
tardar Present Conjugation
tardar — to take time
The present of tardar is regular: tardo, tardas, tarda, tardamos, tardáis, tardan.
tardar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present to discuss typical durations, habits, or how long someone is taking right now.
Notes on tardar in the Present
Tardar is a standard -ar verb in the present tense with no stem changes.
Example Sentences
Normalmente tardo diez minutos en ducharme.
I usually take ten minutes to shower.
yo
Mi hermana siempre tarda mucho en arreglarse.
My sister always takes a long time to get ready.
él/ella/usted
¿Cuánto tardáis en llegar al centro?
How long do you (plural) take to get to the center?
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: tardamos (used as past only)
Correct: tardamos
Why: Remember that tardamos is both present and past; don't assume it only refers to the past.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'tardar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: tardé
The preterite of tardar is regular: tardé, tardaste, tardó, tardamos, tardasteis, tardaron.
Imperfect
yo: tardaba
The imperfect of tardar is regular: tardaba, tardabas, tardaba, tardábamos, tardabais, tardaban.
Future
yo: tardaré
The future of tardar is regular: tardaré, tardarás, tardará, tardaremos, tardaréis, tardarán.
Conditional
yo: tardaría
The conditional of tardar is regular: tardaría, tardarías, tardaría, tardaríamos, tardaríais, tardarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: tarde
The present subjunctive of tardar is regular: tarde, tardes, tarde, tardemos, tardéis, tarden.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tardara
The imperfect subjunctive of tardar is regular: tardara, tardaras, tardara, tardáramos, tardarais, tardaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tarda
The affirmative imperative of tardar: tarda (tú), tarde (usted), tardad (vosotros), tarden (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no tardes
The negative imperative of tardar: no tardes, no tarde, no tardemos, no tardéis, no tarden.