Instalar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb instalar means to install, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Instalar means to install, and it covers software on a computer, a lamp on a wall, a washing machine in a kitchen and a business in a new city. Its reflexive partner instalarse means to settle in somewhere. It is fully regular and very common in computing and home contexts. Like every Spanish verb, instalar 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 instalo el programa en el ordenador, and in the preterite you say instalé una empresa nueva en la ciudad. 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: instalar
- English: to install
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: instalando
- Past participle: instalado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + instalado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for instalar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Instalar is fully regular: instalé, instalaba, instalaré.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for instalar. 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 | instalo |
| tú | instalas |
| él/ella/Ud. | instala |
| nosotros/as | instalamos |
| vosotros/as | instaláis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instalé |
| tú | instalaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | instaló |
| nosotros/as | instalamos |
| vosotros/as | instalasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instalaba |
| tú | instalabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | instalaba |
| nosotros/as | instalábamos |
| vosotros/as | instalabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instalaré |
| tú | instalarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | instalará |
| nosotros/as | instalaremos |
| vosotros/as | instalaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instalaría |
| tú | instalarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | instalaría |
| nosotros/as | instalaríamos |
| vosotros/as | instalaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he instalado |
| tú | has instalado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha instalado |
| nosotros/as | hemos instalado |
| vosotros/as | habéis instalado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han instalado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había instalado |
| tú | habías instalado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había instalado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos instalado |
| vosotros/as | habíais instalado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían instalado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré instalado |
| tú | habrás instalado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá instalado |
| nosotros/as | habremos instalado |
| vosotros/as | habréis instalado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán instalado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría instalado |
| tú | habrías instalado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría instalado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos instalado |
| vosotros/as | habríais instalado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían instalado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instale |
| tú | instales |
| él/ella/Ud. | instale |
| nosotros/as | instalemos |
| vosotros/as | instaléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | instalara |
| tú | instalaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | instalara |
| nosotros/as | instaláramos |
| vosotros/as | instalarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | instala |
| él/ella/Ud. | instale |
| nosotros/as | instalemos |
| vosotros/as | instalad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | instales |
| él/ella/Ud. | instale |
| nosotros/as | instalemos |
| vosotros/as | instaléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | instalen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | instalando | with estar for the progressive: estoy instalando |
| Past participle | instalado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he instalado |
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 instalar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Instalo el programa en el ordenador. 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 instalar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, instalé la lámpara en el salón. 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 instalar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, instalaba una empresa nueva en la ciudad. 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 instalar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, instalaré la lavadora en la cocina. 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 instalar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Instalaría el programa en el ordenador 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 instalar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he instalado la lámpara en el salón. 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 instalar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había instalado una empresa nueva en la ciudad 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 instalar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré instalado la lavadora en la cocina. 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 instalar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría instalado el programa en el ordenador 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 instalar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él instale la lámpara en el salón. 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 instalar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él instalara una empresa nueva en la ciudad, 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 instalar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Instala la lavadora en la cocina! 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 instalar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No instales el programa en el ordenador. 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 instalar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Instalo el programa en el ordenador. — I install the program on the computer.
- Instala la lámpara en el salón. — He/she installs the lamp in the living room.
- Ayer, instalé una empresa nueva en la ciudad. — Yesterday, I installed a new company in the city.
- Antes, nosotros instalábamos la lavadora en la cocina. — Before, we used to install the washing machine in the kitchen.
- Mañana, tú instalarás el programa en el ordenador. — Tomorrow, you will install the program on the computer.
- Yo instalaría la lámpara en el salón si tuviera más tiempo. — I would install the lamp in the living room if I had more time.
- Él ha instalado una empresa nueva en la ciudad. — He has installed a new company in the city.
- Espero que él instale la lavadora en la cocina. — I hope he installs the washing machine in the kitchen.
- Yo ya había instalado el programa en el ordenador antes de salir. — I had already installed the program on the computer before leaving.
- Ellos instalaban la lámpara en el salón cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to install the lamp in the living room when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo instala el programa en el ordenador. — Right: Yo instalo el programa en el ordenador. — The person matters: instala is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is instalo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo instalo la lámpara en el salón. — Right: Ayer yo instalé la lámpara en el salón. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: instalo is happening now, while instalé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating instalar and montar as identical in every context. — Right: Instalar means to install, while montar means to assemble, to put together. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: instalar fits sentences such as Instalo el programa en el ordenador, while montar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy instalado la lámpara en el salón. — Right: Yo he instalado la lámpara en el salón. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he instalado, has instalado, ha instalado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo instalé una empresa nueva en la ciudad todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo instalaba una empresa nueva en la ciudad todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (instalaba), not the preterite. The preterite (instalé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on instalar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el programa en el ordenador. (present tense) A. instalo B. instalas C. instala D. instalamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la lámpara en el salón. (preterite) A. instalé B. instalaste C. instalamos D. instaló
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una empresa nueva en la ciudad. (imperfect) A. instalabas B. instalo C. instalábamos D. instalaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la lavadora en la cocina. (future) A. instalaremos B. instalarás C. instalaré D. instalará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el programa en el ordenador si pudiera. (conditional) A. instalaría B. instalarías C. instalaríamos D. instalo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la lámpara en el salón. (present subjunctive) A. instales B. instalemos C. instalo D. instale
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una empresa nueva en la ciudad, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. instaláramos B. instalo C. instalara D. instalaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la lavadora en la cocina. (present perfect) A. ha instalado B. hemos instalado C. he instalado D. has instalado
Complete the command: ¡___ el programa en el ordenador! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. instala B. instale C. instalemos D. instalad
Which is the gerund of instalar, used with estar for the progressive? A. instalado B. instalo C. instalé D. instalando
Answer key
- instalo — The yo present tense of instalar is instalo.
- instaló — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of instalar is instaló.
- instalábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of instalar is instalábamos.
- instalarás — The tú future of instalar is instalarás.
- instalaría — The yo conditional of instalar is instalaría.
- instale — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of instalar is instale.
- instalara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of instalar is instalara.
- hemos instalado — The nosotros/as present perfect of instalar is hemos instalado.
- instala — The affirmative tú imperative of instalar is instala.
- instalando — The gerund of instalar is instalando: estoy instalando. The participle instalado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does instalar mean in English?
Instalar means to install. It is used in everyday situations such as Instalo el programa en el ordenador. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is instalar regular or irregular?
Instalar 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 instalo in the present and instalé in the preterite.
What is the difference between instalar and montar?
Instalar means to install, while montar means to assemble, to put together. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use instalar when you mean to install, as in Instalo el programa en el ordenador, and use montar for to assemble, to put together. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I install” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo instalé la lámpara en el salón. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo instalaba una empresa nueva en la ciudad. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he instalado la lámpara en el salón.
How do I practise instalar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the instalar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Instalar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for instalar.
- Instalar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for instalar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Insultar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with instalar.
- Iniciar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with instalar.
- Integrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with instalar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.