Completar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb completar means to complete, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Completar means to complete, and it is used for completing a form, a sentence, a puzzle, a course or a collection: you complete the registration form, you complete a sentence with the right word, you complete the course in June. It is a regular -ar verb, common in school and in administration. Like every Spanish verb, completar 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 completo el formulario de inscripción, and in the preterite you say completé el puzle por la noche. 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: completar
- English: to complete
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: completando
- Past participle: completado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + completado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for completar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Completar is fully regular: completé, completaba, completaré. The noun is completo, complete.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for completar. 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 | completo |
| tú | completas |
| él/ella/Ud. | completa |
| nosotros/as | completamos |
| vosotros/as | completáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | completé |
| tú | completaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | completó |
| nosotros/as | completamos |
| vosotros/as | completasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | completaba |
| tú | completabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | completaba |
| nosotros/as | completábamos |
| vosotros/as | completabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | completaré |
| tú | completarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | completará |
| nosotros/as | completaremos |
| vosotros/as | completaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | completaría |
| tú | completarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | completaría |
| nosotros/as | completaríamos |
| vosotros/as | completaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he completado |
| tú | has completado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha completado |
| nosotros/as | hemos completado |
| vosotros/as | habéis completado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han completado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había completado |
| tú | habías completado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había completado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos completado |
| vosotros/as | habíais completado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían completado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré completado |
| tú | habrás completado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá completado |
| nosotros/as | habremos completado |
| vosotros/as | habréis completado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán completado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría completado |
| tú | habrías completado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría completado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos completado |
| vosotros/as | habríais completado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían completado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | complete |
| tú | completes |
| él/ella/Ud. | complete |
| nosotros/as | completemos |
| vosotros/as | completéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | completara |
| tú | completaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | completara |
| nosotros/as | completáramos |
| vosotros/as | completarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | completa |
| él/ella/Ud. | complete |
| nosotros/as | completemos |
| vosotros/as | completad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | completes |
| él/ella/Ud. | complete |
| nosotros/as | completemos |
| vosotros/as | completéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | completen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | completando | with estar for the progressive: estoy completando |
| Past participle | completado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he completado |
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 completar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Completo el formulario de inscripción. 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 completar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, completé la frase con la palabra correcta. 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 completar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, completaba el puzle por la noche. 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 completar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, completaré el curso en junio. 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 completar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Completaría el formulario de inscripción 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 completar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he completado la frase con la palabra correcta. 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 completar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había completado el puzle por la noche 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 completar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré completado el curso en junio. 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 completar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría completado el formulario de inscripción 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 completar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él complete la frase con la palabra correcta. 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 completar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él completara el puzle por la noche, 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 completar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡completa el curso en junio! 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 completar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No completes el formulario de inscripción. 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 completar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Completo el formulario de inscripción. — I complete the registration form.
- Completa la frase con la palabra correcta. — He/she completes the sentence with the right word.
- Ayer, completé el puzle por la noche. — Yesterday, I completed the puzzle in the evening.
- Antes, nosotros completábamos el curso en junio. — Before, we used to complete the course in June.
- Mañana, tú completarás el formulario de inscripción. — Tomorrow, you will complete the registration form.
- Yo completaría la frase con la palabra correcta si tuviera más tiempo. — I would complete the sentence with the right word if I had more time.
- Él ha completado el puzle por la noche. — He has completed the puzzle in the evening.
- Espero que él complete el curso en junio. — I hope he completes the course in June.
- Yo ya había completado el formulario de inscripción antes de salir. — I had already completed the registration form before leaving.
- Ellos completaban la frase con la palabra correcta cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to complete the sentence with the right word when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo completa el formulario de inscripción. — Right: Yo completo el formulario de inscripción. — The person matters: completa is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is completo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating completar and terminar as identical in every context. — Right: Completar means to complete, while terminar means to finish something. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: completar fits sentences such as Completo el formulario de inscripción, while terminar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy completado la frase con la palabra correcta. — Right: Yo he completado la frase con la palabra correcta. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he completado, has completado, ha completado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo completé el puzle por la noche todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo completaba el puzle por la noche todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (completaba), not the preterite. The preterite (completé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on completar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el formulario de inscripción. (present tense) A. completo B. completas C. completa D. completamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la frase con la palabra correcta. (preterite) A. completé B. completaste C. completaron D. completó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el puzle por la noche. (imperfect) A. completabas B. completaban C. completábamos D. completaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el curso en junio. (future) A. completaremos B. completarás C. completaré D. completará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el formulario de inscripción si pudiera. (conditional) A. completaría B. completarías C. completarían D. completo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la frase con la palabra correcta. (present subjunctive) A. completes B. completemos C. completo D. complete
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el puzle por la noche, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. completáramos B. completo C. completara D. completaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el curso en junio. (present perfect) A. han completado B. hemos completado C. he completado D. has completado
Complete the command: ¡___ el formulario de inscripción! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. completa B. complete C. completemos D. completad
Which is the gerund of completar, used with estar for the progressive? A. completado B. completo C. completé D. completando
Answer key
- completo — The first-person present of completar is completo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- completó — The third-person preterite of completar is completó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- completábamos — The nosotros imperfect of completar is completábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- completarás — The second-person future of completar is completarás.
- completaría — The first-person conditional of completar is completaría, the form for what would happen.
- complete — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of completar is complete.
- completara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of completar is completara.
- hemos completado — The nosotros present perfect of completar is hemos completado: hemos + completado.
- completa — The affirmative tú imperative of completar is completa.
- completando — The gerund of completar is completando: estoy completando. The participle completado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does completar mean in English?
Completar means to complete. It is used in everyday situations such as Completo el formulario de inscripción. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is completar regular or irregular?
Completar 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 completo in the present and completé in the preterite.
What is the difference between completar and terminar?
Completar means to complete, while terminar means to finish something. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use completar when you mean to complete, as in Completo el formulario de inscripción, and use terminar for to finish something. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I complete” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo completé la frase con la palabra correcta. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo completaba el puzle por la noche. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he completado la frase con la palabra correcta.
How do I practise completar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the completar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Completar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for completar.
- Completar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for completar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Comparar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with completar.
- Confirmar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with completar.
- Combinar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with completar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.