Meaning and behavior
What does contestar mean?
Contestar means to reply, retort, answer, respond. VerbyGo classifies it as a regular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- contestar
- Gerund
- contestando
- Past participle
- contestado
Regular -AR pattern
How this verb behaves
Contestar follows the regular -ar pattern in the four tenses shown here.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of contestar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Contestar |
|---|---|
| yo | contesto |
| tú | contestas |
| él / ella / usted | contesta |
| nosotros / nosotras | contestamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | contestáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | contestan |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of contestar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Contestar |
|---|---|
| yo | contesté |
| tú | contestaste |
| él / ella / usted | contestó |
| nosotros / nosotras | contestamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | contestasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | contestaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of contestar, or for background information.
| Subject | Contestar |
|---|---|
| yo | contestaba |
| tú | contestabas |
| él / ella / usted | contestaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | contestábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | contestabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | contestaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of contestar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Contestar |
|---|---|
| yo | contestaré |
| tú | contestarás |
| él / ella / usted | contestará |
| nosotros / nosotras | contestaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | contestaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | contestarán |
Verified context
Examples with contestar
¿Por qué no contesta nadie?
Why does nobody answer?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRÉl contestó de manera tosca.
He made a rude reply.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRContesta a mi pregunta con cuidado.
Answer my question carefully.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Contestar FAQ
What does contestar mean?
Contestar means to reply, retort, answer, respond.
Is contestar regular or irregular?
Contestar is a regular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of contestar?
The gerund of contestar is contestando.
What is the past participle of contestar?
The past participle of contestar is contestado.
How is contestar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is contesto, contestas, contesta, contestamos, contestan.
How is contestar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is contesté, contestaste, contestó, contestamos, contestaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.