Acaparar Conjugation in Spanish
acaparar means "to hoard, to monopolise" in English, and it comes up when people talk about all the food in the market, the attention at the party, the library books and the fruit market. This page gives you the complete conjugation of acaparar 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. acaparar 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 acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "Every day, I hoard all the food in the market." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: acaparar
- English: to hoard, to monopolise
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Gerund: acaparando
- Past participle: acaparado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + acaparado)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of acaparar with all six persons. The gerund is acaparando and the past participle is acaparado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acaparo |
| tú | acaparas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acapara |
| nosotros/as | acaparamos |
| vosotros/as | acaparáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acaparan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acaparé |
| tú | acaparaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | acaparó |
| nosotros/as | acaparamos |
| vosotros/as | acaparasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acapararon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acaparaba |
| tú | acaparabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acaparaba |
| nosotros/as | acaparábamos |
| vosotros/as | acaparabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acaparaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acapararé |
| tú | acapararás |
| él/ella/Ud. | acaparará |
| nosotros/as | acapararemos |
| vosotros/as | acapararéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acapararán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acapararía |
| tú | acapararías |
| él/ella/Ud. | acapararía |
| nosotros/as | acapararíamos |
| vosotros/as | acapararíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acapararían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he acaparado |
| tú | has acaparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha acaparado |
| nosotros/as | hemos acaparado |
| vosotros/as | habéis acaparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han acaparado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había acaparado |
| tú | habías acaparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había acaparado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos acaparado |
| vosotros/as | habíais acaparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían acaparado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré acaparado |
| tú | habrás acaparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá acaparado |
| nosotros/as | habremos acaparado |
| vosotros/as | habréis acaparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán acaparado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría acaparado |
| tú | habrías acaparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría acaparado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos acaparado |
| vosotros/as | habríais acaparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían acaparado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acapare |
| tú | acapares |
| él/ella/Ud. | acapare |
| nosotros/as | acaparemos |
| vosotros/as | acaparéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acaparen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acaparara |
| tú | acapararas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acaparara |
| nosotros/as | acaparáramos |
| vosotros/as | acapararais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acapararan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acapara |
| él/ella/Ud. | acapare |
| nosotros/as | acaparemos |
| vosotros/as | acaparad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acaparen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acapares |
| él/ella/Ud. | acapare |
| nosotros/as | acaparemos |
| vosotros/as | acaparéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acaparen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about acaparar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of acaparar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "Every day, I hoard all the food in the market." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo acaparé la atención en la fiesta. — "Yesterday, I hoarded the attention at the party." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo acaparaba los libros de la biblioteca. — "In the past, I used to hoard the library books." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros acapararemos el mercado de la fruta. — "Tomorrow, we will hoard the fruit market." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú acapararías toda la comida del mercado. — "If you could, you would hoard all the food in the market." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he acaparado la atención en la fiesta. — "I have hoarded the attention at the party." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había acaparado los libros de la biblioteca. — "Before the party, I had hoarded the library books." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré acaparado el mercado de la fruta. — "By tomorrow, I will have hoarded the fruit market." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría acaparado toda la comida del mercado. — "If I had been able to, I would have hoarded all the food in the market." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él acapare la atención en la fiesta. — "I hope that he/she hoards the attention at the party." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él acaparara los libros de la biblioteca, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she hoarded the library books, everything would turn out better." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Acapara el mercado de la fruta! — "Hoard the fruit market!" For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- 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 acaparar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No acapares toda la comida del mercado. — "Do not hoard all the food in the market." For acaparar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem acapar- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: acaparar in real sentences
Ten sentences with acaparar, 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 acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "Every day, I hoard all the food in the market." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo acaparé la atención en la fiesta. — "Yesterday, I hoarded the attention at the party." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo acaparaba los libros de la biblioteca. — "In the past, I used to hoard the library books." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros acapararemos el mercado de la fruta. — "Tomorrow, we will hoard the fruit market." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú acapararías toda la comida del mercado. — "If you could, you would hoard all the food in the market." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he acaparado la atención en la fiesta. — "I have hoarded the attention at the party." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él acapare los libros de la biblioteca. — "I hope that he/she hoards the library books." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él acaparara el mercado de la fruta, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she hoarded the fruit market, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Acapara toda la comida del mercado! — "Hoard all the food in the market!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy acaparando la atención en la fiesta. — "Now, I am hoarding the attention at the party." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with acaparar
The errors learners actually make with acaparar, 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 acaparo toda la comida del mercado.
- Right: Yo acaparo toda la comida del mercado.
- Why: acaparar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo acaparo toda la comida del mercado. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros acaparais toda la comida del mercado.
- Right: Vosotros acaparáis toda la comida del mercado.
- Why: The vosotros form acaparáis 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 acaparo la atención en la fiesta.
- Right: Ayer, yo acaparé la atención en la fiesta.
- 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 acaparé la atención en la fiesta. — "Yesterday, I hoarded the attention at the party."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy acaparado los libros de la biblioteca.
- Right: Estoy acaparando los libros de la biblioteca.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund acaparando for the progressive. The participle acaparado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he acaparado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros acapara toda la comida del mercado.
- Right: Nosotros acaparamos toda la comida del mercado.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes acaparamos, while acapara belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: acaparar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on acaparar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of acaparar in the present tense?
- (a) acapara
- (b) acaparamos
- (c) acaparo
- (d) acaparas
Answer: (c) acaparo. The yo form is acaparo. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of acaparar in the present tense?
- (a) acaparamos
- (b) acaparas
- (c) acaparo
- (d) acapara
Answer: (b) acaparas. The tú form is acaparas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of acaparar in the present tense?
- (a) acapara
- (b) acaparo
- (c) acaparas
- (d) acaparamos
Answer: (a) acapara. The él/ella form is acapara. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of acaparar in the present tense?
- (a) acaparo
- (b) acaparas
- (c) acapara
- (d) acaparamos
Answer: (d) acaparamos. The nosotros form is acaparamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of acaparar in the present tense?
- (a) acaparas
- (b) acapara
- (c) acaparan
- (d) acaparo
Answer: (c) acaparan. The ellos/ellas form is acaparan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of acaparar?
- (a) acaparo
- (b) acaparar
- (c) acaparando
- (d) acaparado
Answer: (c) acaparando. The gerund is acaparando, used for the progressive: estoy acaparando.
7. What is the past participle of acaparar?
- (a) acaparar
- (b) acaparado
- (c) acaparando
- (d) acaparé
Answer: (b) acaparado. The past participle is acaparado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he acaparado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ toda la comida del mercado.
- (a) acaparo
- (b) acaparas
- (c) acapara
- (d) acaparamos
Answer: (a) acaparo. The sentence needs the yo form acaparo (Every day, I hoard all the food in the market.)
9. What is the yo form of acaparar in the preterite?
- (a) acaparaste
- (b) acaparó
- (c) acaparamos
- (d) acaparé
Answer: (d) acaparé. The yo preterite is acaparé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ los libros de la biblioteca.
- (a) acaparéis
- (b) acapare
- (c) acapares
- (d) acaparemos
Answer: (b) acapare. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is acapare.
Frequently asked questions about acaparar
Is acaparar regular?
Yes. acaparar is a regular -ar verb: acaparo, acaparé, acaparaba, acapararé. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does acaparar mean, and when do I use it?
acaparar means "to hoard, to monopolise" in English. Use it when you talk about all the food in the market, the attention at the party, the library books and the fruit market — for example: Yo acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "I hoard all the food in the market." 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 acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "I hoard all the food in the market." 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 acaparar?
No. acaparar is not reflexive, so it is used without a pronoun: Yo acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "I hoard all the food in the market." 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 acaparar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo acaparo toda la comida del mercado. — "I hoard all the food in the market." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo acaparé toda la comida del mercado. — "Yesterday, I hoarded all the food in the market." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.