Meaning and behavior
What does competir mean?
Competir means to compete. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -IR verb. It is non-reflexive.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- competir
- Gerund
- compitiendo
- Past participle
- competido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ir pattern in the present, preterite.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of competir for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | compito |
| tú | compites |
| él / ella / usted | compite |
| nosotros / nosotras | competimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | competís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | compiten |
Present forms
Present progressive
Use present estar with compitiendo for an action in progress now.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy compitiendo |
| tú | estás compitiendo |
| él / ella / usted | está compitiendo |
| nosotros / nosotras | estamos compitiendo |
| vosotros / vosotras | estáis compitiendo |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | están compitiendo |
Present forms
Present perfect continuous
Use present haber, estado and compitiendo to emphasize an activity continuing into the present.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | he estado compitiendo |
| tú | has estado compitiendo |
| él / ella / usted | ha estado compitiendo |
| nosotros / nosotras | hemos estado compitiendo |
| vosotros / vosotras | habéis estado compitiendo |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | han estado compitiendo |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of competir is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | competí |
| tú | competiste |
| él / ella / usted | compitió |
| nosotros / nosotras | competimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | competisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | compitieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of competir, or for background information.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | competía |
| tú | competías |
| él / ella / usted | competía |
| nosotros / nosotras | competíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | competíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | competían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of competir for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | competiré |
| tú | competirás |
| él / ella / usted | competirá |
| nosotros / nosotras | competiremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | competiréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | competirán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | compita |
| tú | compitas |
| él / ella / usted | compita |
| nosotros / nosotras | compitamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | compitáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | compitan |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| yo | compitieraAlso accepted: compitiese |
| tú | compitierasAlso accepted: compitieses |
| él / ella / usted | compitieraAlso accepted: compitiese |
| nosotros / nosotras | compitiéramosAlso accepted: compitiésemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | compitieraisAlso accepted: compitieseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | compitieranAlso accepted: compitiesen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of competir that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| tú | compite |
| usted | compita |
| nosotros / nosotras | compitamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | competid |
| ustedes | compitan |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of competir.
| Subject | Competir |
|---|---|
| tú | no compitas |
| usted | no compita |
| nosotros / nosotras | no compitamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no compitáis |
| ustedes | no compitan |
Verified context
Examples with competir
Diez equipos compitieron por el premio.
Ten teams competed for the prize.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FREn esa carrera sólo compitieron cuatro caballos.
Only four horses competed in the race.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRTom compite en carreras de esquí.
Tom competes in ski races.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Competir FAQ
What does competir mean?
Competir means to compete.
Is competir regular or irregular?
Competir is a irregular -IR verb.
What is the gerund of competir?
The gerund of competir is compitiendo.
What is the past participle of competir?
The past participle of competir is competido.
How is competir conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is compito, compites, compite, competimos, compiten.
How is competir conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is competí, competiste, compitió, competimos, compitieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.