Usar conjugation Spanish verb
Usar means to use, and it is the everyday choice over the more formal utilizar. It also means to wear clothes, glasses or a style regularly: Uso lentes, I wear glasses.
- to use; to wear
- regular
- Participle: usado
- Gerund: usando
Usar in the present: uso, usas, usa, usamos, usáis, usan.
Indicative
Present presente
| yo | uso |
|---|---|
| tú | usas |
| él/ella/usted | usa |
| nosotros | usamos |
| vosotros | usáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usan |
Preterite pretérito
| yo | usé |
|---|---|
| tú | usaste |
| él/ella/usted | usó |
| nosotros | usamos |
| vosotros | usasteis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usaron |
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | usaba |
|---|---|
| tú | usabas |
| él/ella/usted | usaba |
| nosotros | usábamos |
| vosotros | usabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usaban |
Future futuro
| yo | usaré |
|---|---|
| tú | usarás |
| él/ella/usted | usará |
| nosotros | usaremos |
| vosotros | usaréis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usarán |
Conditional condicional
| yo | usaría |
|---|---|
| tú | usarías |
| él/ella/usted | usaría |
| nosotros | usaríamos |
| vosotros | usaríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usarían |
Present perfect pretérito perfecto
| yo | he usado |
|---|---|
| tú | has usado |
| él/ella/usted | ha usado |
| nosotros | hemos usado |
| vosotros | habéis usado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han usado |
Past perfect pluscuamperfecto
| yo | había usado |
|---|---|
| tú | habías usado |
| él/ella/usted | había usado |
| nosotros | habíamos usado |
| vosotros | habíais usado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habían usado |
Future perfect futuro perfecto
| yo | habré usado |
|---|---|
| tú | habrás usado |
| él/ella/usted | habrá usado |
| nosotros | habremos usado |
| vosotros | habréis usado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habrán usado |
Conditional perfect condicional perfecto
| yo | habría usado |
|---|---|
| tú | habrías usado |
| él/ella/usted | habría usado |
| nosotros | habríamos usado |
| vosotros | habríais usado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habrían usado |
Subjunctive
Present subjunctive presente de subjuntivo
| yo | use |
|---|---|
| tú | uses |
| él/ella/usted | use |
| nosotros | usemos |
| vosotros | uséis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usen |
Imperfect subjunctive imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra)
| yo | usara |
|---|---|
| tú | usaras |
| él/ella/usted | usara |
| nosotros | usáramos |
| vosotros | usarais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usaran |
Imperfect subjunctive (-se) imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se)
| yo | usase |
|---|---|
| tú | usases |
| él/ella/usted | usase |
| nosotros | usásemos |
| vosotros | usaseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | usasen |
Present perfect subjunctive pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo
| yo | haya usado |
|---|---|
| tú | hayas usado |
| él/ella/usted | haya usado |
| nosotros | hayamos usado |
| vosotros | hayáis usado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hayan usado |
Past perfect subjunctive pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo
| yo | hubiera usado |
|---|---|
| tú | hubieras usado |
| él/ella/usted | hubiera usado |
| nosotros | hubiéramos usado |
| vosotros | hubierais usado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hubieran usado |
Imperative (commands)
Affirmative commands imperativo afirmativo
| tú | usa |
|---|---|
| usted | use |
| nosotros | usemos |
| vosotros | usad |
| ustedes | usen |
Negative commands imperativo negativo
| tú | no uses |
|---|---|
| usted | no use |
| nosotros | no usemos |
| vosotros | no uséis |
| ustedes | no usen |
How usar conjugates
Usar is a regular -ar verb with no stem or spelling changes: uso, usas, usa in the present, usé, usó in the preterite, usaba in the imperfect, usaré in the future. The stress rules are standard, so accents appear only in usé, usó and usábamos. Note that used to + verb is not usar in Spanish; for past habits use the imperfect or soler.
Usar in example sentences
- Present
¿Qué programa usas para las videollamadas con clientes?
What program do you use for video calls with clients?
- Preterite
Usé la plantilla nueva para el informe mensual.
I used the new template for the monthly report.
- Imperfect
En mi primer trabajo usábamos fax todos los días.
At my first job we used the fax machine every day.
- Future
Usaremos la sala de juntas grande para la capacitación.
We'll use the big boardroom for the training.
- Present perfect
¿Has usado alguna vez este tipo de grúa?
Have you ever used this type of crane?
- Present subjunctive
Es obligatorio que usen casco en la obra.
Wearing a helmet on the job site is mandatory.
- Conditional
Yo usaría un tono más formal en ese correo.
I'd use a more formal tone in that email.
- Affirmative commands
Use mascarilla en las áreas de pacientes.
Wear a mask in patient areas.
Common phrases with usar
- usar lentes / uniforme
- to wear glasses / a uniform
- usar algo para + infinitive
- to use something to (do something)
- de usar y tirar
- disposable, single-use
- estar en uso
- to be in use
Mistakes to avoid
- Translating used to with usar: De niño jugaba al fútbol, not *De niño usaba jugar al fútbol*.
- Using llevar and usar interchangeably for clothes without thinking: llevar is what you are wearing now, usar is what you wear habitually (in Latin America usar covers both).
- Writing an accent on uso or usa. Only usé, usó and usábamos carry one.
Quiz: conjugate usar
Pick the right form for each person and tense.
Usar tense by tense
Related verbs
- utilizar to use; to make use of
- llevar to carry; to take; to wear; to have been (time)
- tomar to take; to drink; to have (food or drink)
Most common Spanish verbs
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