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How to conjugate Contraer in Spanish

contraer to contract Irregular Verb

At a glance: Contraer (to contract) is a irregular verb in Spanish. In the present tense: contraigo, contraes, contrae, contraemos, contraéis, contraen. Yo adds ig (contraigo); the other forms are regular. It is also irregular in the preterite (contraje), subjunctive, gerund (contrayendo) and past participle (contraído).

Past participle
contraído contracted
Gerund
contrayendo contracting
Similar
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Indicative tenses of Contraer

Contraer in the Indicative Present

The Indicative Present of contraer is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, “contraigo”, meaning “I contract”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontraigoI contract
Túcontraesyou contract
Ella / Él / Ustedcontraes/he contracts
Nosotras / Nosotroscontraemoswe contract
Vosotras / Vosotroscontraéisyou (plural) contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontraenthey contract

How it’s built: Yo adds ig (contraigo); the other forms are regular.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Indicative Preterite

The Indicative Preterite of contraer is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, “contraje”, meaning “I contracted”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontrajeI contracted
Túcontrajisteyou contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedcontrajos/he contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroscontrajimoswe contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroscontrajisteisyou (plural) contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontrajeronthey contracted

How it’s built: Irregular stem contraj- plus the endings -e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -ieron; ellas/ellos drops the i (contrajeron).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Indicative Imperfect

The Indicative Imperfect of contraer is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, “contraía”, meaning “I used to contract”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontraíaI used to contract
Túcontraíasyou used to contract
Ella / Él / Ustedcontraías/he used to contract
Nosotras / Nosotroscontraíamoswe used to contract
Vosotras / Vosotroscontraíaisyou (plural) used to contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontraíanthey used to contract

How it’s built: Regular: stem contra- plus the -er endings.

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Contraer in the Indicative Present Continuous

The Indicative Present Continuous of contraer is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, “estoy contrayendo”, meaning “I am contracting”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yoestoy contrayendoI am contracting
Túestás contrayendoyou are contracting
Ella / Él / Ustedestá contrayendos/he is contracting
Nosotras / Nosotrosestamos contrayendowe are contracting
Vosotras / Vosotrosestáis contrayendoyou (plural) are contracting
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesestán contrayendothey are contracting

How it’s built: Estar in the present (estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están) plus the irregular gerund contrayendo.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Indicative Informal Future

The Indicative Informal Future of contraer is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, “voy a contraer”, meaning “I am going to contract”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yovoy a contraerI am going to contract
Túvas a contraeryou are going to contract
Ella / Él / Ustedva a contraers/he is going to contract
Nosotras / Nosotrosvamos a contraerwe are going to contract
Vosotras / Vosotrosvais a contraeryou (plural) are going to contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvan a contraerthey are going to contract

How it’s built: Ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van), then a, then the infinitive contraer.

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Contraer in the Indicative Future

The Indicative Future of contraer is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, “contraeré”, meaning “I will contract”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontraeréI will contract
Túcontraerásyou will contract
Ella / Él / Ustedcontraerás/he will contract
Nosotras / Nosotroscontraeremoswe will contract
Vosotras / Vosotroscontraeréisyou (plural) will contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontraeránthey will contract

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive contraer plus the future endings.

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Contraer in the Indicative Conditional

The Indicative Conditional of contraer is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, “contraería”, meaning “I would contract”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontraeríaI would contract
Túcontraeríasyou would contract
Ella / Él / Ustedcontraerías/he would contract
Nosotras / Nosotroscontraeríamoswe would contract
Vosotras / Vosotroscontraeríaisyou (plural) would contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontraeríanthey would contract

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive contraer plus the conditional endings.

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Contraer in the Indicative Present Perfect

The Indicative Present Perfect of contraer is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, “he contraído”, meaning “I have contracted”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohe contraídoI have contracted
Túhas contraídoyou have contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedha contraídos/he has contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshemos contraídowe have contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshabéis contraídoyou (plural) have contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshan contraídothey have contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the present (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Indicative Past Perfect

The Indicative Past Perfect of contraer is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, “había contraído”, meaning “I had contracted”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabía contraídoI had contracted
Túhabías contraídoyou had contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedhabía contraídos/he had contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshabíamos contraídowe had contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshabíais contraídoyou (plural) had contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabían contraídothey had contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the imperfect (había, habías, había, habíamos, habíais, habían) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Indicative Future Perfect

The Indicative Future Perfect of contraer is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, “habré contraído”, meaning “I will have contracted”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabré contraídoI will have contracted
Túhabrás contraídoyou will have contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedhabrá contraídos/he will have contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshabremos contraídowe will have contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshabréis contraídoyou (plural) will have contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrán contraídothey will have contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the future (habré, habrás, habrá, habremos, habréis, habrán) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Indicative Conditional Perfect

The Indicative Conditional Perfect of contraer is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, “habría contraído”, meaning “I would have contracted”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabría contraídoI would have contracted
Túhabrías contraídoyou would have contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedhabría contraídos/he would have contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshabríamos contraídowe would have contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshabríais contraídoyou (plural) would have contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrían contraídothey would have contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the conditional (habría, habrías, habría, habríamos, habríais, habrían) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Subjunctive tenses of Contraer

Contraer in the Subjunctive Present

The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, “contraiga”, meaning “I contract”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontraigaI contract
Túcontraigasyou contract
Ella / Él / Ustedcontraigas/he contracts
Nosotras / Nosotroscontraigamoswe contract
Vosotras / Vosotroscontraigáisyou (plural) contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontraiganthey contract

How it’s built: Every form follows the yo present, contraigo (contraiga, contraigas, contraiga, contraigamos, contraigáis, contraigan).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Subjunctive Imperfect

The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, “contrajera”, meaning “I contracted”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontrajeraI contracted
Túcontrajerasyou contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedcontrajeras/he contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroscontrajéramoswe contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroscontrajeraisyou (plural) contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontrajeranthey contracted

How it’s built: Built on the irregular ellas/ellos preterite, contrajeron: drop -ron and add the -ra endings; nosotros adds an accent (contrajéramos).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Subjunctive Future

The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, “contrajere”, meaning “I will contract”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YocontrajereI will contract
Túcontrajeresyou will contract
Ella / Él / Ustedcontrajeres/he will contract
Nosotras / Nosotroscontrajéremoswe will contract
Vosotras / Vosotroscontrajereisyou (plural) will contract
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontrajerenthey will contract

How it’s built: Built on the irregular ellas/ellos preterite, contrajeron: drop -ron and add the -re endings; nosotros adds an accent (contrajéremos).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Subjunctive Present Perfect

The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, “haya contraído”, meaning “I have contracted”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohaya contraídoI have contracted
Túhayas contraídoyou have contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedhaya contraídos/he has contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshayamos contraídowe have contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshayáis contraídoyou (plural) have contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshayan contraídothey have contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive present (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Subjunctive Past Perfect

The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, “hubiera contraído”, meaning “I had contracted”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiera contraídoI had contracted
Túhubieras contraídoyou had contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiera contraídos/he had contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéramos contraídowe had contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshubierais contraídoyou (plural) had contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieran contraídothey had contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive imperfect (hubiera, hubieras, hubiera, hubiéramos, hubierais, hubieran) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Subjunctive Future Perfect

The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, “hubiere contraído”, meaning “I will have contracted”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiere contraídoI will have contracted
Túhubieres contraídoyou will have contracted
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiere contraídos/he will have contracted
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéremos contraídowe will have contracted
Vosotras / Vosotroshubiereis contraídoyou (plural) will have contracted
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieren contraídothey will have contracted

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive future (hubiere, hubieres, hubiere, hubiéremos, hubiereis, hubieren) plus the irregular past participle contraído.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Imperative tenses of Contraer

Contraer in the Imperative Affirmative

The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, “contraiga”, meaning “(to you formal) contract!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túcontrae(to you) contract!
Ella / Él / Ustedcontraiga(to you formal) contract!
Nosotras / Nosotroscontraigamoslet's contract!
Vosotras / Vosotroscontraed(to you plural) contract!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedescontraigan(to you plural formal) contract!

How it’s built: Tú takes the ella/él present (contrae); usted, nosotros and ustedes take the subjunctive present (contraiga, contraigamos, contraigan); vosotros swaps the final r of the infinitive for a d (contraed).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Contraer in the Imperative Negative

The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, “no contraiga”, meaning “(to you formal) don't contract!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túno contraigas(to you) don't contract!
Ella / Él / Ustedno contraiga(to you formal) don't contract!
Nosotras / Nosotrosno contraigamoslet's not contract!
Vosotras / Vosotrosno contraigáis(to you plural) don't contract!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesno contraigan(to you plural formal) don't contract!

How it’s built: No plus the subjunctive present: no contraigas, no contraiga, no contraigamos, no contraigáis, no contraigan.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Frequently asked questions about Contraer

Is contraer a regular or irregular verb?

Contraer is an irregular Spanish verb. In the present tense: yo adds ig (contraigo); the other forms are regular. It is also irregular in the preterite (contraje), subjunctive, gerund (contrayendo) and past participle (contraído).

How do you conjugate contraer in the present tense (presente)?

In the present tense (presente), contraer is conjugated as: yo contraigo, tú contraes, él/ella/usted contrae, nosotros contraemos, vosotros contraéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes contraen. The present tense is used To talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths.

How do you conjugate contraer in the preterite (pretérito indefinido)?

In the preterite (pretérito indefinido), contraer is conjugated as: yo contraje, tú contrajiste, él/ella/usted contrajo, nosotros contrajimos, vosotros contrajisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes contrajeron. The preterite is used To talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time.

How do you conjugate contraer in the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)?

In the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto), contraer is conjugated as: yo contraía, tú contraías, él/ella/usted contraía, nosotros contraíamos, vosotros contraíais, ellos/ellas/ustedes contraían. The imperfect is used To describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do.

How do you conjugate contraer in the future tense (futuro simple)?

In the future tense (futuro simple), contraer is conjugated as: yo contraeré, tú contraerás, él/ella/usted contraerá, nosotros contraeremos, vosotros contraeréis, ellos/ellas/ustedes contraerán. The future tense is used To talk about something that will happen in the future.

How do you conjugate contraer in the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente)?

In the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente), contraer is conjugated as: yo contraiga, tú contraigas, él/ella/usted contraiga, nosotros contraigamos, vosotros contraigáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes contraigan. The present subjunctive is used To talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about.


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