Decorar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb decorar means to decorate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Decorar means to decorate, and it covers decorating a house, a room, a cake or a street for a party. It is a fully regular verb, used with the place or thing decorated and often with con for the decoration used. Like every Spanish verb, decorar 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 decoro la casa para Navidad, and in the preterite you say decoré la tarta con nata y fresas. 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: decorar
  • English: to decorate
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: decorando
  • Past participle: decorado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + decorado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for decorar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Decorar is fully regular: decoro, decora. Decorar is the whole job of making a place look good; pintar is only the painting part of it.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for decorar. 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 decoro
tú decoras
él/ella/Ud. decora
nosotros/as decoramos
vosotros/as decoráis
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoran

Preterite

Person Form
yo decoré
tú decoraste
él/ella/Ud. decoró
nosotros/as decoramos
vosotros/as decorasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoraron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo decoraba
tú decorabas
él/ella/Ud. decoraba
nosotros/as decorábamos
vosotros/as decorabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoraban

Future

Person Form
yo decoraré
tú decorarás
él/ella/Ud. decorará
nosotros/as decoraremos
vosotros/as decoraréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. decorarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo decoraría
tú decorarías
él/ella/Ud. decoraría
nosotros/as decoraríamos
vosotros/as decoraríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. decorarían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo decore
tú decores
él/ella/Ud. decore
nosotros/as decoremos
vosotros/as decoréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoren

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo decorara
tú decoraras
él/ella/Ud. decorara
nosotros/as decoráramos
vosotros/as decorarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoraran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú decora
él/ella/Ud. decore
nosotros/as decoremos
vosotros/as decorad
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoren

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú decores
él/ella/Ud. decore
nosotros/as decoremos
vosotros/as decoréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. decoren

Gerund and past participle

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

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 decorar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Decoro la casa para Navidad. 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 decorar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, decoré el salón con flores. 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 decorar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, decoraba la tarta con nata y fresas. 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 decorar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, decoraré la calle para la fiesta. 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 decorar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Decoraría la casa para Navidad 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 decorar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he decorado el salón con flores. 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 decorar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había decorado la tarta con nata y fresas 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 decorar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré decorado la calle para la fiesta. 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 decorar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría decorado la casa para Navidad 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 decorar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él decore el salón con flores. 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 decorar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él decorara la tarta con nata y fresas, 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 decorar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Decora la calle para la fiesta! 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 decorar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No decores la casa para Navidad. 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 decorar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Decoro la casa para Navidad. — I decorate the house for Christmas.
  2. Decora el salón con flores. — He/she decorates the living room with flowers.
  3. Ayer, decoré la tarta con nata y fresas. — Yesterday, I decorated the cake with cream and strawberries.
  4. Antes, nosotros decorábamos la calle para la fiesta. — Before, we used to decorate the street for the party.
  5. Mañana, tú decorarás la casa para Navidad. — Tomorrow, you will decorate the house for Christmas.
  6. Yo decoraría el salón con flores si tuviera más tiempo. — I would decorate the living room with flowers if I had more time.
  7. Él ha decorado la tarta con nata y fresas. — He has decorated the cake with cream and strawberries.
  8. Espero que él decore la calle para la fiesta. — I hope he decorates the street for the party.
  9. Yo ya había decorado la casa para Navidad antes de salir. — I had already decorated the house for Christmas before leaving.
  10. Ellos decoraban el salón con flores cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to decorate the living room with flowers when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo decora la casa para Navidad. — Right: Yo decoro la casa para Navidad. — The person matters: decora is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is decoro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo decoro el salón con flores. — Right: Ayer yo decoré el salón con flores. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: decoro is happening now, while decoré is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating decorar and pintar as identical in every context. — Right: Decorar means to decorate, while pintar means to paint. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: decorar fits sentences such as Decoro la casa para Navidad, while pintar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy decorado el salón con flores. — Right: Yo he decorado el salón con flores. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he decorado, has decorado, ha decorado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo decoré la tarta con nata y fresas todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo decoraba la tarta con nata y fresas todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (decoraba), not the preterite. The preterite (decoré) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la casa para Navidad. (present tense) A. decoro B. decoras C. decora D. decoramos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el salón con flores. (preterite) A. decoré B. decoraste C. decoraron D. decoró

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la tarta con nata y fresas. (imperfect) A. decorabas B. decoraban C. decorábamos D. decoraba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la calle para la fiesta. (future) A. decoraremos B. decorarás C. decoraré D. decorará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la casa para Navidad si pudiera. (conditional) A. decoraría B. decorarías C. decorarían D. decoro

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el salón con flores. (present subjunctive) A. decores B. decoremos C. decoro D. decore

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la tarta con nata y fresas, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. decoráramos B. decoro C. decorara D. decoraras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la calle para la fiesta. (present perfect) A. han decorado B. hemos decorado C. he decorado D. has decorado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la casa para Navidad! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. decora B. decore C. decoremos D. decorad

  10. Which is the gerund of decorar, used with estar for the progressive? A. decorado B. decoro C. decoré D. decorando

Answer key

  1. decoro — The first-person present of decorar is decoro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. decoró — The third-person preterite of decorar is decoró, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. decorábamos — The nosotros imperfect of decorar is decorábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. decorarás — The second-person future of decorar is decorarás.
  5. decoraría — The first-person conditional of decorar is decoraría, the form for what would happen.
  6. decore — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of decorar is decore.
  7. decorara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of decorar is decorara.
  8. hemos decorado — The nosotros present perfect of decorar is hemos decorado: hemos + decorado.
  9. decora — The affirmative tú imperative of decorar is decora.
  10. decorando — The gerund of decorar is decorando: estoy decorando. The participle decorado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does decorar mean in English?

Decorar means to decorate. It is used in everyday situations such as Decoro la casa para Navidad. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is decorar regular or irregular?

Decorar 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 decoro in the present and decoré in the preterite.

What is the difference between decorar and pintar?

Decorar means to decorate, while pintar means to paint. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use decorar when you mean to decorate, as in Decoro la casa para Navidad, and use pintar for to paint. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I decorate” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo decoré el salón con flores. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo decoraba la tarta con nata y fresas. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he decorado el salón con flores.

How do I practise decorar?

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

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