portar Present Conjugation
portar — to behave
The present tense 'porto', 'portas', 'porta' describes habitual behavior or actions happening now.
portar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense of 'portar' to talk about someone's general behavior, habitual actions, or how they are behaving right now. For example, 'Mi hijo se porta muy bien en la escuela' (My son behaves very well at school).
Notes on portar in the Present
'Portar' is a regular -ar verb in the present tense. The conjugation follows the standard pattern: porto, portas, porta, portamos, portáis, portan.
Example Sentences
Yo me porto con cuidado cuando camino por hielo.
I behave carefully when I walk on ice.
yo
¿Cómo te portas en tu nuevo trabajo?
How are you behaving in your new job?
tú
Ella se porta muy madura para su edad.
She behaves very maturely for her age.
él/ella/usted
Ustedes se portan muy bien aquí.
You (plural) behave very well here.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'portar' for carrying things instead of behaving.
Correct: 'Portar' can mean 'to carry' (e.g., 'portar un arma'), but in the context of behavior, it's 'portarse'. Use 'transportar' or 'llevar' for carrying.
Why: Context is key. 'Portarse' is specifically for behavior.
Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se' with 'portar', e.g., 'Él porta bien'.
Correct: Use the reflexive pronoun: 'Él se porta bien'.
Why: 'Portarse' is a reflexive verb; the pronoun is required for the meaning of 'to behave'.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: porté
The preterite of 'portar' is regular: porté, portaste, portó, portamos, portasteis, portaron.
Imperfect
yo: portaba
The imperfect 'portaba', 'portabas', 'portaba' describes habitual or ongoing past behavior.
Future
yo: portaré
Future forms like 'portaré' (yo) and 'portarán' (ellos) predict or promise future behavior.
Conditional
yo: portaría
Conditional forms like 'portaría' (yo) express hypothetical behavior or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: porte
Present subjunctive forms like 'porte' (yo/él/ella/usted) express wishes, doubts, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: portara
The imperfect subjunctive, like 'portara' or 'portase', is for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: porta
Use imperative forms like 'porta' (tú) and 'porten' (ustedes) for direct commands with 'portar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no portes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive, like 'no portes' (tú) or 'no porten' (ustedes).