contemplar Present Conjugation
contemplar — to gaze at
The present tense of contemplar describes current actions or habits: contemplo, contemplas, contempla, contemplamos, contempláis, contemplan.
contemplar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for actions happening right now, habitual actions, or general truths. For example, 'Contemplo la vida con calma' means 'I view life calmly'.
Notes on contemplar in the Present
Contemplar is regular in the present tense. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo contemplo el arte moderno.
I contemplate modern art.
yo
¿Tú contemplas el significado de la vida?
Do you contemplate the meaning of life?
tú
Ella contempla el horizonte cada mañana.
She gazes at the horizon every morning.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros contemplamos las posibilidades.
We contemplate the possibilities.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present subjunctive for a factual statement.
Correct: For a statement of fact, use 'contemplo', not 'contemple'.
Why: The present indicative is for facts, while the present subjunctive is for wishes, doubts, etc.
Mistake: Confusing the 'vosotros' form.
Correct: The 'vosotros' form is 'contempláis', not 'contemplan'.
Why: The '-áis' ending is specific to the 'vosotros' form in the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: contemplé
The preterite of contemplar describes completed past actions: contemplé, contemplaste, contempló, contemplamos, contemplasteis, contemplaron.
Imperfect
yo: contemplaba
The imperfect of contemplar describes ongoing or habitual past actions: contemplaba, contemplabas, contemplaba, contemplábamos, contemplabais, contemplaban.
Future
yo: contemplaré
The future tense of contemplar expresses what will happen: contemplaré, contemplarás, contemplará, contemplaremos, contemplaréis, contemplarán.
Conditional
yo: contemplaría
The conditional of contemplar expresses hypothetical actions or polite requests: contemplaría, contemplarías, contemplaría, contemplaríamos, contemplaríais, contemplarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: contemple
The present subjunctive of contemplar expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions: contemple, contemples, contemple, contemplemos, contempléis, contemplen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contemplara
The imperfect subjunctive of contemplar describes past hypothetical situations or wishes: contemplara, contemplaras, contemplara, contempláramos, contemplarais, contemplaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contempla
The imperative of contemplar gives direct commands: ¡contempla!, ¡contemple!, ¡contemplemos!, ¡contemplad!, ¡contemplen!.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contemples
Negative commands for contemplar use the present subjunctive: ¡no contemples!, ¡no contemple!, ¡no contemplemos!, ¡no contempléis!, ¡no contemplen!.