Meaning and behavior
What does cantar mean?
Cantar means to sing. VerbyGo classifies it as a regular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to stink.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- cantar
- Gerund
- cantando
- Past participle
- cantado
Regular -AR pattern
How this verb behaves
Cantar follows the regular -ar pattern in the four tenses shown here.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of cantar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Cantar |
|---|---|
| yo | canto |
| tú | cantas |
| él / ella / usted | canta |
| nosotros / nosotras | cantamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cantáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cantan |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of cantar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Cantar |
|---|---|
| yo | canté |
| tú | cantaste |
| él / ella / usted | cantó |
| nosotros / nosotras | cantamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cantasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cantaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of cantar, or for background information.
| Subject | Cantar |
|---|---|
| yo | cantaba |
| tú | cantabas |
| él / ella / usted | cantaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | cantábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cantabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cantaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of cantar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Cantar |
|---|---|
| yo | cantaré |
| tú | cantarás |
| él / ella / usted | cantará |
| nosotros / nosotras | cantaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cantaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cantarán |
Verified context
Examples with cantar
Tom le cantó a Mary.
Tom sang to Mary.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRTomás cantó junto a María.
Tom sang with Mary.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRElla cantaba mejor que él.
She sang better than him.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Cantar FAQ
What does cantar mean?
Cantar means to sing.
Is cantar regular or irregular?
Cantar is a regular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of cantar?
The gerund of cantar is cantando.
What is the past participle of cantar?
The past participle of cantar is cantado.
How is cantar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is canto, cantas, canta, cantamos, cantan.
How is cantar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is canté, cantaste, cantó, cantamos, cantaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.