
usar Present Conjugation
usar — to use
The present tense of usar is regular: uso, usas, usa, usamos, usáis, usan.
usar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to talk about things you use regularly, like your computer for work or a specific app. It is also the go-to for stating general facts about how tools or objects function.
Notes on usar in the Present
Usar is a perfectly regular -ar verb in the present tense; no stem changes or irregular yo forms to worry about.
Example Sentences
Yo uso mi bicicleta para ir al trabajo.
I use my bicycle to go to work.
yo
¿Qué aplicación usas para aprender idiomas?
What app do you use to learn languages?
tú
Ellos usan el transporte público todos los días.
They use public transport every day.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'utilizar' for every situation because 'usar' feels too simple.
Correct: Use 'usar' for most everyday contexts.
Why: Learners often over-formalize; while both are correct, 'usar' is much more common in daily speech.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'usar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: usé
The preterite of usar is regular: usé, usaste, usó, usamos, usasteis, usaron.
Imperfect
yo: usaba
The imperfect of usar follows the standard -aba pattern: usaba, usabas, usaba, usábamos, usabais, usaban.
Future
yo: usaré
The future of usar is formed by adding endings to the infinitive: usaré, usarás, usará, usaremos, usaréis, usarán.
Conditional
yo: usaría
The conditional of usar is regular: usaría, usarías, usaría, usaríamos, usaríais, usarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: use
The present subjunctive of usar uses 'e' endings: use, uses, use, usemos, uséis, usen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: usara
The imperfect subjunctive of usar is regular: usara, usaras, usara, usáramos, usarais, usaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: usa
The affirmative imperative of usar provides commands: usa, use, usemos, usad, usen.
Negative Imperative
yo: no uses
The negative imperative of usar uses subjunctive forms: no uses, no use, no usemos, no uséis, no usen.