Acortar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb acortar means to shorten, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Acortar means to shorten, and it is used for making things shorter in length or in time: you shorten a skirt, a journey, a meeting or a holiday. It is the opposite of alargar, and it appears in sewing, travel and work contexts. Like every Spanish verb, acortar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say acorto la falda dos centímetros, and in the preterite you say acorté la reunión a media hora. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: acortar
- English: to shorten
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: acortando
- Past participle: acortado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + acortado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for acortar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Acortar is fully regular: acorté, acortaba, acortaré. Its opposite alargar is also regular.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for acortar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acorto |
| tú | acortas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acorta |
| nosotros/as | acortamos |
| vosotros/as | acortáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acortan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acorté |
| tú | acortaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | acortó |
| nosotros/as | acortamos |
| vosotros/as | acortasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acortaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acortaba |
| tú | acortabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acortaba |
| nosotros/as | acortábamos |
| vosotros/as | acortabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acortaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acortaré |
| tú | acortarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | acortará |
| nosotros/as | acortaremos |
| vosotros/as | acortaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acortarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acortaría |
| tú | acortarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | acortaría |
| nosotros/as | acortaríamos |
| vosotros/as | acortaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acortarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he acortado |
| tú | has acortado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha acortado |
| nosotros/as | hemos acortado |
| vosotros/as | habéis acortado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han acortado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había acortado |
| tú | habías acortado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había acortado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos acortado |
| vosotros/as | habíais acortado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían acortado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré acortado |
| tú | habrás acortado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá acortado |
| nosotros/as | habremos acortado |
| vosotros/as | habréis acortado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán acortado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría acortado |
| tú | habrías acortado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría acortado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos acortado |
| vosotros/as | habríais acortado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían acortado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acorte |
| tú | acortes |
| él/ella/Ud. | acorte |
| nosotros/as | acortemos |
| vosotros/as | acortéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acorten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acortara |
| tú | acortaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | acortara |
| nosotros/as | acortáramos |
| vosotros/as | acortarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acortaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acorta |
| él/ella/Ud. | acorte |
| nosotros/as | acortemos |
| vosotros/as | acortad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acorten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acortes |
| él/ella/Ud. | acorte |
| nosotros/as | acortemos |
| vosotros/as | acortéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acorten |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | acortando | with estar for the progressive: estoy acortando |
| Past participle | acortado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he acortado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Acorto la falda dos centímetros. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, acorté el viaje por la autopista. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, acortaba la reunión a media hora. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, acortaré las vacaciones por el trabajo. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Acortaría la falda dos centímetros si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he acortado el viaje por la autopista. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había acortado la reunión a media hora antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré acortado las vacaciones por el trabajo. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría acortado la falda dos centímetros con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él acorte el viaje por la autopista. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él acortara la reunión a media hora, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡acorta las vacaciones por el trabajo! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For acortar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No acortes la falda dos centímetros. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with acortar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Acorto la falda dos centímetros. — I shorten the skirt by two centimetres.
- Acorta el viaje por la autopista. — He/she shortens the journey via the motorway.
- Ayer, acorté la reunión a media hora. — Yesterday, I shortened the meeting to half an hour.
- Antes, nosotros acortábamos las vacaciones por el trabajo. — Before, we used to shorten the holidays because of work.
- Mañana, tú acortarás la falda dos centímetros. — Tomorrow, you will shorten the skirt by two centimetres.
- Yo acortaría el viaje por la autopista si tuviera más tiempo. — I would shorten the journey via the motorway if I had more time.
- Él ha acortado la reunión a media hora. — He has shortened the meeting to half an hour.
- Espero que él acorte las vacaciones por el trabajo. — I hope he shortens the holidays because of work.
- Yo ya había acortado la falda dos centímetros antes de salir. — I had already shortened the skirt by two centimetres before leaving.
- Ellos acortaban el viaje por la autopista cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to shorten the journey via the motorway when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo acorta la falda dos centímetros. — Right: Yo acorto la falda dos centímetros. — The person matters: acorta is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is acorto. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating acortar and alargar as identical in every context. — Right: Acortar means to shorten, while alargar means to lengthen something, its opposite. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: acortar fits sentences such as Acorto la falda dos centímetros, while alargar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy acortado el viaje por la autopista. — Right: Yo he acortado el viaje por la autopista. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he acortado, has acortado, ha acortado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo acorté la reunión a media hora todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo acortaba la reunión a media hora todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (acortaba), not the preterite. The preterite (acorté) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on acortar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la falda dos centímetros. (present tense) A. acorto B. acortas C. acorta D. acortamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el viaje por la autopista. (preterite) A. acorté B. acortaste C. acortaron D. acortó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la reunión a media hora. (imperfect) A. acortabas B. acortaban C. acortábamos D. acortaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ las vacaciones por el trabajo. (future) A. acortaremos B. acortarás C. acortaré D. acortará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la falda dos centímetros si pudiera. (conditional) A. acortaría B. acortarías C. acortarían D. acorto
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el viaje por la autopista. (present subjunctive) A. acortes B. acortemos C. acorto D. acorte
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la reunión a media hora, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. acortáramos B. acorto C. acortara D. acortaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ las vacaciones por el trabajo. (present perfect) A. han acortado B. hemos acortado C. he acortado D. has acortado
Complete the command: ¡___ la falda dos centímetros! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. acorta B. acorte C. acortemos D. acortad
Which is the gerund of acortar, used with estar for the progressive? A. acortado B. acorto C. acorté D. acortando
Answer key
- acorto — The first-person present of acortar is acorto. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- acortó — The third-person preterite of acortar is acortó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- acortábamos — The nosotros imperfect of acortar is acortábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- acortarás — The second-person future of acortar is acortarás.
- acortaría — The first-person conditional of acortar is acortaría, the form for what would happen.
- acorte — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of acortar is acorte.
- acortara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of acortar is acortara.
- hemos acortado — The nosotros present perfect of acortar is hemos acortado: hemos + acortado.
- acorta — The affirmative tú imperative of acortar is acorta.
- acortando — The gerund of acortar is acortando: estoy acortando. The participle acortado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does acortar mean in English?
Acortar means to shorten. It is used in everyday situations such as Acorto la falda dos centímetros. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is acortar regular or irregular?
Acortar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including acorto in the present and acorté in the preterite.
What is the difference between acortar and alargar?
Acortar means to shorten, while alargar means to lengthen something, its opposite. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use acortar when you mean to shorten, as in Acorto la falda dos centímetros, and use alargar for to lengthen something, its opposite. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I shorten” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo acorté el viaje por la autopista. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo acortaba la reunión a media hora. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he acortado el viaje por la autopista.
How do I practise acortar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the acortar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Acortar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for acortar.
- Acortar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for acortar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Acompañar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acortar.
- Acostar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acortar.
- Aclarar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acortar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.