Anticipar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb anticipar means to anticipate, to bring forward, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Anticipar means to anticipate or to bring forward, to do something earlier than planned or to expect what will happen. It is used for money, trips and events, and it is fully regular. Like every Spanish verb, anticipar 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 anticipo el pago de la factura, and in the preterite you say anticipé la reunión al lunes. 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: anticipar
- English: to anticipate, to bring forward
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: anticipando
- Past participle: anticipado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + anticipado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for anticipar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Anticipar is fully regular: anticipo, anticipa. It is bringing something forward in time; prever is seeing it coming.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for anticipar. 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 | anticipo |
| tú | anticipas |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipa |
| nosotros/as | anticipamos |
| vosotros/as | anticipáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticipan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | anticipé |
| tú | anticipaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipó |
| nosotros/as | anticipamos |
| vosotros/as | anticipasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticiparon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | anticipaba |
| tú | anticipabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipaba |
| nosotros/as | anticipábamos |
| vosotros/as | anticipabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticipaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | anticiparé |
| tú | anticiparás |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipará |
| nosotros/as | anticiparemos |
| vosotros/as | anticiparéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticiparán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | anticiparía |
| tú | anticiparías |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticiparía |
| nosotros/as | anticiparíamos |
| vosotros/as | anticiparíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticiparían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he anticipado |
| tú | has anticipado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha anticipado |
| nosotros/as | hemos anticipado |
| vosotros/as | habéis anticipado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han anticipado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había anticipado |
| tú | habías anticipado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había anticipado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos anticipado |
| vosotros/as | habíais anticipado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían anticipado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré anticipado |
| tú | habrás anticipado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá anticipado |
| nosotros/as | habremos anticipado |
| vosotros/as | habréis anticipado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán anticipado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría anticipado |
| tú | habrías anticipado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría anticipado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos anticipado |
| vosotros/as | habríais anticipado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían anticipado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | anticipe |
| tú | anticipes |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipe |
| nosotros/as | anticipemos |
| vosotros/as | anticipéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticipen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | anticipara |
| tú | anticiparas |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipara |
| nosotros/as | anticipáramos |
| vosotros/as | anticiparais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticiparan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | anticipa |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipe |
| nosotros/as | anticipemos |
| vosotros/as | anticipad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticipen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | anticipes |
| él/ella/Ud. | anticipe |
| nosotros/as | anticipemos |
| vosotros/as | anticipéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | anticipen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | anticipando | with estar for the progressive: estoy anticipando |
| Past participle | anticipado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he anticipado |
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 anticipar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Anticipo el pago de la factura. 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 anticipar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, anticipé el viaje a la semana que viene. 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 anticipar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, anticipaba la reunión al lunes. 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 anticipar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, anticiparé la llegada del tren. 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 anticipar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Anticiparía el pago de la factura 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 anticipar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he anticipado el viaje a la semana que viene. 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 anticipar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había anticipado la reunión al lunes 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 anticipar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré anticipado la llegada del tren. 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 anticipar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría anticipado el pago de la factura 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 anticipar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él anticipe el viaje a la semana que viene. 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 anticipar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él anticipara la reunión al lunes, 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 anticipar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Anticipa la llegada del tren! 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 anticipar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No anticipes el pago de la factura. 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 anticipar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Anticipo el pago de la factura. — I anticipate paying the bill.
- Anticipa el viaje a la semana que viene. — He/she anticipates the trip to next week.
- Ayer, anticipé la reunión al lunes. — Yesterday, I anticipated the meeting to Monday.
- Antes, nosotros anticipábamos la llegada del tren. — Before, we used to anticipate the train's arrival.
- Mañana, tú anticiparás el pago de la factura. — Tomorrow, you will anticipate paying the bill.
- Yo anticiparía el viaje a la semana que viene si tuviera más tiempo. — I would anticipate the trip to next week if I had more time.
- Él ha anticipado la reunión al lunes. — He has anticipated the meeting to Monday.
- Espero que él anticipe la llegada del tren. — I hope he anticipates the train's arrival.
- Yo ya había anticipado el pago de la factura antes de salir. — I had already anticipated paying the bill before leaving.
- Ellos anticipaban el viaje a la semana que viene cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to anticipate the trip to next week when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo anticipa el pago de la factura. — Right: Yo anticipo el pago de la factura. — The person matters: anticipa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is anticipo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo anticipo el viaje a la semana que viene. — Right: Ayer yo anticipé el viaje a la semana que viene. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: anticipo is happening now, while anticipé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating anticipar and prever as identical in every context. — Right: Anticipar means to anticipate, to bring forward, while prever means to foresee. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: anticipar fits sentences such as Anticipo el pago de la factura, while prever belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy anticipado el viaje a la semana que viene. — Right: Yo he anticipado el viaje a la semana que viene. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he anticipado, has anticipado, ha anticipado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo anticipé la reunión al lunes todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo anticipaba la reunión al lunes todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (anticipaba), not the preterite. The preterite (anticipé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on anticipar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el pago de la factura. (present tense) A. anticipo B. anticipas C. anticipa D. anticipamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el viaje a la semana que viene. (preterite) A. anticipé B. anticipaste C. anticiparon D. anticipó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la reunión al lunes. (imperfect) A. anticipabas B. anticipaban C. anticipábamos D. anticipaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la llegada del tren. (future) A. anticiparemos B. anticiparás C. anticiparé D. anticipará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el pago de la factura si pudiera. (conditional) A. anticiparía B. anticiparías C. anticiparían D. anticipo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el viaje a la semana que viene. (present subjunctive) A. anticipes B. anticipemos C. anticipo D. anticipe
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la reunión al lunes, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. anticipáramos B. anticipo C. anticipara D. anticiparas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la llegada del tren. (present perfect) A. han anticipado B. hemos anticipado C. he anticipado D. has anticipado
Complete the command: ¡___ el pago de la factura! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. anticipa B. anticipe C. anticipemos D. anticipad
Which is the gerund of anticipar, used with estar for the progressive? A. anticipado B. anticipo C. anticipé D. anticipando
Answer key
- anticipo — The first-person present of anticipar is anticipo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- anticipó — The third-person preterite of anticipar is anticipó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- anticipábamos — The nosotros imperfect of anticipar is anticipábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- anticiparás — The second-person future of anticipar is anticiparás.
- anticiparía — The first-person conditional of anticipar is anticiparía, the form for what would happen.
- anticipe — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of anticipar is anticipe.
- anticipara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of anticipar is anticipara.
- hemos anticipado — The nosotros present perfect of anticipar is hemos anticipado: hemos + anticipado.
- anticipa — The affirmative tú imperative of anticipar is anticipa.
- anticipando — The gerund of anticipar is anticipando: estoy anticipando. The participle anticipado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does anticipar mean in English?
Anticipar means to anticipate, to bring forward. It is used in everyday situations such as Anticipo el pago de la factura. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is anticipar regular or irregular?
Anticipar 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 anticipo in the present and anticipé in the preterite.
What is the difference between anticipar and prever?
Anticipar means to anticipate, to bring forward, while prever means to foresee. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use anticipar when you mean to anticipate, to bring forward, as in Anticipo el pago de la factura, and use prever for to foresee. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I anticipate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo anticipé el viaje a la semana que viene. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo anticipaba la reunión al lunes. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he anticipado el viaje a la semana que viene.
How do I practise anticipar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the anticipar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Anticipar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for anticipar.
- Anticipar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for anticipar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Amortiguar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with anticipar.
- Amansar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with anticipar.
- Amamantar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with anticipar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.