Exceptuar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb exceptuar means to except, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Exceptuar means to except or exempt someone from something: exceptuar a su hijo de la norma. It takes a person as its object and de for the rule or payment. Like every Spanish verb, exceptuar 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 Yo exceptúo a su hijo de la norma — "I except his son from the rule". 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: exceptuar
  • English: to except
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: exceptuando
  • Past participle: exceptuado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + exceptuado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for exceptuar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for exceptuar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem.

Present indicative

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptúo | | tú | exceptúas | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptúa | | nosotros/as | exceptuamos | | vosotros/as | exceptuáis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptúan |

Preterite

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptué | | tú | exceptuaste | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptuó | | nosotros/as | exceptuamos | | vosotros/as | exceptuasteis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptuaron |

Imperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptuaba | | tú | exceptuabas | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptuaba | | nosotros/as | exceptuábamos | | vosotros/as | exceptuabais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptuaban |

Future

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptuaré | | tú | exceptuarás | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptuará | | nosotros/as | exceptuaremos | | vosotros/as | exceptuaréis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptuarán |

Conditional

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptuaría | | tú | exceptuarías | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptuaría | | nosotros/as | exceptuaríamos | | vosotros/as | exceptuaríais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptuarían |

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptúe | | tú | exceptúes | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptúe | | nosotros/as | exceptuemos | | vosotros/as | exceptuéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptúen |

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | exceptuara | | tú | exceptuaras | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptuara | | nosotros/as | exceptuáramos | | vosotros/as | exceptuarais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptuaran |

Imperative (affirmative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | exceptúa | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptúe | | nosotros/as | exceptuemos | | vosotros/as | exceptuad | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptúen |

Imperative (negative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | exceptúes | | él/ella/Ud. | exceptúe | | nosotros/as | exceptuemos | | vosotros/as | exceptuéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | exceptúen |

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund exceptuando with estar for the progressive: está exceptuando
Past participle exceptuado with haber for the perfect tenses: he exceptuado

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 exceptuar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo exceptúo a su hijo de la norma — "I except his son from the rule".

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 exceptuar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, yo exceptué a los niños del pago — "Yesterday, I excepted the children from the payment".

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 exceptuar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, yo exceptuaba a nadie de la obligación — "As a child, I used to except nobody from the obligation".

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 exceptuar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, yo exceptuaré a su amigo de la lista — "Tomorrow, I will except his friend from the list".

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 exceptuar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo exceptuaría a su hijo de la norma si pudiera — "I would except his son from the rule if I could".

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 exceptuar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, yo he exceptuado a los niños del pago — "Today, I have excepted the children from the payment".

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 exceptuar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo ya había exceptuado a nadie de la obligación antes de salir — "I already had excepted nobody from the obligation before leaving".

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 exceptuar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, yo habré exceptuado a su amigo de la lista — "By tomorrow, I will have excepted his friend from the list".

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 exceptuar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría exceptuado a su hijo de la norma con más tiempo — "I would have excepted his son from the rule with more time".

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 exceptuar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él exceptúe a los niños del pago — "I hope he excepts the children from the payment".

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past. The -ra forms are 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 exceptuar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo exceptuara a nadie de la obligación, todo cambiaría — "If I excepted nobody from the obligation, everything would change".

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 exceptuar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Exceptúa a su amigo de la lista. — "Except his friend from the list.".

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 exceptuar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No exceptúes a su hijo de la norma. — "Do not except his son from the rule.".

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with exceptuar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Yo exceptúo a su hijo de la norma — "I except his son from the rule"
  2. Mi amigo exceptúa a los niños del pago — "My friend excepts the children from the payment"
  3. Ayer, yo exceptué a nadie de la obligación — "Yesterday, I excepted nobody from the obligation"
  4. Antes, nosotros exceptuábamos a su amigo de la lista — "Before, we used to except his friend from the list"
  5. Mañana, tú exceptuarás a los ancianos del impuesto — "Tomorrow, you will except elderly people from the tax"
  6. Yo exceptuaría a su hijo de la norma si tuviera más tiempo — "I would except his son from the rule if I had more time"
  7. Él ha exceptuado a los niños del pago — "He has excepted the children from the payment"
  8. Espero que él exceptúe a nadie de la obligación — "I hope he excepts nobody from the obligation"
  9. Yo ya había exceptuado a su amigo de la lista antes de salir — "I already had excepted his friend from the list before leaving"
  10. Ellos exceptuaban a los ancianos del impuesto cuando eran jóvenes — "They used to except elderly people from the tax when they were young"

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Espero que él exceptúa a los niños del pago — Right: Espero que él exceptúe a los niños del pago — After espero que, Spanish requires the subjunctive: Espero que él exceptúe a los niños del pago — not the indicative Espero que él exceptúa a los niños del pago.
  2. Wrong: Ayer, yo exceptúo a nadie de la obligación — Right: Ayer, yo exceptué a nadie de la obligación — Ayer points to a finished action in the past, so it needs the preterite: Ayer, yo exceptué a nadie de la obligación.
  3. Wrong: De niño, yo exceptué a su amigo de la lista todos los días — Right: De niño, yo exceptuaba a su amigo de la lista todos los días — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect, not the preterite: De niño, yo exceptuaba a su amigo de la lista todos los días.
  4. Wrong: Yo exceptúo su hijo de la norma. — Right: Yo exceptúo a su hijo de la norma. — exceptuar takes a before this complement: Yo exceptúo a su hijo de la norma. Dropping the preposition is a common learner error.
  5. Wrong: Vosotros exceptuais a los ancianos del impuesto. — Right: Vosotros exceptuáis a los ancianos del impuesto. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: exceptuáis, not exceptuais.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ a su hijo de la norma — "I except his son from the rule" (present) A. exceptúa B. exceptuamos C. exceptúo D. exceptúas

  2. Complete the sentence: Él ______ a los niños del pago — "He excepted the children from the payment" (preterite) A. exceptuaste B. exceptuamos C. exceptuó D. exceptué

  3. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ a nadie de la obligación — "We used to except nobody from the obligation" (imperfect) A. exceptuabas B. exceptuabais C. exceptuábamos D. exceptuaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Tú ______ a su amigo de la lista — "You will except his friend from the list" (future) A. exceptuaré B. exceptuará C. exceptuaremos D. exceptuarás

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ a los ancianos del impuesto — "I would except elderly people from the tax" (conditional) A. exceptuaríais B. exceptuaría C. exceptuarías D. exceptuaríamos

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ______ a su hijo de la norma — "I hope he excepts his son from the rule" (present subjunctive) A. exceptuemos B. exceptuéis C. exceptúe D. exceptúes

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ______ a los niños del pago, todo cambiaría — "If I excepted the children from the payment, everything would change" (imperfect subjunctive) A. exceptuáramos B. exceptuarais C. exceptuara D. exceptuaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ a nadie de la obligación — "We have excepted nobody from the obligation" (present perfect) A. has exceptuado B. ha exceptuado C. hemos exceptuado D. he exceptuado

  9. Complete the sentence: No ______ a su amigo de la lista. — "Do not except his friend from the list." (negative imperative) A. exceptúe B. exceptuemos C. exceptuéis D. exceptúes

  10. Which is the gerund of exceptuar, used with estar for the progressive? A. exceptué B. exceptuando C. exceptuado D. exceptúo

Answer key

  1. exceptúo — The present form for yo is exceptúo.
  2. exceptuó — The preterite form for él/ella/Ud. is exceptuó.
  3. exceptuábamos — The imperfect form for nosotros/as is exceptuábamos.
  4. exceptuarás — The future form for tú is exceptuarás.
  5. exceptuaría — The conditional form for yo is exceptuaría.
  6. exceptúe — The present subjunctive form for él/ella/Ud. is exceptúe.
  7. exceptuara — The imperfect subjunctive form for yo is exceptuara.
  8. hemos exceptuado — The present perfect form for nosotros/as is hemos exceptuado.
  9. exceptúes — The negative imperative form is exceptúes.
  10. exceptuando — The gerund of exceptuar is exceptuando: estoy exceptuando. The participle exceptuado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does exceptuar mean in English?

exceptuar means to except. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo exceptúo a su hijo de la norma — "I except his son from the rule". The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is exceptuar regular?

Yes. exceptuar is a regular -ar verb, so once you know the endings for its class you can conjugate it in every tense. The only thing to watch is the written accent on some forms, such as exceptuáis.

What is the gerund and the past participle of exceptuar?

The gerund is exceptuando and the past participle is exceptuado. Use the gerund with estar for the progressive, and the participle with haber for the perfect tenses.

How do I say "I except" in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Ayer, yo exceptué a los niños del pago — "Yesterday, I excepted the children from the payment". For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: De niño, yo exceptuaba a nadie de la obligación — "As a child, I used to except nobody from the obligation". For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Hoy, yo he exceptuado a los niños del pago — "Today, I have excepted the children from the payment".

What is the difference between exceptuar and excluir?

Excluir is to exclude someone from a group or a place. Exceptuar is to make an exception for them from a rule or an obligation. Exceptuar means to except or exempt someone from something: exceptuar a su hijo de la norma. It takes a person as its object and de for the rule or payment.

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