Introduction

Cotizar means “to quote (a price)”, and this page covers exactly one thing: cotizar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for cotizar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about cotizar in the present. Cotizar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo cotizo el trabajo” — "I quote the work". Everything on this page uses the forms of cotizar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Cotizar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo cotizo
tú cotizas
él/ella/Ud. cotiza
nosotros/as cotizamos
vosotros/as cotizáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. cotizan

Gerund: cotizando · Past participle: cotizado

The gerund is cotizando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy cotizando” means the action of cotizar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is cotizado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he cotizado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how cotizar is used.

How the present of cotizar is formed

Cotizar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb in the present. Take the stem cotiz and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving cotizo, cotizas, cotiza, cotizamos, cotizáis, cotizan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, cotizáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of cotizar is regular in its endings, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form cotizáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form cotizo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of cotizar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use cotizar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, cotizar goes in the present. Example: “Yo cotizo en bolsa” — "I quote on the stock market".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about cotizar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él cotiza a buen precio” — "He quotes at a good price".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so cotizo can mean both "I quote" and "I am quoting". Example: “Yo cotizo el trabajo” — "I quote the work".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros cotizamos en bolsa” — "We quote on the stock market".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with cotizar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él cotiza a buen precio” — "He quotes at a good price".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo cotizo el trabajo” — "I quote the work".

  • Preterite: “Yo coticé el trabajo” — "I quoted the work".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él cotiza en bolsa” — "He quotes on the stock market".

  • Preterite: “Él cotizó en bolsa” — "He quoted on the stock market".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros cotizamos a buen precio” — "We quote at a good price".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros cotizamos a buen precio” — "We quoted at a good price".

  • The two sentences look identical: cotizamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: cotizar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo cotizo en bolsa” — "I quote on the stock market"

  2. “Tú cotizas a buen precio” — "You quote at a good price"

  3. “Él cotiza el trabajo” — "He quotes the work"

  4. “Nosotros cotizamos en bolsa” — "We quote on the stock market"

  5. “Vosotros cotizáis a buen precio” — "You quote at a good price"

  6. “Ellos cotizan el trabajo” — "They quote the work"

  7. “Yo cotizo en bolsa” — "I quote on the stock market"

  8. “Él cotiza a buen precio” — "He quotes at a good price"

Common mistakes with cotizar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos cotiza el trabajo” Right: “Ellos cotizan el trabajo” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form cotizan. The singular cotiza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo coticé” Right: “Todos los días, yo cotizo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (coticé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo cotiza el trabajo.” Right: “Yo cotizo el trabajo” Why: Yo needs the yo form cotizo. The él form cotiza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo cotizo” Right: “Ayer, yo coticé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to coticé.

Quiz: cotizar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ a buen precio.” (yo form)

A. cotizo B. cotizáis C. cotizamos D. cotiza

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ el trabajo.” (tú form)

A. cotizáis B. cotizamos C. cotizan D. cotizas

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ en bolsa.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. cotiza B. cotizan C. cotizo D. cotizáis

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ a buen precio.” (nosotros/as form)

A. cotizan B. cotizamos C. cotizáis D. cotizo

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ el trabajo.” (vosotros/as form)

A. cotizan B. cotizáis C. cotizamos D. cotizo

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ en bolsa.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. cotizan B. cotizamos C. cotizas D. cotiza

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo cotizo B. Todos los días, yo coticé

Answer key

  1. cotizo — The yo present of cotizar is cotizo.
  2. cotizas — The tú present of cotizar is cotizas.
  3. cotiza — The él/ella/Ud. present of cotizar is cotiza.
  4. cotizamos — The nosotros/as present of cotizar is cotizamos.
  5. cotizáis — The vosotros/as present of cotizar is cotizáis.
  6. cotizan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of cotizar is cotizan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo cotizo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of cotizar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo cotizo el trabajo. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of cotizar formed?

Take the stem cotiz- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving cotizo, cotizas, cotiza, cotizamos, cotizáis, cotizan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for cotizar?

The present (cotizo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (coticé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise cotizar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — cotizo, cotizas, cotiza, cotizamos, cotizáis, cotizan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the cotizar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of cotizar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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