Abotonar Conjugation in Spanish
abotonar means "to button" in English, and it comes up when people talk about his shirt before going out, his coat in winter, his son's jacket and the school uniform. This page gives you the complete conjugation of abotonar in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. abotonar is a regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "Every day, I button his shirt before going out." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: abotonar
- English: to button
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Gerund: abotonando
- Past participle: abotonado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + abotonado)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of abotonar with all six persons. The gerund is abotonando and the past participle is abotonado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotono |
| tú | abotonas |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotona |
| nosotros/as | abotonamos |
| vosotros/as | abotonáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotoné |
| tú | abotonaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotonó |
| nosotros/as | abotonamos |
| vosotros/as | abotonasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotonaba |
| tú | abotonabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotonaba |
| nosotros/as | abotonábamos |
| vosotros/as | abotonabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotonaré |
| tú | abotonarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotonará |
| nosotros/as | abotonaremos |
| vosotros/as | abotonaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotonaría |
| tú | abotonarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotonaría |
| nosotros/as | abotonaríamos |
| vosotros/as | abotonaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he abotonado |
| tú | has abotonado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha abotonado |
| nosotros/as | hemos abotonado |
| vosotros/as | habéis abotonado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han abotonado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había abotonado |
| tú | habías abotonado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había abotonado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos abotonado |
| vosotros/as | habíais abotonado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían abotonado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré abotonado |
| tú | habrás abotonado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá abotonado |
| nosotros/as | habremos abotonado |
| vosotros/as | habréis abotonado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán abotonado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría abotonado |
| tú | habrías abotonado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría abotonado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos abotonado |
| vosotros/as | habríais abotonado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían abotonado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotone |
| tú | abotones |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotone |
| nosotros/as | abotonemos |
| vosotros/as | abotonéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | abotonara |
| tú | abotonaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotonara |
| nosotros/as | abotonáramos |
| vosotros/as | abotonarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | abotona |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotone |
| nosotros/as | abotonemos |
| vosotros/as | abotonad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | abotones |
| él/ella/Ud. | abotone |
| nosotros/as | abotonemos |
| vosotros/as | abotonéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | abotonen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about abotonar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of abotonar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "Every day, I button his shirt before going out." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of abotonar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo abotoné el abrigo en invierno. — "Yesterday, I buttoned his coat in winter." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of abotonar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo abotonaba la chaqueta de su hijo. — "In the past, I used to button his son's jacket." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of abotonar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros abotonaremos el uniforme de la escuela. — "Tomorrow, we will button the school uniform." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of abotonar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú abotonarías la camisa antes de salir. — "If you could, you would button his shirt before going out." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of abotonar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he abotonado el abrigo en invierno. — "I have buttoned his coat in winter." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of abotonar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había abotonado la chaqueta de su hijo. — "Before the party, I had buttoned his son's jacket." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of abotonar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré abotonado el uniforme de la escuela. — "By tomorrow, I will have buttoned the school uniform." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of abotonar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría abotonado la camisa antes de salir. — "If I had been able to, I would have buttoned his shirt before going out." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of abotonar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él abotone el abrigo en invierno. — "I hope that he/she buttons his coat in winter." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of abotonar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él abotonara la chaqueta de su hijo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she buttoned his son's jacket, everything would turn out better." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of abotonar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Abotona el uniforme de la escuela! — "Button the school uniform!" For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of abotonar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No abotones la camisa antes de salir. — "Do not button his shirt before going out." For abotonar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem aboton- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: abotonar in real sentences
Ten sentences with abotonar, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "Every day, I button his shirt before going out." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo abotoné el abrigo en invierno. — "Yesterday, I buttoned his coat in winter." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo abotonaba la chaqueta de su hijo. — "In the past, I used to button his son's jacket." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros abotonaremos el uniforme de la escuela. — "Tomorrow, we will button the school uniform." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú abotonarías la camisa antes de salir. — "If you could, you would button his shirt before going out." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he abotonado el abrigo en invierno. — "I have buttoned his coat in winter." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él abotone la chaqueta de su hijo. — "I hope that he/she buttons his son's jacket." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él abotonara el uniforme de la escuela, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she buttoned the school uniform, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Abotona la camisa antes de salir! — "Button his shirt before going out!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy abotonando el abrigo en invierno. — "Now, I am buttoning his coat in winter." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with abotonar
The errors learners actually make with abotonar, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Adding a reflexive pronoun that does not belong
- Wrong: Yo me abotono la camisa antes de salir.
- Right: Yo abotono la camisa antes de salir.
- Why: abotonar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros abotonais la camisa antes de salir.
- Right: Vosotros abotonáis la camisa antes de salir.
- Why: The vosotros form abotonáis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo abotono el abrigo en invierno.
- Right: Ayer, yo abotoné el abrigo en invierno.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo abotoné el abrigo en invierno. — "Yesterday, I buttoned his coat in winter."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy abotonado la chaqueta de su hijo.
- Right: Estoy abotonando la chaqueta de su hijo.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund abotonando for the progressive. The participle abotonado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he abotonado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros abotona la camisa antes de salir.
- Right: Nosotros abotonamos la camisa antes de salir.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes abotonamos, while abotona belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: abotonar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on abotonar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of abotonar in the present tense?
- (a) abotonamos
- (b) abotono
- (c) abotonas
- (d) abotona
Answer: (b) abotono. The yo form is abotono. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of abotonar in the present tense?
- (a) abotonas
- (b) abotono
- (c) abotona
- (d) abotonamos
Answer: (a) abotonas. The tú form is abotonas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of abotonar in the present tense?
- (a) abotono
- (b) abotonas
- (c) abotonamos
- (d) abotona
Answer: (d) abotona. The él/ella form is abotona. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of abotonar in the present tense?
- (a) abotonas
- (b) abotona
- (c) abotonamos
- (d) abotono
Answer: (c) abotonamos. The nosotros form is abotonamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of abotonar in the present tense?
- (a) abotona
- (b) abotonan
- (c) abotono
- (d) abotonas
Answer: (b) abotonan. The ellos/ellas form is abotonan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of abotonar?
- (a) abotonar
- (b) abotonando
- (c) abotonado
- (d) abotono
Answer: (b) abotonando. The gerund is abotonando, used for the progressive: estoy abotonando.
7. What is the past participle of abotonar?
- (a) abotonado
- (b) abotonando
- (c) abotoné
- (d) abotonar
Answer: (a) abotonado. The past participle is abotonado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he abotonado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ la camisa antes de salir.
- (a) abotonas
- (b) abotona
- (c) abotonamos
- (d) abotono
Answer: (d) abotono. The sentence needs the yo form abotono (Every day, I button his shirt before going out.)
9. What is the yo form of abotonar in the preterite?
- (a) abotonó
- (b) abotonamos
- (c) abotoné
- (d) abotonaste
Answer: (c) abotoné. The yo preterite is abotoné. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la chaqueta de su hijo.
- (a) abotone
- (b) abotones
- (c) abotonemos
- (d) abotonéis
Answer: (a) abotone. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is abotone.
Frequently asked questions about abotonar
Is abotonar regular?
Yes. abotonar is a regular -ar verb: abotono, abotoné, abotonaba, abotonaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does abotonar mean, and when do I use it?
abotonar means "to button" in English. Use it when you talk about his shirt before going out, his coat in winter, his son's jacket and the school uniform — for example: Yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "I button his shirt before going out." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "I button his shirt before going out." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is there a reflexive form of abotonar?
No. abotonar is not reflexive, so it is used without a pronoun: Yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "I button his shirt before going out." Adding me, te or se would change the meaning, so keep the verb plain unless you mean the reflexive partner.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with abotonar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo abotono la camisa antes de salir. — "I button his shirt before going out." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo abotoné la camisa antes de salir. — "Yesterday, I buttoned his shirt before going out." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.