Componer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb componer means to compose, to fix, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Componer means to compose or to fix, and it covers composing a song, making up a team and fixing a machine. It follows the pattern of poner, with the present compongo, the preterite compuse and the irregular participle compuesto. Like every Spanish verb, componer 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 compongo una canción para el concurso, and in the preterite you say compuse la radio rota del abuelo. 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: componer
  • English: to compose, to fix
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: componiendo
  • Past participle: compuesto
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + compuesto)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for componer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Componer follows poner: the present is compongo, the preterite is compuse, and the participle is compuesto.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for componer. 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 compongo
tú compones
él/ella/Ud. compone
nosotros/as componemos
vosotros/as componéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. componen

Preterite

Person Form
yo compuse
tú compusiste
él/ella/Ud. compuso
nosotros/as compusimos
vosotros/as compusisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. compusieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo componía
tú componías
él/ella/Ud. componía
nosotros/as componíamos
vosotros/as componíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. componían

Future

Person Form
yo compondré
tú compondrás
él/ella/Ud. compondrá
nosotros/as compondremos
vosotros/as compondréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. compondrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo compondría
tú compondrías
él/ella/Ud. compondría
nosotros/as compondríamos
vosotros/as compondríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. compondrían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo componga
tú compongas
él/ella/Ud. componga
nosotros/as compongamos
vosotros/as compongáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. compongan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo compusiera
tú compusieras
él/ella/Ud. compusiera
nosotros/as compusiéramos
vosotros/as compusierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. compusieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú compón
él/ella/Ud. componga
nosotros/as compongamos
vosotros/as componed
ellos/ellas/Uds. compongan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú compongas
él/ella/Ud. componga
nosotros/as compongamos
vosotros/as compongáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. compongan

Gerund and past participle

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

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Compongo una canción para el concurso. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, compuse el equipo con los mejores. 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 componer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, componía la radio rota del abuelo. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, compondré un poema para su madre. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Compondría una canción para el concurso 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is compuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For componer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he compuesto el equipo con los mejores. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is compuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For componer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había compuesto la radio rota del abuelo 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is compuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For componer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré compuesto un poema para su madre. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is compuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For componer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría compuesto una canción para el concurso 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él componga el equipo con los mejores. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él compusiera la radio rota del abuelo, 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Compón un poema para su madre! 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For componer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No compongas una canción para el concurso. 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 componer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Compongo una canción para el concurso. — I compose a song for the competition.
  2. Compone el equipo con los mejores. — He/she composes the team with the best players.
  3. Ayer, compuse la radio rota del abuelo. — Yesterday, I composed grandad's broken radio.
  4. Antes, nosotros componíamos un poema para su madre. — Before, we used to compose a poem for his mother.
  5. Mañana, tú compondrás una canción para el concurso. — Tomorrow, you will compose a song for the competition.
  6. Yo compondría el equipo con los mejores si tuviera más tiempo. — I would compose the team with the best players if I had more time.
  7. Él ha compuesto la radio rota del abuelo. — He has composed grandad's broken radio.
  8. Espero que él componga un poema para su madre. — I hope he composes a poem for his mother.
  9. Yo ya había compuesto una canción para el concurso antes de salir. — I had already composed a song for the competition before leaving.
  10. Ellos componían el equipo con los mejores cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to compose the team with the best players when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo compone una canción para el concurso. — Right: Yo compongo una canción para el concurso. — The person matters: compone is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is compongo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo componí el equipo con los mejores. — Right: Ayer yo compuse el equipo con los mejores. — Componer has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is compuse, not the regular componí. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
  3. Wrong: Treating componer and arreglar as identical in every context. — Right: Componer means to compose, to fix, while arreglar means to fix. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: componer fits sentences such as Compongo una canción para el concurso, while arreglar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy compuesto el equipo con los mejores. — Right: Yo he compuesto el equipo con los mejores. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he compuesto, has compuesto, ha compuesto. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo compuse la radio rota del abuelo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo componía la radio rota del abuelo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (componía), not the preterite. The preterite (compuse) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una canción para el concurso. (present tense) A. compongo B. compones C. compone D. componemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el equipo con los mejores. (preterite) A. compuse B. compusiste C. compusieron D. compuso

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la radio rota del abuelo. (imperfect) A. componías B. componían C. componíamos D. componía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ un poema para su madre. (future) A. compondremos B. compondrás C. compondré D. compondrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una canción para el concurso si pudiera. (conditional) A. compondría B. compondrías C. compondrían D. compongo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el equipo con los mejores. (present subjunctive) A. compongas B. compongamos C. compongo D. componga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la radio rota del abuelo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. compusiéramos B. compongo C. compusiera D. compusieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ un poema para su madre. (present perfect) A. han compuesto B. hemos compuesto C. he compuesto D. has compuesto

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ una canción para el concurso! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. compón B. componga C. compongamos D. componed

  10. Which is the gerund of componer, used with estar for the progressive? A. compuesto B. compongo C. compuse D. componiendo

Answer key

  1. compongo — The first-person present of componer is compongo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. compuso — The third-person preterite of componer is compuso, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. componíamos — The nosotros imperfect of componer is componíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. compondrás — The second-person future of componer is compondrás.
  5. compondría — The first-person conditional of componer is compondría, the form for what would happen.
  6. componga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of componer is componga.
  7. compusiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of componer is compusiera.
  8. hemos compuesto — The nosotros present perfect of componer is hemos compuesto: hemos + compuesto.
  9. compón — The affirmative tú imperative of componer is compón.
  10. componiendo — The gerund of componer is componiendo: estoy componiendo. The participle compuesto is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does componer mean in English?

Componer means to compose, to fix. It is used in everyday situations such as Compongo una canción para el concurso. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is componer regular or irregular?

Componer is irregular in present, preterite, future, conditional, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The other tenses follow the regular pattern. Learn the irregular forms from the tables above rather than guessing them from the infinitive.

What is the difference between componer and arreglar?

Componer means to compose, to fix, while arreglar means to fix. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use componer when you mean to compose, to fix, as in Compongo una canción para el concurso, and use arreglar for to fix. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I compose” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo compuse el equipo con los mejores. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo componía la radio rota del abuelo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he compuesto el equipo con los mejores.

How do I practise componer?

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

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