Flotar Conjugation in Spanish
flotar means "to float" in English, and it comes up when people talk about the river, the water in the swimming pool, the sea with the waves and the air like a balloon. This page gives you the complete conjugation of flotar in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. flotar is a regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo floto en el río. — "Every day, I float in the river." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: flotar
- English: to float
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Gerund: flotando
- Past participle: flotado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + flotado)
Full conjugation table
Every tense of flotar with all six persons. The gerund is flotando and the past participle is flotado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | floto |
| tú | flotas |
| él/ella/Ud. | flota |
| nosotros/as | flotamos |
| vosotros/as | flotáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | flotan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | floté |
| tú | flotaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | flotó |
| nosotros/as | flotamos |
| vosotros/as | flotasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | flotaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | flotaba |
| tú | flotabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | flotaba |
| nosotros/as | flotábamos |
| vosotros/as | flotabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | flotaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | flotaré |
| tú | flotarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | flotará |
| nosotros/as | flotaremos |
| vosotros/as | flotaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | flotarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | flotaría |
| tú | flotarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | flotaría |
| nosotros/as | flotaríamos |
| vosotros/as | flotaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | flotarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he flotado |
| tú | has flotado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha flotado |
| nosotros/as | hemos flotado |
| vosotros/as | habéis flotado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han flotado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había flotado |
| tú | habías flotado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había flotado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos flotado |
| vosotros/as | habíais flotado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían flotado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré flotado |
| tú | habrás flotado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá flotado |
| nosotros/as | habremos flotado |
| vosotros/as | habréis flotado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán flotado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría flotado |
| tú | habrías flotado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría flotado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos flotado |
| vosotros/as | habríais flotado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían flotado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | flote |
| tú | flotes |
| él/ella/Ud. | flote |
| nosotros/as | flotemos |
| vosotros/as | flotéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | floten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | flotara |
| tú | flotaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | flotara |
| nosotros/as | flotáramos |
| vosotros/as | flotarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | flotaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | flota |
| él/ella/Ud. | flote |
| nosotros/as | flotemos |
| vosotros/as | flotad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | floten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | flotes |
| él/ella/Ud. | flote |
| nosotros/as | flotemos |
| vosotros/as | flotéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | floten |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about flotar in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of flotar is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo floto en el río. — "Every day, I float in the river." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of flotar is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo floté sobre el agua de la piscina. — "Yesterday, I floated on the water in the swimming pool." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of flotar is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo flotaba en el mar con las olas. — "In the past, I used to float in the sea with the waves." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of flotar is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros flotaremos en el aire como un globo. — "Tomorrow, we will float in the air like a balloon." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of flotar is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú flotarías en el río. — "If you could, you would float in the river." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of flotar is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo he flotado sobre el agua de la piscina. — "I have floated on the water in the swimming pool." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of flotar is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo había flotado en el mar con las olas. — "Before the party, I had floated in the sea with the waves." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of flotar is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo habré flotado en el aire como un globo. — "By tomorrow, I will have floated in the air like a balloon." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of flotar is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo habría flotado en el río. — "If I had been able to, I would have floated in the river." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of flotar is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él flote sobre el agua de la piscina. — "I hope that he/she floats on the water in the swimming pool." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of flotar is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él flotara en el mar con las olas, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she floated in the sea with the waves, everything would turn out better." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of flotar is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Flota en el aire como un globo! — "Float in the air like a balloon!" For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of flotar is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No flotes en el río. — "Do not float in the river." For flotar this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem flot- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: flotar in real sentences
Ten sentences with flotar, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo floto en el río. — "Every day, I float in the river." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo floté sobre el agua de la piscina. — "Yesterday, I floated on the water in the swimming pool." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo flotaba en el mar con las olas. — "In the past, I used to float in the sea with the waves." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros flotaremos en el aire como un globo. — "Tomorrow, we will float in the air like a balloon." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú flotarías en el río. — "If you could, you would float in the river." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo he flotado sobre el agua de la piscina. — "I have floated on the water in the swimming pool." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él flote en el mar con las olas. — "I hope that he/she floats in the sea with the waves." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él flotara en el aire como un globo, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she floated in the air like a balloon, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡Flota en el río! — "Float in the river!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo estoy flotando sobre el agua de la piscina. — "Now, I am floating on the water in the swimming pool." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with flotar
The errors learners actually make with flotar, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Adding a reflexive pronoun that does not belong
- Wrong: Yo me floto en el río.
- Right: Yo floto en el río.
- Why: flotar is not reflexive, so there is no pronoun to add. Yo floto en el río. is the correct sentence, and the extra pronoun changes the meaning.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros flotais en el río.
- Right: Vosotros flotáis en el río.
- Why: The vosotros form flotáis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo floto sobre el agua de la piscina.
- Right: Ayer, yo floté sobre el agua de la piscina.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo floté sobre el agua de la piscina. — "Yesterday, I floated on the water in the swimming pool."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Estoy flotado en el mar con las olas.
- Right: Estoy flotando en el mar con las olas.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund flotando for the progressive. The participle flotado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (he flotado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros flota en el río.
- Right: Nosotros flotamos en el río.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes flotamos, while flota belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: flotar conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on flotar. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of flotar in the present tense?
- (a) flotamos
- (b) floto
- (c) flotas
- (d) flota
Answer: (b) floto. The yo form is floto. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of flotar in the present tense?
- (a) flotas
- (b) floto
- (c) flota
- (d) flotamos
Answer: (a) flotas. The tú form is flotas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of flotar in the present tense?
- (a) floto
- (b) flotas
- (c) flotamos
- (d) flota
Answer: (d) flota. The él/ella form is flota. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of flotar in the present tense?
- (a) flotas
- (b) flota
- (c) flotamos
- (d) floto
Answer: (c) flotamos. The nosotros form is flotamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of flotar in the present tense?
- (a) flota
- (b) flotan
- (c) floto
- (d) flotas
Answer: (b) flotan. The ellos/ellas form is flotan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of flotar?
- (a) flotar
- (b) flotando
- (c) flotado
- (d) floto
Answer: (b) flotando. The gerund is flotando, used for the progressive: estoy flotando.
7. What is the past participle of flotar?
- (a) flotado
- (b) flotando
- (c) floté
- (d) flotar
Answer: (a) flotado. The past participle is flotado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: he flotado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ en el río.
- (a) flotas
- (b) flota
- (c) flotamos
- (d) floto
Answer: (d) floto. The sentence needs the yo form floto (Every day, I float in the river.)
9. What is the yo form of flotar in the preterite?
- (a) flotó
- (b) flotamos
- (c) floté
- (d) flotaste
Answer: (c) floté. The yo preterite is floté. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en el mar con las olas.
- (a) flote
- (b) flotes
- (c) flotemos
- (d) flotéis
Answer: (a) flote. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is flote.
Frequently asked questions about flotar
Is flotar regular?
Yes. flotar is a regular -ar verb: floto, floté, flotaba, flotaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does flotar mean, and when do I use it?
flotar means "to float" in English. Use it when you talk about the river, the water in the swimming pool, the sea with the waves and the air like a balloon — for example: Yo floto en el río. — "I float in the river." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo floto en el río. — "I float in the river." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is there a reflexive form of flotar?
No. flotar is not reflexive, so it is used without a pronoun: Yo floto en el río. — "I float in the river." Adding me, te or se would change the meaning, so keep the verb plain unless you mean the reflexive partner.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with flotar?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo floto en el río. — "I float in the river." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo floté en el río. — "Yesterday, I floated in the river." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.