contestar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
contestar — to answer
Use 'conteste' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'contestes' (tú) for wishes, doubts, or influence.
contestar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used for actions that are uncertain, desired, doubted, or influenced by someone else. It often follows expressions like 'I hope that...', 'It's important that...', or 'I doubt that...'.
Notes on contestar in the Present Subjunctive
Contestar is regular in the present subjunctive. The stem is the same as the present indicative, but the endings change.
Example Sentences
Espero que contestes mi mensaje pronto.
I hope you answer my message soon.
tú
Quiero que conteste la llamada.
I want him/her/you (formal) to answer the call.
él/ella/usted
Dudo que contesten la verdad.
I doubt they will answer the truth.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative 'contestas' instead of the subjunctive 'contestes' after 'espero que'.
Correct: After verbs expressing hope, doubt, or desire, use the present subjunctive: 'Espero que contestes'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required to express uncertainty or subjective feelings about the action.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'yo' form 'conteste' is the same as the 'usted' form.
Correct: Remember that 'conteste' can mean 'I answer' (subjunctive) or 'he/she/you (formal) answer' (subjunctive).
Why: This is a common pattern in the present subjunctive for -ar verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contesto
Use 'contesto', 'contestas', 'contesta' for actions happening now or habitually.
Preterite
yo: contesté
Use 'contesté', 'contestaste', 'contestó' for completed past actions.
Imperfect
yo: contestaba
Use 'contestaba', 'contestabas', etc., for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: contestaré
The future tense 'contestaré', 'contestarás', etc., indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: contestaría
Use 'contestaría', 'contestarías', etc., for hypothetical situations ('would answer').
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contestara
Use 'contestara' or 'contestase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contesta
Use 'contesta' (tú) and 'conteste' (usted) for direct commands to answer.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contestes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, like 'no contestes' (tú) or 'no conteste' (usted).