Non-finite forms
Infinitivo and Gerundio
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitivo | contratar | Dictionary form and base form for many compound structures. |
| Gerundio | contratando | Used with estar for progressive forms, for example estar contratando. |
Spanish verb conjugation
Contratar conjugation
contratar is a regular Spanish -AR verb meaning hire / contract. In the present tense: yo contrato, tú contratas, él/ella contrata, nosotros contratamos, vosotros contratáis, ellos contratan. Full conjugation across 18 tenses below.
Rank #307-ARRegular18 tense tables
At a glance
- Infinitive
- contratar
- Gerundio
- contratando
- Meaning
- hire / contract
- Pattern
- Regular
- Difficulty
- Level 1
Conjugation tables
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Contratar across the MuyVerbs tense system
Study present continuous
Presente
Present
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contrato | Yo contrato a personas con experiencia.I hire people with experience. |
| tú | contratas | Tú contratas a alguien de confianza.You hire someone trustworthy. |
| él | contrata | Él contrata un servicio privado.He contracts a private service. |
| nosotros | contratamos | Nosotros contratamos nuevos empleados cada año.We hire new employees every year. |
| vosotros | contratáis | Vosotros contratáis técnicos especializados.You hire specialized technicians. |
| ellos | contratan | Ellos contratan a gente muy preparada.They hire very qualified people. |
Pretérito Perfecto
Present Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | he contratado | Yo he contratado a personas con experiencia este mes.I have hired people with experience this month. |
| tú | has contratado | Tú has contratado a alguien de confianza ya.You have hired someone trustworthy already. |
| él | ha contratado | Él ha contratado un servicio privado.He has contracted a private service. |
| nosotros | hemos contratado | Nosotros hemos contratado nuevos empleados.We have hired new employees. |
| vosotros | habéis contratado | Vosotros habéis contratado técnicos especializados.You have hired specialized technicians. |
| ellos | han contratado | Ellos han contratado a gente preparada.They have hired qualified people. |
Pretérito Indefinido
Preterite
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contraté | Ayer yo contraté a una persona con experiencia.Yesterday I hired a person with experience. |
| tú | contrataste | Tú contrataste a alguien de confianza.You hired someone trustworthy. |
| él | contrató | Él contrató un servicio privado.He contracted a private service. |
| nosotros | contratamos | Nosotros contratamos nuevos empleados este año.We hired new employees this year. |
| vosotros | contratasteis | Vosotros contratasteis técnicos especializados.You hired specialized technicians. |
| ellos | contrataron | Ellos contrataron a gente muy preparada.They hired very qualified people. |
Pretérito Imperfecto
Imperfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contrataba | Yo contrataba a personas con experiencia siempre.I used to hire people with experience always. |
| tú | contratabas | Tú contratabas a alguien de confianza cada verano.You used to hire someone trustworthy every summer. |
| él | contrataba | Él contrataba servicios privados a menudo.He used to contract private services often. |
| nosotros | contratábamos | Nosotros contratábamos nuevos empleados cada año.We used to hire new employees every year. |
| vosotros | contratabais | Vosotros contratabais técnicos especializados.You used to hire specialized technicians. |
| ellos | contrataban | Ellos contrataban a gente muy preparada.They used to hire very qualified people. |
Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
Past Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | había contratado | Yo había contratado a alguien antes.I had hired someone before. |
| tú | habías contratado | Tú habías contratado a una persona de confianza ya.You had hired a trustworthy person already. |
| él | había contratado | Él había contratado un servicio previamente.He had contracted a service previously. |
| nosotros | habíamos contratado | Nosotros habíamos contratado nuevos empleados antes.We had hired new employees before. |
| vosotros | habíais contratado | Vosotros habíais contratado técnicos esa mañana.You had hired technicians that morning. |
| ellos | habían contratado | Ellos habían contratado a gente preparada antes.They had hired qualified people before. |
Pretérito Anterior
Preterite Anterior
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hube contratado | Cuando yo hube contratado a esa persona, empezó a trabajar.When I had hired that person, they started working. |
| tú | hubiste contratado | En cuanto tú hubiste contratado a alguien de confianza, descansaste.As soon as you had hired someone trustworthy, you relaxed. |
| él | hubo contratado | Después de que él hubo contratado el servicio, llamó.After he had contracted the service, he called. |
| nosotros | hubimos contratado | Apenas nosotros hubimos contratado nuevos empleados, creció la empresa.As soon as we had hired new employees, the company grew. |
| vosotros | hubisteis contratado | Una vez que vosotros hubisteis contratado técnicos, avanzó el trabajo.Once you had hired technicians, the work progressed. |
| ellos | hubieron contratado | Cuando ellos hubieron contratado a esa gente, mejoró todo.When they had hired those people, everything improved. |
Futuro
Future
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contrataré | Yo contrataré a una persona con experiencia mañana.I will hire a person with experience tomorrow. |
| tú | contratarás | Tú contratarás a alguien de confianza.You will hire someone trustworthy. |
| él | contratará | Él contratará un servicio privado.He will contract a private service. |
| nosotros | contrataremos | Nosotros contrataremos nuevos empleados.We will hire new employees. |
| vosotros | contrataréis | Vosotros contrataréis técnicos especializados.You will hire specialized technicians. |
| ellos | contratarán | Ellos contratarán a gente preparada.They will hire qualified people. |
Futuro Perfecto
Future Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | habré contratado | Para entonces yo habré contratado a una persona clave.By then I will have hired a key person. |
| tú | habrás contratado | Tú habrás contratado a alguien de confianza ya.You will have hired someone trustworthy already. |
| él | habrá contratado | Él habrá contratado un servicio para esa hora.He will have contracted a service by that time. |
| nosotros | habremos contratado | Nosotros habremos contratado nuevos empleados antes.We will have hired new employees beforehand. |
| vosotros | habréis contratado | Vosotros habréis contratado técnicos ya.You will have hired technicians already. |
| ellos | habrán contratado | Ellos habrán contratado a gente preparada para entonces.They will have hired qualified people by then. |
Condicional
Conditional
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contrataría | Yo contrataría a una persona con más experiencia.I would hire a person with more experience. |
| tú | contratarías | Tú contratarías a alguien de confianza.You would hire someone trustworthy. |
| él | contrataría | Él contrataría un servicio mejor.He would contract a better service. |
| nosotros | contrataríamos | Nosotros contrataríamos nuevos empleados si creciera el negocio.We would hire new employees if the business grew. |
| vosotros | contrataríais | Vosotros contrataríais técnicos mejores.You would hire better technicians. |
| ellos | contratarían | Ellos contratarían a gente preparada.They would hire qualified people. |
Condicional Perfecto
Conditional Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | habría contratado | Yo habría contratado a una persona con más experiencia.I would have hired a person with more experience. |
| tú | habrías contratado | Tú habrías contratado a alguien de confianza.You would have hired someone trustworthy. |
| él | habría contratado | Él habría contratado un servicio mejor.He would have contracted a better service. |
| nosotros | habríamos contratado | Nosotros habríamos contratado nuevos empleados si hubiera crecido el negocio.We would have hired new employees if the business had grown. |
| vosotros | habríais contratado | Vosotros habríais contratado técnicos mejores.You would have hired better technicians. |
| ellos | habrían contratado | Ellos habrían contratado a gente preparada.They would have hired qualified people. |
Subjuntivo Presente
Present Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contrate | Es bueno que yo contrate a alguien capaz.It is good that I hire someone capable. |
| tú | contrates | Quiero que tú contrates a alguien de confianza.I want you to hire someone trustworthy. |
| él | contrate | Es importante que él contrate un servicio serio.It is important that he contract a serious service. |
| nosotros | contratemos | Deseo que nosotros contratemos nuevos empleados.I wish that we hire new employees. |
| vosotros | contratéis | Es mejor que vosotros contratéis técnicos expertos.It is better that you hire expert technicians. |
| ellos | contraten | Temo que ellos no contraten a nadie preparado.I fear that they may not hire anyone qualified. |
Subjuntivo Pretérito Perfecto
Present Perfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | haya contratado | Dudo que yo haya contratado a la persona correcta.I doubt that I have hired the right person. |
| tú | hayas contratado | No creo que tú hayas contratado a alguien de confianza todavía.I do not think that you have hired someone trustworthy yet. |
| él | haya contratado | Es posible que él haya contratado un buen servicio.It is possible that he has contracted a good service. |
| nosotros | hayamos contratado | Es probable que nosotros hayamos contratado nuevos empleados.It is likely that we have hired new employees. |
| vosotros | hayáis contratado | No parece que vosotros hayáis contratado técnicos aún.It does not seem that you have hired technicians yet. |
| ellos | hayan contratado | Puede que ellos hayan contratado a gente preparada.They may have hired qualified people. |
Subjuntivo Pretérito Imperfecto
Imperfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contratara | Si yo contratara a esa persona, todo mejoraría.If I hired that person, everything would improve. |
| tú | contrataras | Si tú contrataras a alguien de confianza, dormirías tranquilo.If you hired someone trustworthy, you would sleep peacefully. |
| él | contratara | Si él contratara un servicio mejor, habría calidad.If he contracted a better service, there would be quality. |
| nosotros | contratáramos | Si nosotros contratáramos nuevos empleados, creceríamos más.If we hired new employees, we would grow more. |
| vosotros | contratarais | Si vosotros contratarais técnicos expertos, acabaríais antes.If you hired expert technicians, you would finish earlier. |
| ellos | contrataran | Si ellos contrataran a gente preparada, ganaría la empresa.If they hired qualified people, the company would win. |
Subjuntivo Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
Past Perfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiera contratado | Si yo hubiera contratado a esa persona, todo habría mejorado.If I had hired that person, everything would have improved. |
| tú | hubieras contratado | Si tú hubieras contratado a alguien de confianza, habrías dormido tranquilo.If you had hired someone trustworthy, you would have slept peacefully. |
| él | hubiera contratado | Si él hubiera contratado un servicio mejor, habría habido calidad.If he had contracted a better service, there would have been quality. |
| nosotros | hubiéramos contratado | Si nosotros hubiéramos contratado nuevos empleados, habríamos crecido más.If we had hired new employees, we would have grown more. |
| vosotros | hubierais contratado | Si vosotros hubierais contratado técnicos expertos, habríais acabado antes.If you had hired expert technicians, you would have finished earlier. |
| ellos | hubieran contratado | Si ellos hubieran contratado a gente preparada, habría ganado la empresa.If they had hired qualified people, the company would have won. |
Subjuntivo Futuro
Future Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | contratare | Si algún día yo contratare a esa persona, te avisaré.If someday I should hire that person, I will let you know. |
| tú | contratares | Si tú contratares a alguien de confianza, habrá paz.If you should hire someone trustworthy, there will be peace. |
| él | contratare | Si él contratare un servicio serio, mejorará todo.If he should contract a serious service, everything will improve. |
| nosotros | contratáremos | Si nosotros contratáremos nuevos empleados, creceremos.If we should hire new employees, we will grow. |
| vosotros | contratareis | Si vosotros contratareis técnicos expertos, avanzaréis rápido.If you should hire expert technicians, you will move forward quickly. |
| ellos | contrataren | Si ellos contrataren a gente preparada, ganarán tiempo.If they should hire qualified people, they will gain time. |
Subjuntivo Futuro Perfecto
Future Perfect Subjunctive
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiere contratado | Cuando yo hubiere contratado a esa persona, te escribiré.When I shall have hired that person, I will write to you. |
| tú | hubieres contratado | Cuando tú hubieres contratado a alguien de confianza, descansarás.When you shall have hired someone trustworthy, you will rest. |
| él | hubiere contratado | Cuando él hubiere contratado un servicio serio, lo notará.When he shall have contracted a serious service, he will notice it. |
| nosotros | hubiéremos contratado | Cuando nosotros hubiéremos contratado nuevos empleados, seguiremos.When we shall have hired new employees, we will continue. |
| vosotros | hubiereis contratado | Cuando vosotros hubiereis contratado técnicos expertos, acabaréis.When you shall have hired expert technicians, you will finish. |
| ellos | hubieren contratado | Cuando ellos hubieren contratado a gente preparada, cambiará la empresa.When they shall have hired qualified people, the company will change. |
Imperativo Afirmativo
Affirmative Imperative
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | - | — |
| tú | contrata | Tú, contrata a alguien capaz.You, hire someone capable. |
| él | contrate | Que él contrate un servicio serio.Let him contract a serious service. |
| nosotros | contratemos | contratemos nuevos empleados hoy.Let us hire new employees today. |
| vosotros | contratad | Vosotros, contratad técnicos expertos.You, hire expert technicians. |
| ellos | contraten | Que ellos contraten a gente preparada.Let them hire qualified people. |
Imperativo Negativo
Negative Imperative
| Pronoun | Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| yo | - | — |
| tú | no contrates | No no contrates a cualquiera.Do not hire just anyone. |
| él | no contrate | Que él no no contrate un servicio dudoso.Let him not contract a dubious service. |
| nosotros | no contratemos | No no contratemos personal sin revisar.Let us not hire staff without checking them. |
| vosotros | no contratéis | No no contratéis técnicos sin experiencia.Do not hire inexperienced technicians. |
| ellos | no contraten | Que ellos no no contraten a gente irresponsable.Let them not hire irresponsible people. |
Free web drill
Practice contratar
1 / 1
Presente•yo
Yo ___ a personas con experiencia.
I hire people with experience.
Need grammar help?How to form Presente
Use Presente for facts, habits, current states, and regular actions.
Formation
- 1Remove the infinitive ending: -ar, -er, or -ir.
- 2Add the present endings for the subject.
- 3Watch high-frequency irregulars like ser, estar, ir, tener, hacer, and decir.
Pattern
-ar: o, as, a, amos, áis, an-er: o, es, e, emos, éis, en-ir: o, es, e, imos, ís, en
Examples
hablar -> yo hablocomer -> él comevivir -> vosotros vivís
Presente is the base system. Master the endings first, then handle irregular yo forms and stem changes.
Grammar to master with contratar
Related Spanish grammar topics
Concepts that come up every time you conjugate contratar. Each is a short, focused guide.
Common questions
Contratar conjugation — frequently asked
Short, direct answers to what learners search most about contratar.
- What does 'contratar' mean in English?
- In Spanish, 'contratar' means to hire / contract. It is a regular -AR verb used across all 18 standard Spanish tenses.
- Is contratar an irregular verb in Spanish?
- Contratar is a regular -AR verb. Its endings follow the standard pattern in every tense without stem or root changes.
- How do you conjugate contratar in the present tense?
- Present tense (Presente) of contratar: yo contrato, tú contratas, él/ella/usted contrata, nosotros contratamos, vosotros contratáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes contratan.
- How do you conjugate contratar in the preterite?
- Preterite (Pretérito Indefinido) of contratar: yo contraté, tú contrataste, él/ella/usted contrató, nosotros contratamos, vosotros contratasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes contrataron. This tense expresses completed past actions at a defined point in time.
- What is the imperfect tense of contratar?
- Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfecto) of contratar: yo contrataba, tú contratabas, él/ella/usted contrataba, nosotros contratábamos, vosotros contratabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes contrataban. The imperfect describes past habits, ongoing actions, and background states.
- What is the past participle of contratar?
- The past participle of contratar is 'contratado'. It is used to form compound tenses with the auxiliary verb haber — for example, 'he contratado' (I have hire / contracted), 'has contratado', 'ha contratado'.
- What is the gerundio (present participle) of contratar?
- The gerundio of contratar is 'contratando'. It pairs with estar to form the present continuous (estoy contratando) and other progressive tenses, indicating an action in progress.
Related verbs
Continue with verbs that share the same ending and difficulty band.