Contraer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb contraer means to contract (a debt, a disease), and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Contraer means to contract, and it is used for contracting a debt, catching a disease and contracting a muscle. It follows the pattern of traer, with the present contraigo, the preterite contraje, the gerund contrayendo and the participle contraído. Like every Spanish verb, contraer 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 contraigo una deuda con el banco, and in the preterite you say contraje el músculo al correr. 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: contraer
  • English: to contract (a debt, a disease)
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: contrayendo
  • Past participle: contraído
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + contraído)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for contraer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Contraer follows traer: the present is contraigo, the preterite is contraje, and the participle is contraído.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for contraer. 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 contraigo
tú contraes
él/ella/Ud. contrae
nosotros/as contraemos
vosotros/as contraéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraen

Preterite

Person Form
yo contraje
tú contrajiste
él/ella/Ud. contrajo
nosotros/as contrajimos
vosotros/as contrajisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. contrajeron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo contraía
tú contraías
él/ella/Ud. contraía
nosotros/as contraíamos
vosotros/as contraíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraían

Future

Person Form
yo contraeré
tú contraerás
él/ella/Ud. contraerá
nosotros/as contraeremos
vosotros/as contraeréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraerán

Conditional

Person Form
yo contraería
tú contraerías
él/ella/Ud. contraería
nosotros/as contraeríamos
vosotros/as contraeríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraerían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo contraiga
tú contraigas
él/ella/Ud. contraiga
nosotros/as contraigamos
vosotros/as contraigáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraigan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo contrajera
tú contrajeras
él/ella/Ud. contrajera
nosotros/as contrajéramos
vosotros/as contrajerais
ellos/ellas/Uds. contrajeran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú contrae
él/ella/Ud. contraiga
nosotros/as contraigamos
vosotros/as contraed
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraigan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú contraigas
él/ella/Ud. contraiga
nosotros/as contraigamos
vosotros/as contraigáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. contraigan

Gerund and past participle

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

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 traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For contraer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Contraigo una deuda con el banco. 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 traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For contraer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, contraje una gripe en invierno. 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 contraer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, contraía el músculo al correr. 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 contraer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, contraeré un compromiso con la empresa. 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 contraer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Contraería una deuda con el banco 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 contraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For contraer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he contraído una gripe en invierno. 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 contraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For contraer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había contraído el músculo al correr 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 contraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For contraer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré contraído un compromiso con la empresa. 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 contraído, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For contraer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría contraído una deuda con el banco 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 traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For contraer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él contraiga una gripe en invierno. 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 traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For contraer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él contrajera el músculo al correr, 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 traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For contraer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Contrae un compromiso con la empresa! 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 traer, with a -g- in the present (as in atraigo), a -j- stem in the preterite (as in atraje), the gerund in -yendo (as in atrayendo), and the participle in -ído (as in atraído). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For contraer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No contraigas una deuda con el banco. 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 contraer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Contraigo una deuda con el banco. — I contract a debt with the bank.
  2. Contrae una gripe en invierno. — He/she contracts flu in winter.
  3. Ayer, contraje el músculo al correr. — Yesterday, I contracted the muscle while running.
  4. Antes, nosotros contraíamos un compromiso con la empresa. — Before, we used to contract a commitment with the company.
  5. Mañana, tú contraerás una deuda con el banco. — Tomorrow, you will contract a debt with the bank.
  6. Yo contraería una gripe en invierno si tuviera más tiempo. — I would contract flu in winter if I had more time.
  7. Él ha contraído el músculo al correr. — He has contracted the muscle while running.
  8. Espero que él contraiga un compromiso con la empresa. — I hope he contracts a commitment with the company.
  9. Yo ya había contraído una deuda con el banco antes de salir. — I had already contracted a debt with the bank before leaving.
  10. Ellos contraían una gripe en invierno cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to contract flu in winter when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo contrae una deuda con el banco. — Right: Yo contraigo una deuda con el banco. — The person matters: contrae is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is contraigo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo contraí una gripe en invierno. — Right: Ayer yo contraje una gripe en invierno. — Contraer has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is contraje, not the regular contraí. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
  3. Wrong: Treating contraer and adquirir as identical in every context. — Right: Contraer means to contract (a debt, a disease), while adquirir means to acquire. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: contraer fits sentences such as Contraigo una deuda con el banco, while adquirir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy contraído una gripe en invierno. — Right: Yo he contraído una gripe en invierno. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he contraído, has contraído, ha contraído. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo contraje el músculo al correr todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo contraía el músculo al correr todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (contraía), not the preterite. The preterite (contraje) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una deuda con el banco. (present tense) A. contraigo B. contraes C. contrae D. contraemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ una gripe en invierno. (preterite) A. contraje B. contrajiste C. contrajeron D. contrajo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el músculo al correr. (imperfect) A. contraías B. contraían C. contraíamos D. contraía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ un compromiso con la empresa. (future) A. contraeremos B. contraerás C. contraeré D. contraerá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una deuda con el banco si pudiera. (conditional) A. contraería B. contraerías C. contraerían D. contraigo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ una gripe en invierno. (present subjunctive) A. contraigas B. contraigamos C. contraigo D. contraiga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el músculo al correr, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. contrajéramos B. contraigo C. contrajera D. contrajeras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ un compromiso con la empresa. (present perfect) A. han contraído B. hemos contraído C. he contraído D. has contraído

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ una deuda con el banco! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. contrae B. contraiga C. contraigamos D. contraed

  10. Which is the gerund of contraer, used with estar for the progressive? A. contraído B. contraigo C. contraje D. contrayendo

Answer key

  1. contraigo — The first-person present of contraer is contraigo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. contrajo — The third-person preterite of contraer is contrajo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. contraíamos — The nosotros imperfect of contraer is contraíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. contraerás — The second-person future of contraer is contraerás.
  5. contraería — The first-person conditional of contraer is contraería, the form for what would happen.
  6. contraiga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of contraer is contraiga.
  7. contrajera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of contraer is contrajera.
  8. hemos contraído — The nosotros present perfect of contraer is hemos contraído: hemos + contraído.
  9. contrae — The affirmative tú imperative of contraer is contrae.
  10. contrayendo — The gerund of contraer is contrayendo: estoy contrayendo. The participle contraído is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does contraer mean in English?

Contraer means to contract (a debt, a disease). It is used in everyday situations such as Contraigo una deuda con el banco. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is contraer regular or irregular?

Contraer is irregular in present, preterite, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, gerund, 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 contraer and adquirir?

Contraer means to contract (a debt, a disease), while adquirir means to acquire. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use contraer when you mean to contract (a debt, a disease), as in Contraigo una deuda con el banco, and use adquirir for to acquire. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I contract (a debt” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo contraje una gripe en invierno. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo contraía el músculo al correr. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he contraído una gripe en invierno.

How do I practise contraer?

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

Related links