Comparar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb comparar means to compare, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Comparar means to compare, and it is used for comparing prices, comparing before and after, comparing two cars before buying and comparing marks with friends. It takes con for the second element, as in comparar los precios con los de otra tienda. Like every Spanish verb, comparar 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 comparo los precios de dos tiendas, and in the preterite you say comparé dos coches antes de comprar. 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: comparar
  • English: to compare
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: comparando
  • Past participle: comparado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + comparado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for comparar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Comparar is fully regular: comparé, comparaba, compararé. It takes con: comparo los precios con los de otra tienda.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for comparar. 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 comparo
tú comparas
él/ella/Ud. compara
nosotros/as comparamos
vosotros/as comparáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. comparan

Preterite

Person Form
yo comparé
tú comparaste
él/ella/Ud. comparó
nosotros/as comparamos
vosotros/as comparasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. compararon

Imperfect

Person Form
yo comparaba
tú comparabas
él/ella/Ud. comparaba
nosotros/as comparábamos
vosotros/as comparabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. comparaban

Future

Person Form
yo compararé
tú compararás
él/ella/Ud. comparará
nosotros/as compararemos
vosotros/as compararéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. compararán

Conditional

Person Form
yo compararía
tú compararías
él/ella/Ud. compararía
nosotros/as compararíamos
vosotros/as compararíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. compararían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo compare
tú compares
él/ella/Ud. compare
nosotros/as comparemos
vosotros/as comparéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. comparen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo comparara
tú compararas
él/ella/Ud. comparara
nosotros/as comparáramos
vosotros/as compararais
ellos/ellas/Uds. compararan

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú compara
él/ella/Ud. compare
nosotros/as comparemos
vosotros/as comparad
ellos/ellas/Uds. comparen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú compares
él/ella/Ud. compare
nosotros/as comparemos
vosotros/as comparéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. comparen

Gerund and past participle

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

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 comparar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Comparo los precios de dos tiendas. 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 comparar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, comparé el antes y el después. 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 comparar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, comparaba dos coches antes de comprar. 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 comparar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, compararé las notas con mis amigos. 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 comparar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Compararía los precios de dos tiendas 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 comparar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he comparado el antes y el después. 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 comparar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había comparado dos coches antes de comprar 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 comparar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré comparado las notas con mis amigos. 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 comparar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría comparado los precios de dos tiendas 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 comparar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él compare el antes y el después. 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 comparar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él comparara dos coches antes de comprar, 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 comparar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡compara las notas con mis amigos! 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 comparar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No compares los precios de dos tiendas. 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 comparar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Comparo los precios de dos tiendas. — I compare the prices of two shops.
  2. Compara el antes y el después. — He/she compares the before and after.
  3. Ayer, comparé dos coches antes de comprar. — Yesterday, I compared two cars before buying.
  4. Antes, nosotros comparábamos las notas con mis amigos. — Before, we used to compare my marks with my friends.
  5. Mañana, tú compararás los precios de dos tiendas. — Tomorrow, you will compare the prices of two shops.
  6. Yo compararía el antes y el después si tuviera más tiempo. — I would compare the before and after if I had more time.
  7. Él ha comparado dos coches antes de comprar. — He has compared two cars before buying.
  8. Espero que él compare las notas con mis amigos. — I hope he compares my marks with my friends.
  9. Yo ya había comparado los precios de dos tiendas antes de salir. — I had already compared the prices of two shops before leaving.
  10. Ellos comparaban el antes y el después cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to compare the before and after when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo compara los precios de dos tiendas. — Right: Yo comparo los precios de dos tiendas. — The person matters: compara is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is comparo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Treating comparar and contrastar as identical in every context. — Right: Comparar means to compare, while contrastar means to contrast two things. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: comparar fits sentences such as Comparo los precios de dos tiendas, while contrastar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  3. Wrong: Yo soy comparado el antes y el después. — Right: Yo he comparado el antes y el después. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he comparado, has comparado, ha comparado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo comparé dos coches antes de comprar todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo comparaba dos coches antes de comprar todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (comparaba), not the preterite. The preterite (comparé) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ los precios de dos tiendas. (present tense) A. comparo B. comparas C. compara D. comparamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el antes y el después. (preterite) A. comparé B. comparaste C. compararon D. comparó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ dos coches antes de comprar. (imperfect) A. comparabas B. comparaban C. comparábamos D. comparaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ las notas con mis amigos. (future) A. compararemos B. compararás C. compararé D. comparará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ los precios de dos tiendas si pudiera. (conditional) A. compararía B. compararías C. compararían D. comparo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el antes y el después. (present subjunctive) A. compares B. comparemos C. comparo D. compare

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ dos coches antes de comprar, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. comparáramos B. comparo C. comparara D. compararas

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ las notas con mis amigos. (present perfect) A. han comparado B. hemos comparado C. he comparado D. has comparado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ los precios de dos tiendas! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. compara B. compare C. comparemos D. comparad

  10. Which is the gerund of comparar, used with estar for the progressive? A. comparado B. comparo C. comparé D. comparando

Answer key

  1. comparo — The first-person present of comparar is comparo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. comparó — The third-person preterite of comparar is comparó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. comparábamos — The nosotros imperfect of comparar is comparábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. compararás — The second-person future of comparar is compararás.
  5. compararía — The first-person conditional of comparar is compararía, the form for what would happen.
  6. compare — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of comparar is compare.
  7. comparara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of comparar is comparara.
  8. hemos comparado — The nosotros present perfect of comparar is hemos comparado: hemos + comparado.
  9. compara — The affirmative tú imperative of comparar is compara.
  10. comparando — The gerund of comparar is comparando: estoy comparando. The participle comparado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does comparar mean in English?

Comparar means to compare. It is used in everyday situations such as Comparo los precios de dos tiendas. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is comparar regular or irregular?

Comparar 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 comparo in the present and comparé in the preterite.

What is the difference between comparar and contrastar?

Comparar means to compare, while contrastar means to contrast two things. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use comparar when you mean to compare, as in Comparo los precios de dos tiendas, and use contrastar for to contrast two things. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I compare” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo comparé el antes y el después. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo comparaba dos coches antes de comprar. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he comparado el antes y el después.

How do I practise comparar?

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

Related links