Acumular Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb acumular means to accumulate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Acumular means to accumulate, and it is used for things that pile up over time: debts accumulate, dust accumulates, points accumulate, experience accumulates. It works for money, objects, knowledge and problems, and it is a regular -ar verb. Like every Spanish verb, acumular 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 acumulo deudas con la tarjeta, and in the preterite you say acumulé puntos en el programa. 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: acumular
- English: to accumulate
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: acumulando
- Past participle: acumulado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + acumulado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for acumular, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Acumular is fully regular: acumulé, acumulaba, acumularé. Its reflexive partner acumularse is used when things pile up by themselves.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for acumular. 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 | acumulo |
| tú | acumulas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumula |
| nosotros/as | acumulamos |
| vosotros/as | acumuláis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumulan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acumulé |
| tú | acumulaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumuló |
| nosotros/as | acumulamos |
| vosotros/as | acumulasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumularon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acumulaba |
| tú | acumulabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumulaba |
| nosotros/as | acumulábamos |
| vosotros/as | acumulabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumulaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acumularé |
| tú | acumularás |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumulará |
| nosotros/as | acumularemos |
| vosotros/as | acumularéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumularán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acumularía |
| tú | acumularías |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumularía |
| nosotros/as | acumularíamos |
| vosotros/as | acumularíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumularían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he acumulado |
| tú | has acumulado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha acumulado |
| nosotros/as | hemos acumulado |
| vosotros/as | habéis acumulado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han acumulado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había acumulado |
| tú | habías acumulado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había acumulado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos acumulado |
| vosotros/as | habíais acumulado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían acumulado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré acumulado |
| tú | habrás acumulado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá acumulado |
| nosotros/as | habremos acumulado |
| vosotros/as | habréis acumulado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán acumulado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría acumulado |
| tú | habrías acumulado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría acumulado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos acumulado |
| vosotros/as | habríais acumulado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían acumulado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acumule |
| tú | acumules |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumule |
| nosotros/as | acumulemos |
| vosotros/as | acumuléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumulen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | acumulara |
| tú | acumularas |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumulara |
| nosotros/as | acumuláramos |
| vosotros/as | acumularais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumularan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acumula |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumule |
| nosotros/as | acumulemos |
| vosotros/as | acumulad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumulen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | acumules |
| él/ella/Ud. | acumule |
| nosotros/as | acumulemos |
| vosotros/as | acumuléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | acumulen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | acumulando | with estar for the progressive: estoy acumulando |
| Past participle | acumulado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he acumulado |
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 acumular, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Acumulo deudas con la tarjeta. 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 acumular, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, acumulé polvo en la estantería. 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 acumular, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, acumulaba puntos en el programa. 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 acumular, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, acumularé experiencia con los años. 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 acumular, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Acumularía deudas con la tarjeta 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 acumular, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he acumulado polvo en la estantería. 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 acumular, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había acumulado puntos en el programa 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 acumular, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré acumulado experiencia con los años. 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 acumular, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría acumulado deudas con la tarjeta 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 acumular, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él acumule polvo en la estantería. 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 acumular, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él acumulara puntos en el programa, 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 acumular, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡acumula experiencia con los años! 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 acumular, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No acumules deudas con la tarjeta. 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 acumular, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Acumulo deudas con la tarjeta. — I accumulate debts on the card.
- Acumula polvo en la estantería. — He/she accumulates dust on the shelf.
- Ayer, acumulé puntos en el programa. — Yesterday, I accumulated points in the programme.
- Antes, nosotros acumulábamos experiencia con los años. — Before, we used to accumulate experience over the years.
- Mañana, tú acumularás deudas con la tarjeta. — Tomorrow, you will accumulate debts on the card.
- Yo acumularía polvo en la estantería si tuviera más tiempo. — I would accumulate dust on the shelf if I had more time.
- Él ha acumulado puntos en el programa. — He has accumulated points in the programme.
- Espero que él acumule experiencia con los años. — I hope he accumulates experience over the years.
- Yo ya había acumulado deudas con la tarjeta antes de salir. — I had already accumulated debts on the card before leaving.
- Ellos acumulaban polvo en la estantería cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to accumulate dust on the shelf when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo acumula deudas con la tarjeta. — Right: Yo acumulo deudas con la tarjeta. — The person matters: acumula is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is acumulo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating acumular and amontonar as identical in every context. — Right: Acumular means to accumulate, while amontonar means to pile things up. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: acumular fits sentences such as Acumulo deudas con la tarjeta, while amontonar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy acumulado polvo en la estantería. — Right: Yo he acumulado polvo en la estantería. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he acumulado, has acumulado, ha acumulado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo acumulé puntos en el programa todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo acumulaba puntos en el programa todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (acumulaba), not the preterite. The preterite (acumulé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on acumular. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ deudas con la tarjeta. (present tense) A. acumulo B. acumulas C. acumula D. acumulamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ polvo en la estantería. (preterite) A. acumulé B. acumulaste C. acumularon D. acumuló
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ puntos en el programa. (imperfect) A. acumulabas B. acumulaban C. acumulábamos D. acumulaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ experiencia con los años. (future) A. acumularemos B. acumularás C. acumularé D. acumulará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ deudas con la tarjeta si pudiera. (conditional) A. acumularía B. acumularías C. acumularían D. acumulo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ polvo en la estantería. (present subjunctive) A. acumules B. acumulemos C. acumulo D. acumule
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ puntos en el programa, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. acumuláramos B. acumulo C. acumulara D. acumularas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ experiencia con los años. (present perfect) A. han acumulado B. hemos acumulado C. he acumulado D. has acumulado
Complete the command: ¡___ deudas con la tarjeta! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. acumula B. acumule C. acumulemos D. acumulad
Which is the gerund of acumular, used with estar for the progressive? A. acumulado B. acumulo C. acumulé D. acumulando
Answer key
- acumulo — The first-person present of acumular is acumulo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- acumuló — The third-person preterite of acumular is acumuló, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- acumulábamos — The nosotros imperfect of acumular is acumulábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- acumularás — The second-person future of acumular is acumularás.
- acumularía — The first-person conditional of acumular is acumularía, the form for what would happen.
- acumule — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of acumular is acumule.
- acumulara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of acumular is acumulara.
- hemos acumulado — The nosotros present perfect of acumular is hemos acumulado: hemos + acumulado.
- acumula — The affirmative tú imperative of acumular is acumula.
- acumulando — The gerund of acumular is acumulando: estoy acumulando. The participle acumulado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does acumular mean in English?
Acumular means to accumulate. It is used in everyday situations such as Acumulo deudas con la tarjeta. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is acumular regular or irregular?
Acumular 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 acumulo in the present and acumulé in the preterite.
What is the difference between acumular and amontonar?
Acumular means to accumulate, while amontonar means to pile things up. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use acumular when you mean to accumulate, as in Acumulo deudas con la tarjeta, and use amontonar for to pile things up. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I accumulate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo acumulé polvo en la estantería. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo acumulaba puntos en el programa. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he acumulado polvo en la estantería.
How do I practise acumular?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the acumular examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Acumular in the present tense — the full present-tense table for acumular.
- Acumular examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for acumular.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Adaptar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acumular.
- Acostumbrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acumular.
- Acostar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with acumular.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.