Meaning and behavior
What does carecer mean?
Carecer means to lack, to be lacking. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -ER verb. It is non-reflexive.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- carecer
- Gerund
- careciendo
- Past participle
- carecido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -er pattern in the present.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of carecer for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Carecer |
|---|---|
| yo | carezco |
| tú | careces |
| él / ella / usted | carece |
| nosotros / nosotras | carecemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | carecéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | carecen |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of carecer is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Carecer |
|---|---|
| yo | carecí |
| tú | careciste |
| él / ella / usted | careció |
| nosotros / nosotras | carecimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | carecisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | carecieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of carecer, or for background information.
| Subject | Carecer |
|---|---|
| yo | carecía |
| tú | carecías |
| él / ella / usted | carecía |
| nosotros / nosotras | carecíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | carecíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | carecían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of carecer for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Carecer |
|---|---|
| yo | careceré |
| tú | carecerás |
| él / ella / usted | carecerá |
| nosotros / nosotras | careceremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | careceréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | carecerán |
Verified context
Examples with carecer
Tomás carece de sentido común.
Tom lacks common sense.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRLa Luna carece de atmósfera.
The moon has no atmosphere.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRMuchos carecían de experiencia política.
Many lacked political experience.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Carecer FAQ
What does carecer mean?
Carecer means to lack, to be lacking.
Is carecer regular or irregular?
Carecer is a irregular -ER verb.
What is the gerund of carecer?
The gerund of carecer is careciendo.
What is the past participle of carecer?
The past participle of carecer is carecido.
How is carecer conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is carezco, careces, carece, carecemos, carecen.
How is carecer conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is carecí, careciste, careció, carecimos, carecieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.