Ella Verbstocar to play (an instrument), to touch, to be (someone's) turn Irregular Verb Top 100
At a glance: Tocar (to play (an instrument), to touch, to be (someone's) turn) is one of the most common irregular verbs in Spanish. In the present tense: toco, tocas, toca, tocamos, tocåis, tocan. The present tense is regular. In the preterite: yo changes c to qu (toqué); the other forms are regular. It is also irregular in the present subjunctive (toque).

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The Indicative Present of tocar 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, âtoco la guitarraâ, meaning âI play the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | toco | I play |
| TĂș | tocas | you play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | toca | s/he plays |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocamos | we play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocĂĄis | you (plural) play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocan | they play |
How itâs built: Regular: stem toc- plus the -ar endings.
The Indicative Preterite of tocar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, âtoquĂ© la guitarraâ, meaning âI played the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | toqué | I played |
| TĂș | tocaste | you played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | tocĂł | s/he played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocamos | we played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocasteis | you (plural) played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocaron | they played |
How itâs built: Yo changes c to qu (toquĂ©); the other forms are regular.
Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.
The Indicative Imperfect of tocar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, âtocaba la guitarraâ, meaning âI used to play the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tocaba | I used to play |
| TĂș | tocabas | you used to play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | tocaba | s/he used to play |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocĂĄbamos | we used to play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocabais | you (plural) used to play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocaban | they used to play |
How itâs built: Regular: stem toc- plus the -ar endings.
The Indicative Present Continuous of tocar is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, âestoy tocando la guitarraâ, meaning âI am playing the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy tocando | I am playing |
| TĂș | estĂĄs tocando | you are playing |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | estĂĄ tocando | s/he is playing |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | estamos tocando | we are playing |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | estĂĄis tocando | you (plural) are playing |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | estĂĄn tocando | they are playing |
How itâs built: Estar in the present (estoy, estĂĄs, estĂĄ, estamos, estĂĄis, estĂĄn) plus the gerund tocando.
The Indicative Informal Future of tocar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, âvoy a tocar la guitarraâ, meaning âI am going to play the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro PrĂłximo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy a tocar | I am going to play |
| TĂș | vas a tocar | you are going to play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | va a tocar | s/he is going to play |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | vamos a tocar | we are going to play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | vais a tocar | you (plural) are going to play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | van a tocar | they are going to play |
How itâs built: Ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van), then a, then the infinitive tocar.
The Indicative Future of tocar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, âtocarĂ© la guitarraâ, meaning âI will play the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tocaré | I will play |
| TĂș | tocarĂĄs | you will play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | tocarĂĄ | s/he will play |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocaremos | we will play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocaréis | you (plural) will play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocarĂĄn | they will play |
How itâs built: Regular: the infinitive tocar plus the future endings.
The Indicative Conditional of tocar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, âtocarĂa la guitarraâ, meaning âI would play the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tocarĂa | I would play |
| TĂș | tocarĂas | you would play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | tocarĂa | s/he would play |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocarĂamos | we would play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocarĂais | you (plural) would play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocarĂan | they would play |
How itâs built: Regular: the infinitive tocar plus the conditional endings.
The Indicative Present Perfect of tocar 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, âhe tocado la guitarraâ, meaning âI have played the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | he tocado | I have played |
| TĂș | has tocado | you have played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | ha tocado | s/he has played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hemos tocado | we have played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habéis tocado | you (plural) have played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | han tocado | they have played |
How itâs built: Haber in the present (he, has, ha, hemos, habĂ©is, han) plus the past participle tocado.
The Indicative Past Perfect of tocar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, âhabĂa tocado la guitarraâ, meaning âI had played the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habĂa tocado | I had played |
| TĂș | habĂas tocado | you had played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | habĂa tocado | s/he had played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habĂamos tocado | we had played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habĂais tocado | you (plural) had played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habĂan tocado | they had played |
How itâs built: Haber in the imperfect (habĂa, habĂas, habĂa, habĂamos, habĂais, habĂan) plus the past participle tocado.
The Indicative Future Perfect of tocar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, âhabrĂ© tocado la guitarraâ, meaning âI will have played the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habré tocado | I will have played |
| TĂș | habrĂĄs tocado | you will have played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | habrĂĄ tocado | s/he will have played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habremos tocado | we will have played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habréis tocado | you (plural) will have played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrĂĄn tocado | they will have played |
How itâs built: Haber in the future (habrĂ©, habrĂĄs, habrĂĄ, habremos, habrĂ©is, habrĂĄn) plus the past participle tocado.
The Indicative Conditional Perfect of tocar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didnât due to another action. For example, âhabrĂa tocado la guitarraâ, meaning âI would have played the guitarâ.
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habrĂa tocado | I would have played |
| TĂș | habrĂas tocado | you would have played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | habrĂa tocado | s/he would have played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habrĂamos tocado | we would have played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habrĂais tocado | you (plural) would have played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrĂan tocado | they would have played |
How itâs built: Haber in the conditional (habrĂa, habrĂas, habrĂa, habrĂamos, habrĂais, habrĂan) plus the past participle tocado.
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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, âtoqueâ, meaning âI playâ.
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | toque | I play |
| TĂș | toques | you play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | toque | s/he plays |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | toquemos | we play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | toquéis | you (plural) play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | toquen | they play |
How itâs built: Every form changes c to qu (toque, toques, toque, toquemos, toquĂ©is, toquen).
Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.
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, âtocaraâ, meaning âI playedâ.
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tocara | I played |
| TĂș | tocaras | you played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | tocara | s/he played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocĂĄramos | we played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocarais | you (plural) played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocaran | they played |
How itâs built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, tocaron, without -ron, plus the -ra endings; nosotros adds an accent (tocĂĄramos).
The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, âtocareâ, meaning âI will playâ.
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tocare | I will play |
| TĂș | tocares | you will play |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | tocare | s/he will play |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | tocĂĄremos | we will play |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocareis | you (plural) will play |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tocaren | they will play |
How itâs built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, tocaron, without -ron, plus the -re endings; nosotros adds an accent (tocĂĄremos).
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, âhaya tocadoâ, meaning âI have playedâ.
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | haya tocado | I have played |
| TĂș | hayas tocado | you have played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | haya tocado | s/he has played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hayamos tocado | we have played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hayĂĄis tocado | you (plural) have played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hayan tocado | they have played |
How itâs built: Haber in the subjunctive present (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayĂĄis, hayan) plus the past participle tocado.
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, âhubiera tocadoâ, meaning âI had playedâ.
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera tocado | I had played |
| TĂș | hubieras tocado | you had played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | hubiera tocado | s/he had played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéramos tocado | we had played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubierais tocado | you (plural) had played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieran tocado | they had played |
How itâs built: Haber in the subjunctive imperfect (hubiera, hubieras, hubiera, hubiĂ©ramos, hubierais, hubieran) plus the past participle tocado.
The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, âhubiere tocadoâ, meaning âI will have playedâ.
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere tocado | I will have played |
| TĂș | hubieres tocado | you will have played |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | hubiere tocado | s/he will have played |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéremos tocado | we will have played |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubiereis tocado | you (plural) will have played |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieren tocado | they will have played |
How itâs built: Haber in the subjunctive future (hubiere, hubieres, hubiere, hubiĂ©remos, hubiereis, hubieren) plus the past participle tocado.
The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, âtoqueâ, meaning â(to you formal) play!â.
In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| TĂș | toca | (to you) play! |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | toque | (to you formal) play! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | toquemos | let's play! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | tocad | (to you plural) play! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | toquen | (to you plural formal) play! |
How itâs built: TĂș takes the ella/Ă©l present (toca); usted, nosotros and ustedes take the subjunctive present (toque, toquemos, toquen); vosotros swaps the final r of the infinitive for a d (tocad).
Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.
The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, âno toqueâ, meaning â(to you formal) don't play!â.
In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| TĂș | no toques | (to you) don't play! |
| Ella / Ăl / Usted | no toque | (to you formal) don't play! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | no toquemos | let's not play! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | no toquéis | (to you plural) don't play! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | no toquen | (to you plural formal) don't play! |
How itâs built: No plus the subjunctive present: no toques, no toque, no toquemos, no toquĂ©is, no toquen.
Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.
Tocar is an irregular Spanish verb. The present tense is regular. In the preterite: yo changes c to qu (toqué); the other forms are regular. It is also irregular in the present subjunctive (toque).
In the present tense (presente), tocar is conjugated as: yo toco, tĂș tocas, Ă©l/ella/usted toca, nosotros tocamos, vosotros tocĂĄis, ellos/ellas/ustedes tocan. 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.
In the preterite (pretĂ©rito indefinido), tocar is conjugated as: yo toquĂ©, tĂș tocaste, Ă©l/ella/usted tocĂł, nosotros tocamos, vosotros tocasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes tocaron. The preterite is used To talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time.
In the imperfect (pretĂ©rito imperfecto), tocar is conjugated as: yo tocaba, tĂș tocabas, Ă©l/ella/usted tocaba, nosotros tocĂĄbamos, vosotros tocabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes tocaban. The imperfect is used To describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do.
In the future tense (futuro simple), tocar is conjugated as: yo tocarĂ©, tĂș tocarĂĄs, Ă©l/ella/usted tocarĂĄ, nosotros tocaremos, vosotros tocarĂ©is, ellos/ellas/ustedes tocarĂĄn. The future tense is used To talk about something that will happen in the future.
In the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente), tocar is conjugated as: yo toque, tĂș toques, Ă©l/ella/usted toque, nosotros toquemos, vosotros toquĂ©is, ellos/ellas/ustedes toquen. 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.
Tocar means âto play (an instrument), to touch, to be (someone's) turnâ and tocarse means âto touch (oneself)â. Tocarse is the reflexive form of tocar, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun â me, te, se, nos, os or se â that matches the subject. The verb itself is conjugated the same way: in the present tense, yo toco becomes me toco. In the affirmative tĂș imperative the pronoun attaches to the end of the verb, so toca becomes tĂłcate.
Here are everyday sentences using tocar: Ăl toca el piano muy bien. (He plays the piano very well.)
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