Anotar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb anotar means to note down, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Anotar means to note down, and it is the verb of notebooks, agendas and margins: you note down an address, a phone number, a date, an idea. It is a regular -ar verb and one of the first verbs learners use in class. Like every Spanish verb, anotar 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 anoto la dirección en mi agenda, and in the preterite you say anoté la fecha del examen. 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: anotar
  • English: to note down
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: anotando
  • Past participle: anotado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + anotado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for anotar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Anotar and apuntar both mean to note down and are interchangeable in most contexts. Anotar is slightly more formal.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for anotar. 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 anoto
tú anotas
él/ella/Ud. anota
nosotros/as anotamos
vosotros/as anotáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. anotan

Preterite

Person Form
yo anoté
tú anotaste
él/ella/Ud. anotó
nosotros/as anotamos
vosotros/as anotasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. anotaron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo anotaba
tú anotabas
él/ella/Ud. anotaba
nosotros/as anotábamos
vosotros/as anotabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. anotaban

Future

Person Form
yo anotaré
tú anotarás
él/ella/Ud. anotará
nosotros/as anotaremos
vosotros/as anotaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. anotarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo anotaría
tú anotarías
él/ella/Ud. anotaría
nosotros/as anotaríamos
vosotros/as anotaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. anotarían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he anotado
tú has anotado
él/ella/Ud. ha anotado
nosotros/as hemos anotado
vosotros/as habéis anotado
ellos/ellas/Uds. han anotado

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había anotado
tú habías anotado
él/ella/Ud. había anotado
nosotros/as habíamos anotado
vosotros/as habíais anotado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían anotado

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré anotado
tú habrás anotado
él/ella/Ud. habrá anotado
nosotros/as habremos anotado
vosotros/as habréis anotado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán anotado

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría anotado
tú habrías anotado
él/ella/Ud. habría anotado
nosotros/as habríamos anotado
vosotros/as habríais anotado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían anotado

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo anote
tú anotes
él/ella/Ud. anote
nosotros/as anotemos
vosotros/as anotéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. anoten

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo anotara
tú anotaras
él/ella/Ud. anotara
nosotros/as anotáramos
vosotros/as anotarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. anotaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú anota
él/ella/Ud. anote
nosotros/as anotemos
vosotros/as anotad
ellos/ellas/Uds. anoten

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú anotes
él/ella/Ud. anote
nosotros/as anotemos
vosotros/as anotéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. anoten

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund anotando with estar for the progressive: estoy anotando
Past participle anotado with haber for the perfect tenses: he anotado

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 anotar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Anoto la dirección en mi agenda. 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 anotar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, anoté el número de teléfono. 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 anotar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, anotaba la fecha del examen. 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 anotar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, anotaré una idea en el cuaderno. 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 anotar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Anotaría la dirección en mi agenda 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 anotar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he anotado el número de teléfono. 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 anotar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había anotado la fecha del examen 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 anotar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré anotado una idea en el cuaderno. 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 anotar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría anotado la dirección en mi agenda 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 anotar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él anote el número de teléfono. 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 anotar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él anotara la fecha del examen, 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 anotar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡anota una idea en el cuaderno! 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 anotar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No anotes la dirección en mi agenda. 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 anotar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Anoto la dirección en mi agenda. — I note down the address in my diary.
  2. Anota el número de teléfono. — He/she notes down the phone number.
  3. Ayer, anoté la fecha del examen. — Yesterday, I noted down the exam date.
  4. Antes, nosotros anotábamos una idea en el cuaderno. — Before, we used to note down an idea in the notebook.
  5. Mañana, tú anotarás la dirección en mi agenda. — Tomorrow, you will note down the address in my diary.
  6. Yo anotaría el número de teléfono si tuviera más tiempo. — I would note down the phone number if I had more time.
  7. Él ha anotado la fecha del examen. — He has noted down the exam date.
  8. Espero que él anote una idea en el cuaderno. — I hope he notes down an idea in the notebook.
  9. Yo ya había anotado la dirección en mi agenda antes de salir. — I had already noted down the address in my diary before leaving.
  10. Ellos anotaban el número de teléfono cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to note down the phone number when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo anota la dirección en mi agenda. — Right: Yo anoto la dirección en mi agenda. — The person matters: anota is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is anoto. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Treating anotar and apuntar as identical in every context. — Right: Anotar means to note down, while apuntar means to note down, the close synonym. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: anotar fits sentences such as Anoto la dirección en mi agenda, while apuntar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  3. Wrong: Yo soy anotado el número de teléfono. — Right: Yo he anotado el número de teléfono. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he anotado, has anotado, ha anotado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo anoté la fecha del examen todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo anotaba la fecha del examen todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (anotaba), not the preterite. The preterite (anoté) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on anotar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la dirección en mi agenda. (present tense) A. anoto B. anotas C. anota D. anotamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el número de teléfono. (preterite) A. anoté B. anotaste C. anotaron D. anotó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la fecha del examen. (imperfect) A. anotabas B. anotaban C. anotábamos D. anotaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ una idea en el cuaderno. (future) A. anotaremos B. anotarás C. anotaré D. anotará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la dirección en mi agenda si pudiera. (conditional) A. anotaría B. anotarías C. anotarían D. anoto

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el número de teléfono. (present subjunctive) A. anotes B. anotemos C. anoto D. anote

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la fecha del examen, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. anotáramos B. anoto C. anotara D. anotaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ una idea en el cuaderno. (present perfect) A. han anotado B. hemos anotado C. he anotado D. has anotado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la dirección en mi agenda! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. anota B. anote C. anotemos D. anotad

  10. Which is the gerund of anotar, used with estar for the progressive? A. anotado B. anoto C. anoté D. anotando

Answer key

  1. anoto — The first-person present of anotar is anoto. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. anotó — The third-person preterite of anotar is anotó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. anotábamos — The nosotros imperfect of anotar is anotábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. anotarás — The second-person future of anotar is anotarás.
  5. anotaría — The first-person conditional of anotar is anotaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. anote — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of anotar is anote.
  7. anotara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of anotar is anotara.
  8. hemos anotado — The nosotros present perfect of anotar is hemos anotado: hemos + anotado.
  9. anota — The affirmative tú imperative of anotar is anota.
  10. anotando — The gerund of anotar is anotando: estoy anotando. The participle anotado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does anotar mean in English?

Anotar means to note down. It is used in everyday situations such as Anoto la dirección en mi agenda. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is anotar regular or irregular?

Anotar 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 anoto in the present and anoté in the preterite.

What is the difference between anotar and apuntar?

Anotar means to note down, while apuntar means to note down, the close synonym. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use anotar when you mean to note down, as in Anoto la dirección en mi agenda, and use apuntar for to note down, the close synonym. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I note down” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo anoté el número de teléfono. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo anotaba la fecha del examen. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he anotado el número de teléfono.

How do I practise anotar?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the anotar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

Related links