Apartarse Conjugation in Spanish
apartarse means "to move away" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the car's path, the window because of the cold, the group during break and his friend after the fight. This page gives you the complete conjugation of apartarse 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. apartarse is a Reflexive 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 me aparto del camino del coche. — "Every day, I move away from the car's path." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: apartarse
- English: to move away
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: apartando
- Past participle: apartado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + apartado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of apartarse with all six persons. The gerund is apartando and the past participle is apartado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparto |
| tú | apartas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparta |
| nosotros/as | apartamos |
| vosotros/as | apartáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apartan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparté |
| tú | apartaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | apartó |
| nosotros/as | apartamos |
| vosotros/as | apartasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apartaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apartaba |
| tú | apartabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | apartaba |
| nosotros/as | apartábamos |
| vosotros/as | apartabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apartaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apartaré |
| tú | apartarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | apartará |
| nosotros/as | apartaremos |
| vosotros/as | apartaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apartarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apartaría |
| tú | apartarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | apartaría |
| nosotros/as | apartaríamos |
| vosotros/as | apartaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apartarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he apartado |
| tú | has apartado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha apartado |
| nosotros/as | hemos apartado |
| vosotros/as | habéis apartado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han apartado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había apartado |
| tú | habías apartado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había apartado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos apartado |
| vosotros/as | habíais apartado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían apartado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré apartado |
| tú | habrás apartado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá apartado |
| nosotros/as | habremos apartado |
| vosotros/as | habréis apartado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán apartado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría apartado |
| tú | habrías apartado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría apartado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos apartado |
| vosotros/as | habríais apartado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían apartado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aparte |
| tú | apartes |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparte |
| nosotros/as | apartemos |
| vosotros/as | apartéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apartara |
| tú | apartaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | apartara |
| nosotros/as | apartáramos |
| vosotros/as | apartarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apartaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aparta |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparte |
| nosotros/as | apartemos |
| vosotros/as | apartad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | apartes |
| él/ella/Ud. | aparte |
| nosotros/as | apartemos |
| vosotros/as | apartéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aparten |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about apartarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of apartarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me aparto del camino del coche. — "Every day, I move away from the car's path." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me aparté de la ventana por el frío. — "Yesterday, I moved away from the window because of the cold." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me apartaba del grupo durante el recreo. — "In the past, I used to move away from the group during break." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos apartaremos de su amigo tras la pelea. — "Tomorrow, we will move away from his friend after the fight." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te apartarías del camino del coche. — "If you could, you would move away from the car's path." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he apartado de la ventana por el frío. — "I have moved away from the window because of the cold." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había apartado del grupo durante el recreo. — "Before the party, I had moved away from the group during break." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré apartado de su amigo tras la pelea. — "By tomorrow, I will have moved away from his friend after the fight." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría apartado del camino del coche. — "If I had been able to, I would have moved away from the car's path." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se aparte de la ventana por el frío. — "I hope that he/she moves away from the window because of the cold." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se apartara del grupo durante el recreo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she moved away from the group during break, everything would turn out better." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se aparte de su amigo tras la pelea! — "Let him/her move away from his friend after the fight!" For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- 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 apartarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te apartes del camino del coche. — "Do not move away from the car's path." For apartarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem apart- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: apartarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with apartarse, 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 me aparto del camino del coche. — "Every day, I move away from the car's path." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me aparté de la ventana por el frío. — "Yesterday, I moved away from the window because of the cold." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me apartaba del grupo durante el recreo. — "In the past, I used to move away from the group during break." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos apartaremos de su amigo tras la pelea. — "Tomorrow, we will move away from his friend after the fight." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te apartarías del camino del coche. — "If you could, you would move away from the car's path." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he apartado de la ventana por el frío. — "I have moved away from the window because of the cold." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se aparte del grupo durante el recreo. — "I hope that he/she moves away from the group during break." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se apartara de su amigo tras la pelea, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she moved away from his friend after the fight, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te apartes del camino del coche! — "Do not move away from the car's path!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy apartando de la ventana por el frío. — "Now, I am moving away from the window because of the cold." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with apartarse
The errors learners actually make with apartarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo aparto del camino del coche.
- Right: Yo me aparto del camino del coche.
- Why: apartarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me aparto del camino del coche.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os apartais del camino del coche.
- Right: Vosotros os apartáis del camino del coche.
- Why: The vosotros form apartáis 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 me aparto de la ventana por el frío.
- Right: Ayer, yo me aparté de la ventana por el frío.
- 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 me aparté de la ventana por el frío. — "Yesterday, I moved away from the window because of the cold."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy apartado del grupo durante el recreo.
- Right: Me estoy apartando del grupo durante el recreo.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund apartando for the progressive. The participle apartado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he apartado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos aparta del camino del coche.
- Right: Nosotros nos apartamos del camino del coche.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes apartamos, while aparta belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: apartarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on apartarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of apartarse in the present tense?
- (a) apartas
- (b) aparta
- (c) apartamos
- (d) aparto
Answer: (d) aparto. The yo form is aparto. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of apartarse in the present tense?
- (a) aparta
- (b) apartamos
- (c) apartas
- (d) aparto
Answer: (c) apartas. The tú form is apartas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of apartarse in the present tense?
- (a) apartamos
- (b) aparta
- (c) aparto
- (d) apartas
Answer: (b) aparta. The él/ella form is aparta. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of apartarse in the present tense?
- (a) apartamos
- (b) aparto
- (c) apartas
- (d) aparta
Answer: (a) apartamos. The nosotros form is apartamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of apartarse in the present tense?
- (a) aparto
- (b) apartas
- (c) aparta
- (d) apartan
Answer: (d) apartan. The ellos/ellas form is apartan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of apartarse?
- (a) apartado
- (b) aparto
- (c) apartarse
- (d) apartando
Answer: (d) apartando. The gerund is apartando, used for the progressive: me estoy apartando.
7. What is the past participle of apartarse?
- (a) aparté
- (b) apartarse
- (c) apartado
- (d) apartando
Answer: (c) apartado. The past participle is apartado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he apartado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ del camino del coche.
- (a) apartamos
- (b) aparto
- (c) apartas
- (d) aparta
Answer: (b) aparto. The sentence needs the yo form aparto (Every day, I move away from the car's path.)
9. What is the yo form of apartarse in the preterite?
- (a) aparté
- (b) apartaste
- (c) apartó
- (d) apartamos
Answer: (a) aparté. The yo preterite is aparté. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ del grupo durante el recreo.
- (a) apartemos
- (b) apartéis
- (c) aparte
- (d) apartes
Answer: (c) aparte. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is aparte.
Frequently asked questions about apartarse
Is apartarse regular?
Yes. apartarse is a regular -ar verb: aparto, aparté, apartaba, apartaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does apartarse mean, and when do I use it?
apartarse means "to move away" in English. Use it when you talk about the car's path, the window because of the cold, the group during break and his friend after the fight — for example: Yo me aparto del camino del coche. — "I move away from the car's path." 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 me aparto del camino del coche. — "I move away from the car's path." 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 apartarse reflexive?
Yes. apartarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me aparto del camino del coche. — "I move away from the car's path." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with apartarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me aparto del camino del coche. — "I move away from the car's path." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me aparté del camino del coche. — "Yesterday, I moved away from the car's path." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.