pagar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
pagar — to pay
The present subjunctive of pagar uses the 'gu' spelling change in all forms: pague, pagues, pague, etc.
pagar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when you want someone to pay (e.g., 'Quiero que pagues') or when there is doubt about a payment.
Notes on pagar in the Present Subjunctive
Because the endings start with 'e', you must add a 'u' after the 'g' (pague) in every single form to maintain the hard 'g' sound.
Example Sentences
Dudo que ellos paguen hoy.
I doubt that they will pay today.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Es necesario que pagues la multa.
It is necessary that you pay the fine.
tú
Cuando yo pague la deuda, seré libre.
When I pay the debt, I will be free.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'page' instead of 'pague'.
Correct: pague
Why: Without the 'u', 'page' would be pronounced like 'pa-he'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: pago
Pagar is fully regular in the present tense: pago, pagas, paga, pagamos, pagáis, pagan.
Preterite
yo: pagué
The preterite of pagar has a spelling change in the first person (pagué) to keep the hard 'g' sound.
Imperfect
yo: pagaba
The imperfect of pagar is regular: pagaba, pagabas, pagaba, pagábamos, pagabais, pagaban.
Future
yo: pagaré
The future of pagar is regular: add endings to the full infinitive (pagaré, pagarás, etc.).
Conditional
yo: pagaría
The conditional of pagar is regular: add -ía endings to the infinitive (pagaría, pagarías).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pagara
The imperfect subjunctive of pagar is regular: pagara, pagaras, pagara, pagáramos, pagarais, pagaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: paga
Use 'paga' for informal 'tú' and 'pague' for formal 'usted'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no pagues
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive: no pagues, no pague, no paguemos.