Inklingo
A group of people together using gardening tools to plant a small tree in a garden.

usen

OO-sen

verbA2regular ar
use?when telling a group of people to do something or wishing they would
Also:wear?referring to using clothing or accessories,utilize?making use of a tool or resource

Quick Reference

gerundusando
past Participleusado
infinitiveusar

📝 In Action

Por favor, usen la puerta principal.

A1

Please, use the main door.

Espero que usen protector solar hoy.

A2

I hope you all use sunscreen today.

No quiero que ellos usen mi computadora.

B1

I don't want them to use my computer.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • usen con cuidadouse with care
  • usen el sentido comúnuse common sense

💡 Grammar Points

When to use 'usen' vs 'usan'

Use 'usan' for facts (They use shoes). Use 'usen' for commands (You all, use shoes!) or wishes (I hope they use shoes).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'usen' with 'usan'

Mistake: "¡Ustedes usan el cinturón!"

Correction: ¡Ustedes usen el cinturón! Use the 'e' ending when you want to give a polite command to a group.

⭐ Usage Tips

Polite Commands

In Latin America, 'usen' is the standard way to tell any group of people what to do, whether they are friends or strangers.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesusaran
yousara
usaras
vosotrosusarais
nosotrosusáramos
él/ella/ustedusara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesusen
youse
uses
vosotrosuséis
nosotrosusemos
él/ella/usteduse

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesusaron
yousé
usaste
vosotrosusasteis
nosotrosusamos
él/ella/ustedusó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesusaban
yousaba
usabas
vosotrosusabais
nosotrosusábamos
él/ella/ustedusaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesusan
youso
usas
vosotrosusáis
nosotrosusamos
él/ella/ustedusa

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: usen

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence is a command telling a group of people to use their books?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

usar(to use) - verb
uso(use) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'usen' be used for 'they'?

Yes! It is used for 'them' (ellos/ellas) when you are expressing a wish, doubt, or emotion about their actions.

Is 'usen' formal or informal?

It is neutral. It is the only way to give a plural command in Latin America, while in Spain, it is the formal version.