contraer Present Conjugation
contraer — to contract
The present tense of contraer is irregular in the 'yo' form (contraigo), but follows regular -er patterns for the rest.
contraer Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use this to talk about current habits, general scientific facts (like muscles contracting), or formal obligations like entering a marriage or debt.
Notes on contraer in the Present
This is a 'G-verb' in the first person. You add a 'g' to the stem to get 'contraigo'. All other forms (contraes, contrae, etc.) are regular.
Example Sentences
Yo siempre contraigo los músculos antes de levantar pesas.
I always contract my muscles before lifting weights.
yo
El metal se contrae con el frío.
Metal contracts with the cold.
él/ella/usted
Ellos contraen una deuda muy grande con el banco.
They are taking on a very large debt with the bank.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'contrao' for the first person.
Correct: The correct form is 'contraigo'.
Why: Like the verb 'traer', contraer adds a 'g' in the yo form.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: contraje
The preterite of contraer is highly irregular, using a 'j' stem: contraje, contrajiste, contrajo.
Imperfect
yo: contraía
The imperfect of contraer is completely regular: contraía, contraías, contraía.
Future
yo: contraeré
The future tense of contraer is regular: contraeré, contraerás, contraerá.
Conditional
yo: contraería
The conditional of contraer is regular: contraería, contraerías, contraería.
Present Subjunctive
yo: contraiga
The present subjunctive uses the 'contraig-' stem: contraiga, contraigas, contraiga.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contrajera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'j' stem: contrajera, contrajeras, contrajera.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contrae
The imperative uses 'contrae' for informal 'tú' and 'contraiga' for formal 'usted'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contraigas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no contraigas, no contraiga.