contar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
contar — to count
The present subjunctive of contar keeps the o > ue stem change: cuente, cuentes, cuente, contemos, contéis, cuenten.
contar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when you want or doubt that someone tells a story or counts something (e.g., 'I want you to count to ten').
Notes on contar in the Present Subjunctive
Like the present indicative, this verb has a stem change (o > ue) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Example Sentences
Espero que me cuentes la verdad.
I hope you tell me the truth.
tú
Quiero que cuenten los votos de nuevo.
I want them to count the votes again.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
No creo que contemos con suficiente tiempo.
I don't think we count with (have) enough time.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Que nosotros cuentemos.
Correct: Que nosotros contemos.
Why: The nosotros and vosotros forms never take the stem change in the present subjunctive for -ar verbs.
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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.
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.