Capturar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb capturar means to capture, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Capturar means to capture, and it is used for the police capturing a thief, a camera capturing an image, a fisherman catching a fish and a speaker capturing everyone's attention. It is a regular -ar verb, common in news and in photography. Like every Spanish verb, capturar 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 capturo al ladrón en la calle, and in the preterite you say capturé un pez en el río. 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: capturar
  • English: to capture
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: capturando
  • Past participle: capturado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + capturado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for capturar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Capturar is fully regular: capturé, capturaba, capturaré. Its noun is captura, capture.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for capturar. 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 capturo
tú capturas
él/ella/Ud. captura
nosotros/as capturamos
vosotros/as capturáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturan

Preterite

Person Form
yo capturé
tú capturaste
él/ella/Ud. capturó
nosotros/as capturamos
vosotros/as capturasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturaron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo capturaba
tú capturabas
él/ella/Ud. capturaba
nosotros/as capturábamos
vosotros/as capturabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturaban

Future

Person Form
yo capturaré
tú capturarás
él/ella/Ud. capturará
nosotros/as capturaremos
vosotros/as capturaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo capturaría
tú capturarías
él/ella/Ud. capturaría
nosotros/as capturaríamos
vosotros/as capturaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturarían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo capture
tú captures
él/ella/Ud. capture
nosotros/as capturemos
vosotros/as capturéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo capturara
tú capturaras
él/ella/Ud. capturara
nosotros/as capturáramos
vosotros/as capturarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú captura
él/ella/Ud. capture
nosotros/as capturemos
vosotros/as capturad
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú captures
él/ella/Ud. capture
nosotros/as capturemos
vosotros/as capturéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. capturen

Gerund and past participle

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

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 capturar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Capturo al ladrón en la calle. 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 capturar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, capturé la imagen con la cámara. 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 capturar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, capturaba un pez en el río. 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 capturar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, capturaré la atención de todos. 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 capturar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Capturaría al ladrón en la calle 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 capturar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he capturado la imagen con la cámara. 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 capturar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había capturado un pez en el río 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 capturar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré capturado la atención de todos. 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 capturar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría capturado al ladrón en la calle 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 capturar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él capture la imagen con la cámara. 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 capturar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él capturara un pez en el río, 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 capturar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡captura la atención de todos! 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 capturar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No captures al ladrón en la calle. 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 capturar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Capturo al ladrón en la calle. — I capture the thief in the street.
  2. Captura la imagen con la cámara. — He/she captures the image with the camera.
  3. Ayer, capturé un pez en el río. — Yesterday, I captured a fish in the river.
  4. Antes, nosotros capturábamos la atención de todos. — Before, we used to capture everyone's attention.
  5. Mañana, tú capturarás al ladrón en la calle. — Tomorrow, you will capture the thief in the street.
  6. Yo capturaría la imagen con la cámara si tuviera más tiempo. — I would capture the image with the camera if I had more time.
  7. Él ha capturado un pez en el río. — He has captured a fish in the river.
  8. Espero que él capture la atención de todos. — I hope he captures everyone's attention.
  9. Yo ya había capturado al ladrón en la calle antes de salir. — I had already captured the thief in the street before leaving.
  10. Ellos capturaban la imagen con la cámara cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to capture the image with the camera when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo captura al ladrón en la calle. — Right: Yo capturo al ladrón en la calle. — The person matters: captura is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is capturo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Treating capturar and atrapar as identical in every context. — Right: Capturar means to capture, while atrapar means to catch or trap something. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: capturar fits sentences such as Capturo al ladrón en la calle, while atrapar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  3. Wrong: Yo soy capturado la imagen con la cámara. — Right: Yo he capturado la imagen con la cámara. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he capturado, has capturado, ha capturado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo capturé un pez en el río todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo capturaba un pez en el río todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (capturaba), not the preterite. The preterite (capturé) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al ladrón en la calle. (present tense) A. capturo B. capturas C. captura D. capturamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la imagen con la cámara. (preterite) A. capturé B. capturaste C. capturaron D. capturó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ un pez en el río. (imperfect) A. capturabas B. capturaban C. capturábamos D. capturaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la atención de todos. (future) A. capturaremos B. capturarás C. capturaré D. capturará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al ladrón en la calle si pudiera. (conditional) A. capturaría B. capturarías C. capturarían D. capturo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la imagen con la cámara. (present subjunctive) A. captures B. capturemos C. capturo D. capture

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ un pez en el río, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. capturáramos B. capturo C. capturara D. capturaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la atención de todos. (present perfect) A. han capturado B. hemos capturado C. he capturado D. has capturado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ al ladrón en la calle! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. captura B. capture C. capturemos D. capturad

  10. Which is the gerund of capturar, used with estar for the progressive? A. capturado B. capturo C. capturé D. capturando

Answer key

  1. capturo — The first-person present of capturar is capturo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. capturó — The third-person preterite of capturar is capturó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. capturábamos — The nosotros imperfect of capturar is capturábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. capturarás — The second-person future of capturar is capturarás.
  5. capturaría — The first-person conditional of capturar is capturaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. capture — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of capturar is capture.
  7. capturara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of capturar is capturara.
  8. hemos capturado — The nosotros present perfect of capturar is hemos capturado: hemos + capturado.
  9. captura — The affirmative tú imperative of capturar is captura.
  10. capturando — The gerund of capturar is capturando: estoy capturando. The participle capturado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does capturar mean in English?

Capturar means to capture. It is used in everyday situations such as Capturo al ladrón en la calle. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is capturar regular or irregular?

Capturar 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 capturo in the present and capturé in the preterite.

What is the difference between capturar and atrapar?

Capturar means to capture, while atrapar means to catch or trap something. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use capturar when you mean to capture, as in Capturo al ladrón en la calle, and use atrapar for to catch or trap something. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I capture” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo capturé la imagen con la cámara. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo capturaba un pez en el río. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he capturado la imagen con la cámara.

How do I practise capturar?

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

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