Understanding the nuances of Spanish verbs is key to mastering the language, and one aspect that often challenges learners is how to conjugate contraer in Spanish. This article aims to demystify the conjugation process of this particular verb, which, due to its irregularities, can be a bit tricky to handle. Conjugating verbs correctly is essential not only for conveying accurate meanings but also for achieving fluency and confidence in Spanish.
The verb “contraer” itself is quite versatile, used in various contexts ranging from entering into an agreement to the physical act of contracting a muscle, or even more commonly, referring to the contraction of diseases. This wide applicability makes it all the more important to understand how to conjugate contraer in Spanish, ensuring that learners can express themselves appropriately in different situations.
This article is designed to be a comprehensive guide, taking you through the different tenses and moods in which “contraer” can be conjugated. Whether you are a beginner trying to get a grasp of basic conjugations or an advanced learner looking to refine your command of verb nuances, this guide aims to cater to all learning levels.
Contraer Conjugation Chart in Spanish
Here’s the conjugation table for the verb “contraer”:
| Personal Pronoun | Presente | Pretérito | Imperfecto | Futuro | Condicional | Presente Subjuntivo | Imperfecto Subjuntivo | Imperativo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | contraigo | contraje | contraía | contraeré | contraería | contraiga | contrajera o contrajese | contrae (no aplicable) |
| Tú | contraes | contrajiste | contraías | contraerás | contraerías | contraigas | contrajeras o contrajeses | contrae |
| Él/Ella/Usted | contrae | contrajo | contraía | contraerá | contraería | contraiga | contrajera o contrajese | contraiga |
| Nosotros | contraemos | contrajimos | contraíamos | contraeremos | contraeríamos | contraigamos | contrajéramos o contrajésemos | contraigamos |
| Vosotros | contraéis | contrajisteis | contraíais | contraeréis | contraeríais | contraigáis | contrajerais o contrajeseis | contraed |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | contraen | contrajeron | contraían | contraerán | contraerían | contraigan | contrajeran o contrajesen | contraigan |
Note: The verb “contraer” is irregular and presents some peculiarities, especially in its first person singular of the present indicative (“yo contraigo”), and its entire preterite tense. Furthermore, the imperative form is generally not used in the first person singular; alternatives or periphrases are preferred to direct commands, thus “contrae” in the imperative is not applicable for “yo.”
Contraer Conjugation Present Tense – Presente
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contraigo | Yo contraigo una enfermedad. | I contract a disease. |
| tú | contraes | Tú contraes muchas deudas. | You contract a lot of debts. |
| él/ella/usted | contrae | Él contrae matrimonio mañana. | He is getting married tomorrow. |
| nosotros/nosotras | contraemos | Nosotros contraemos responsabilidades. | We take on responsibilities. |
| vosotros/vosotras | contraéis | Vosotros contraéis un compromiso. | You (pl.) make a commitment. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contraen | Ellos contraen el virus en el viaje. | They contract the virus on the trip. |
Contraer Conjugation Present Perfect Tense – Pretérito Perfecto Conjugation Chart
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | he contraído | Yo he contraído una deuda importante. | I have contracted a significant debt. |
| Tú | has contraído | Tú has contraído matrimonio recientemente. | You have recently got married. |
| Él/Ella | ha contraído | Él ha contraído una enfermedad rara. | He has contracted a rare disease. |
| Nosotros | hemos contraído | Nosotros hemos contraído muchas obligaciones. | We have incurred many obligations. |
| Vosotros | habéis contraído | Vosotros habéis contraído buenos hábitos. | You all have acquired good habits. |
| Ellos | han contraído | Ellos han contraído una hipoteca juntos. | They have taken out a mortgage together. |
Contraer Conjugation Simple Paste Tense – Pretérito Indefinido
Here’s Contraer conjugation preterite indefinido:
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | contraje | Yo contraje matrimonio en abril. | I got married in April. |
| Tú | contrajiste | ¿Tú contrajiste la enfermedad? | Did you contract the disease? |
| Él/Ella | contrajo | Ella contrajo una deuda enorme. | She incurred a huge debt. |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | contraímos | Nosotros contraímos un acuerdo. | We made an agreement. |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | contraísteis | Vosotros contraísteis una nueva actitud. | You (plural) took on a new attitude. |
| Ellos/Ellas | contrajeron | Ellos contrajeron obligaciones. | They took on obligations. |
Contraer Imperfect Conjugation – Pretérito Imperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tú) | contrae | Contrae los músculos del abdomen. | Contract your abdominal muscles. |
| (usted) | contraiga | Contraiga los documentos necesarios. | Contract the necessary documents. |
| (nosotros) | contraigamos | Contraigamos una alianza estratégica. | Let’s contract a strategic alliance. |
| (vosotros) | contraed | Contraed los músculos antes del esfuerzo. | Contract your muscles before the effort. |
| (ustedes) | contraigan | Contraigan los servicios para el evento. | Contract the services for the event. |
Contraer Conjugation Pluperfect/Past Perfect Tense – Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | había contraído | Yo ya había contraído el virus. | I had already contracted the virus. |
| tú | habías contraído | Tú habías contraído una deuda enorme. | You had contracted a huge debt. |
| él/ella/usted | había contraído | Él había contraído matrimonio en secreto. | He had entered into marriage secretly. |
| nosotros/as | habíamos contraído | Nosotros habíamos contraído la enfermedad. | We had contracted the disease. |
| vosotros/as | habíais contraído | Vosotros habíais contraído muchas obligaciones. | You had contracted many obligations. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habían contraído | Ellos habían contraído una gran responsabilidad. | They had taken on a great responsibility. |
Contraer Conjugation Simple Future Tense – Futuro Simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contraeré | Yo contraeré la enfermedad si no me cuido. | I will contract the disease if I don’t take care of myself. |
| tú | contraerás | Tú contraerás una deuda enorme con ese préstamo. | You will contract a huge debt with that loan. |
| él/ella | contraerá | Él contraerá matrimonio en la primavera. | He will get married in the spring. |
| nosotros | contraeremos | Nosotros contraeremos un compromiso serio. | We will make a serious commitment. |
| vosotros | contraeréis | Vosotros contraeréis nuevos colaboradores para el proyecto. | You (plural) will engage new collaborators for the project. |
| ellos | contraerán | Ellos contraerán más personal para completar el trabajo. | They will hire more staff to complete the work. |
Contraer Spanish Conjugation Future Perfect Tense – Futuro Perfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | habré contraído | Para mañana, yo habré contraído una gran deuda. | By tomorrow, I will have contracted a large debt. |
| tú | habrás contraído | Para el viernes, tú habrás contraído matrimonio. | By Friday, you will have gotten married. |
| él/ella/usted | habrá contraído | Para fin de año, él habrá contraído varias responsabilidades nuevas. | By the end of the year, he will have taken on several new responsibilities. |
| nosotros/nosotras | habremos contraído | Para el próximo mes, nosotros habremos contraído compromisos importantes. | By next month, we will have made significant commitments. |
| vosotros/vosotras | habréis contraído | Para la próxima reunión, vosotros ya habréis contraído un acuerdo. | By the next meeting, you all will have entered into an agreement. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habrán contraído | Antes de la primavera, ellos habrán contraído la enfermedad. | Before spring, they will have contracted the disease. |
Contraer Conjugation Simple Conditional Tense – Condicional Simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contraería | Yo contraería una deuda si compro esa casa. | I would incur a debt if I buy that house. |
| tú | contraerías | ¿Tú contraerías matrimonio joven? | Would you marry young? |
| él/ella/usted | contraería | Él contraería una enfermedad si no se cuida. | He would contract a disease if he is not careful. |
| nosotros/nosotras | contraeríamos | Nosotros contraeríamos más responsabilidades con ese proyecto. | We would take on more responsibilities with that project. |
| vosotros/vosotras | contraeríais | ¿Vosotros contraeríais una alianza con esa empresa? | Would you form an alliance with that company? |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contraerían | Ellos contraerían grandes riesgos si invierten allí. | They would incur great risks if they invest there. |
Conjugate Contraer in Spanish: Conditional Perfect Tense – Condicional Compuesto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | habría contraído | Si hubiera sabido, yo habría contraído menos deudas. | If I had known, I would have incurred fewer debts. |
| Tú | habrías contraído | Tú habrías contraído una alianza más favorable. | You would have entered into a more favorable alliance. |
| Él/Ella | habría contraído | Él habría contraído la enfermedad de todas formas. | He would have contracted the disease anyway. |
| Nosotros | habríamos contraído | Nosotros habríamos contraído un mejor acuerdo. | We would have entered into a better agreement. |
| Vosotros | habríais contraído | Vosotros habríais contraído más responsabilidades. | You all would have taken on more responsibilities. |
| Ellos | habrían contraído | Ellos habrían contraído una nueva relación comercial. | They would have entered into a new business relationship. |
Contraer Conjugation Imperative Tense – Imperativo
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tú) | contrae | Contrae los músculos del abdomen. | Contract your abdominal muscles. |
| (usted) | contraiga | Contraiga los documentos necesarios. | Contract the necessary documents. |
| (nosotros) | contraigamos | Contraigamos una alianza estratégica. | Let’s contract a strategic alliance. |
| (vosotros) | contraed | Contraed los músculos antes del esfuerzo. | Contract your muscles before the effort. |
| (ustedes) | contraigan | Contraigan los servicios para el evento. | Contract the services for the event. |
Contraer Subjunctive Conjugation
Contraer Subjunctive Conjugation Present Tense – Subjuntivo Presente
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contraiga | Espero que yo contraiga eso mañana. | I hope I contract that tomorrow. |
| tú | contraigas | Quiero que tú contraigas el músculo. | I want you to contract the muscle. |
| él/ella/usted | contraiga | Es importante que él contraiga una buena actitud. | It is important that he contracts a good attitude. |
| nosotros/nosotras | contraigamos | Ojalá que nosotros contraigamos el espacio. | Hopefully, we contract the space. |
| vosotros/vosotras | contraigáis | Espero que vosotros contraigáis el acuerdo. | I hope you all contract the agreement. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contraigan | Es necesario que ellos contraigan el área. | It is necessary that they contract the area. |
Contraer Conjugation Present Perfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Pretérito Perfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | haya contraído | Espero que yo haya contraído las velas correctamente. | I hope that I have furled the sails correctly. |
| tú | hayas contraído | Dudo que tú hayas contraído una buena relación. | I doubt that you have formed a good relationship. |
| él/ella/usted | haya contraído | Es bueno que él haya contraído aquel negocio. | It’s good that he has contracted that business. |
| nosotros/nosotras | hayamos contraído | Nos sorprende que nosotros hayamos contraído tantas deudas. | It surprises us that we have incurred so many debts. |
| vosotros/vosotras | hayáis contraído | Ojalá que vosotros hayáis contraído un buen equipo. | I hope that you (plural) have formed a good team. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hayan contraído | Es triste que ellos hayan contraído esa enfermedad. | It’s sad that they have contracted that disease. |
Contraer Conjugation Imperfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Pretérito Imperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contrajera | Ojalá que yo contrajera menos compromisos. | I wish I had taken on fewer commitments. |
| tú | contrajeras | Si tú contrajeras esa enfermedad, sería malo. | If you had contracted that disease, it would be bad. |
| él/ella/usted | contrajera | Esperaba que él contrajera matrimonio en primavera. | I hoped he would get married in the spring. |
| nosotros/nosotras | contrajéramos | Si nosotros contrajéramos más personal, sería ideal. | If we hired more staff, it would be ideal. |
| vosotros/vosotras | contrajerais | Si vosotros contrajerais un préstamo, podríamos empezar. | If you guys took out a loan, we could start. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contrajeran | Deseaba que ellos contrajeran una buena relación. | I wished they would establish a good relationship. |
Contraer Pluperfect Subjunctive Conjugation – Subjuntivo Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiera contraído | Si yo hubiera contraído esa enfermedad, estaría en cama. | If I had contracted that illness, I would be in bed. |
| tú | hubieras contraído | Si tú hubieras contraído una deuda mayor, no podrías pagarla. | If you had contracted a bigger debt, you couldn’t pay it. |
| él/ella/usted | hubiera contraído | Si él hubiera contraído matrimonio con ella, serían felices. | If he had married her, they would be happy. |
| nosotros/nosotras | hubiéramos contraído | Si nosotros hubiéramos contraído menos deudas, estaríamos mejor económicamente. | If we had contracted fewer debts, we would be better off financially. |
| vosotros/vosotras | hubierais contraído | Si vosotros hubierais contraído una alianza, habríais ganado las elecciones. | If you had formed an alliance, you would have won the elections. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hubieran contraído | Si ellos hubieran contraído la enfermedad, no estarían aquí hoy. | If they had contracted the disease, they wouldn’t be here today. |
Contraer Conjugation Future Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Futuro
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contrajere | Si yo contrajere un acuerdo, lo cumpliré. | If I should contract an agreement, I will comply with it. |
| tú | contrajeres | Si tú contrajeres una enfermedad, busca ayuda. | If you should contract a disease, seek help. |
| él/ella | contrajere | Si él contrajere matrimonio, sería en primavera. | If he should get married, it would be in the spring. |
| nosotros | contrajéremos | Si nosotros contrajéremos deudas, las pagaremos juntos. | If we should incur debts, we will pay them together. |
| vosotros | contrajereis | Si vosotros contrajereis responsabilidades, deberéis cumplirlas. | If you should take on responsibilities, you must fulfill them. |
| ellos/ellas | contrajeren | Si ellos contrajeren alianzas, fortalecerán la empresa. | If they should form alliances, they will strengthen the company. |
Practice Test For Conjugating Contraer in Spanish
1. Yo __ un contrato importante mañana.
A) contraigo
B) contraes
C) contrae
D) contraemos
-
Tú __ muchas responsabilidades al casarte.
A) contraes
B) contraigo
C) contraen
D) contraéis -
Ella __ una enfermedad en el viaje.
A) contrae
B) contraigo
C) contraes
D) contraemos -
Nosotros __ matrimonio el próximo año.
A) contraeremos
B) contrae
C) contraes
D) contraen -
Vosotros __ deudas por comprar esa casa.
A) contraéis
B) contraemos
C) contraen
D) contrae -
Ellos __ un acuerdo con la otra empresa.
A) contraen
B) contrae
C) contraéis
D) contraemos -
¿Yo __ alguna vez una enfermedad grave?
A) contraeré
B) contraerás
C) contraer
D) contraeremos -
¿Tú __ el COVID-19 el año pasado?
A) contraíste
B) contraí
C) contraemos
D) contraiste -
Ella nunca __ tales riesgos.
A) contraerá
B) contrae
C) contraemos
D) contraéis -
Nosotros no __ deudas innecesarias.
A) contraemos
B) contraéis
C) contraerán
D) contrae -
¿Vosotros __ alguna enfermedad en ese país?
A) contraísteis
B) contraemos
C) contraerán
D) contrae -
Ellos __ un gran error al no escucharnos.
A) contrajeron
B) contraemos
C) contrae
D) contraísteis -
Yo no __ esa actitud en la reunión.
A) contraje
B) contrae
C) contraemos
D) contraeré -
Tú __ fiebre alta después de la vacunación.
A) contraes
B) contraerás
C) contrajiste
D) contraeré -
Ella __ responsabilidades nuevas al promocionarla.
A) contrae
B) contrajo
C) contraigo
D) contrajeron -
Nosotros __ el compromiso de cuidar el ambiente.
A) contraemos
B) contraeremos
C) contraéis
D) contraen -
Vosotros __ un buen trato con los proveedores.
A) contrajisteis
B) contraeréis
C) contraéis
D) contraen -
Ellos __ músculos trabajando en el gimnasio.
A) contraen
B) contraemos
C) contraerán
D) contrajeron -
¿Yo __ la cláusula correctamente?
A) contraigo
B) contraje
C) contraeré
D) contraía -
¿Tú __ con ella antes del incidente?
A) contrajiste
B) contraías
C) contraerás
D) contraes
Answers:
1. A) contraigo
2. A) contraes
3. A) contrae
4. A) contraeremos
5. A) contraéis
6. A) contraen
7. A) contraeré
8. A) contraíste
9. A) contraerá
10. A) contraemos
11. A) contraísteis
12. A) contrajeron
13. A) contraje
14. C) contrajiste
15. B) contrajo
16. A) contraemos
17. A) contrajisteis
18. A) contraen
19. C) contraeré
20. A) contrajiste
This definitive guide on how to conjugate contraer in Spanish is designed for learners at all levels. Whether you’re a beginner eager to master the basics or an advanced learner polishing your grammar, this article is tailored to cover every angle of contraer conjugation. With a meticulous approach, we’ve distilled key insights into the most searched-for aspects of conjugating ‘contraer,’ ensuring that no stone is left unturned.
In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the contraer conjugation present, where you’ll discover how to correctly use contraer in the present tense, laying the foundation for expressing current actions and states. We then transition into the past with contraer preterite and contraer conjugation preterite, guiding you through the nuances of recounting completed actions. For those intricate narratives, contraer preterite conjugation will sharpen your storytelling, ensuring you convey past events with accuracy.
Venturing into the subjunctive mood, our guide on contraer subjunctive illuminates how to express desires, doubts, and hypotheticals with contraer, adding depth to your conversations and writings. And for those looking to master every tense, our sections on contraer conditional, contraer imperative, and contraer infinitive usage will refine your command of Spanish, enabling you to navigate future possibilities, give commands, and utilize contraer in its most versatile form.
By weaving through these phrases, our article stands as a beacon for learners and educators alike, promising a well-rounded mastery of contraer. So, whether you’re drafting an email, engaging in conversation, or penning a narrative, let this guide be your trusted companion in conquering the conjugation of “contraer” across all its forms.
Final Words
In summary, the ability to successfully conjugate contraer in Spanish is a foundational skill for learners aiming to master the intricacies of this vibrant language. Understanding the various forms that contraer takes across different tenses and moods is essential for effective communication. Whether its in writing or conversation, knowing how to correctly use this verb can greatly enhance ones ability to express notions of agreement, contracting diseases, or even formalizing agreements.
Moreover, the conjugation of contraer involves more than just memorization. It requires an understanding of the patterns and exceptions inherent in Spanish verb conjugation. This deepens the learner’s grasp of the language’s grammar, improving their overall fluency and capability to engage with native speakers in more meaningful and accurate ways. It serves not just as an exercise in verb conjugation but as a gateway to a richer, more nuanced command of Spanish.
Finally, mastering the conjugation of contraer contributes to a learners confidence and competence in Spanish. It equips them with the verbal tools necessary to navigate a wide array of social, professional, and academic situations. Through diligent practice and application, learners can transform this technical knowledge into a spontaneous, effective communication skill, underscoring the importance of correctly conjugating verbs like contraer in their journey to Spanish proficiency.