say you 'count on' someone.
Notes on contar in the Present
This is a 'boot verb'—the 'o' changes to 'ue' in the singular and third-person plural forms (cuento, cuentas, cuenta, cuentan).
Example Sentences
Yo cuento las ovejas para dormir.
I count sheep to sleep.
yo
Ella cuenta chistes muy graciosos.
She tells very funny jokes.
él/ella/usted
Siempre cuento contigo para estos proyectos.
I always count on you for these projects.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Yo conto.
Correct: Yo cuento.
Why: Contar is an o-to-ue stem-changing verb in the present tense.
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Related Tenses
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cuentes
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no cuentes, no cuente, no contemos, no contéis, no cuenten.