Limitarse Conjugation in Spanish
limitarse means "to limit oneself" in English, and it comes up when people talk about studying in the afternoons, watching from the window, listening in the meeting and eating vegetables at dinner. This page gives you the complete conjugation of limitarse 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. limitarse is a Reflexive 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 me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "Every day, I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: limitarse
- English: to limit oneself
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: limitando
- Past participle: limitado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + limitado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of limitarse with all six persons. The gerund is limitando and the past participle is limitado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limito |
| tú | limitas |
| él/ella/Ud. | limita |
| nosotros/as | limitamos |
| vosotros/as | limitáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limitan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limité |
| tú | limitaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | limitó |
| nosotros/as | limitamos |
| vosotros/as | limitasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limitaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limitaba |
| tú | limitabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | limitaba |
| nosotros/as | limitábamos |
| vosotros/as | limitabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limitaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limitaré |
| tú | limitarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | limitará |
| nosotros/as | limitaremos |
| vosotros/as | limitaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limitarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limitaría |
| tú | limitarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | limitaría |
| nosotros/as | limitaríamos |
| vosotros/as | limitaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limitarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he limitado |
| tú | has limitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha limitado |
| nosotros/as | hemos limitado |
| vosotros/as | habéis limitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han limitado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había limitado |
| tú | habías limitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había limitado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos limitado |
| vosotros/as | habíais limitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían limitado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré limitado |
| tú | habrás limitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá limitado |
| nosotros/as | habremos limitado |
| vosotros/as | habréis limitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán limitado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría limitado |
| tú | habrías limitado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría limitado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos limitado |
| vosotros/as | habríais limitado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían limitado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limite |
| tú | limites |
| él/ella/Ud. | limite |
| nosotros/as | limitemos |
| vosotros/as | limitéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limiten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | limitara |
| tú | limitaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | limitara |
| nosotros/as | limitáramos |
| vosotros/as | limitarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limitaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | limita |
| él/ella/Ud. | limite |
| nosotros/as | limitemos |
| vosotros/as | limitad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limiten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | limites |
| él/ella/Ud. | limite |
| nosotros/as | limitemos |
| vosotros/as | limitéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | limiten |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about limitarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of limitarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "Every day, I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me limité a mirar desde la ventana. — "Yesterday, I limited oneself to watching from the window." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me limitaba a escuchar en la reunión. — "In the past, I used to limit oneself to listening in the meeting." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos limitaremos a comer verduras en la cena. — "Tomorrow, we will limit oneself to eating vegetables at dinner." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te limitarías a estudiar por las tardes. — "If you could, you would limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he limitado a mirar desde la ventana. — "I have limited oneself to watching from the window." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había limitado a escuchar en la reunión. — "Before the party, I had limited oneself to listening in the meeting." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré limitado a comer verduras en la cena. — "By tomorrow, I will have limited oneself to eating vegetables at dinner." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría limitado a estudiar por las tardes. — "If I had been able to, I would have limited oneself to studying in the afternoons." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se limite a mirar desde la ventana. — "I hope that he/she limits oneself to watching from the window." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se limitara a escuchar en la reunión, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she limited oneself to listening in the meeting, everything would turn out better." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se limite a comer verduras en la cena! — "Let him/her limit oneself to eating vegetables at dinner!" For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- 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 limitarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te limites a estudiar por las tardes. — "Do not limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." For limitarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem limit- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: limitarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with limitarse, 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 me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "Every day, I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me limité a mirar desde la ventana. — "Yesterday, I limited oneself to watching from the window." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me limitaba a escuchar en la reunión. — "In the past, I used to limit oneself to listening in the meeting." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos limitaremos a comer verduras en la cena. — "Tomorrow, we will limit oneself to eating vegetables at dinner." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te limitarías a estudiar por las tardes. — "If you could, you would limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he limitado a mirar desde la ventana. — "I have limited oneself to watching from the window." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se limite a escuchar en la reunión. — "I hope that he/she limits oneself to listening in the meeting." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se limitara a comer verduras en la cena, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she limited oneself to eating vegetables at dinner, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te limites a estudiar por las tardes! — "Do not limit oneself to studying in the afternoons!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy limitando a mirar desde la ventana. — "Now, I am limiting oneself to watching from the window." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with limitarse
The errors learners actually make with limitarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo limito a estudiar por las tardes.
- Right: Yo me limito a estudiar por las tardes.
- Why: limitarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me limito a estudiar por las tardes.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os limitais a estudiar por las tardes.
- Right: Vosotros os limitáis a estudiar por las tardes.
- Why: The vosotros form limitáis 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 me limito a mirar desde la ventana.
- Right: Ayer, yo me limité a mirar desde la ventana.
- 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 me limité a mirar desde la ventana. — "Yesterday, I limited oneself to watching from the window."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy limitado a escuchar en la reunión.
- Right: Me estoy limitando a escuchar en la reunión.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund limitando for the progressive. The participle limitado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he limitado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos limita a estudiar por las tardes.
- Right: Nosotros nos limitamos a estudiar por las tardes.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes limitamos, while limita belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: limitarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on limitarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of limitarse in the present tense?
- (a) limitamos
- (b) limito
- (c) limitas
- (d) limita
Answer: (b) limito. The yo form is limito. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of limitarse in the present tense?
- (a) limitas
- (b) limito
- (c) limita
- (d) limitamos
Answer: (a) limitas. The tú form is limitas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of limitarse in the present tense?
- (a) limito
- (b) limitas
- (c) limitamos
- (d) limita
Answer: (d) limita. The él/ella form is limita. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of limitarse in the present tense?
- (a) limitas
- (b) limita
- (c) limitamos
- (d) limito
Answer: (c) limitamos. The nosotros form is limitamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of limitarse in the present tense?
- (a) limita
- (b) limitan
- (c) limito
- (d) limitas
Answer: (b) limitan. The ellos/ellas form is limitan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of limitarse?
- (a) limitarse
- (b) limitando
- (c) limitado
- (d) limito
Answer: (b) limitando. The gerund is limitando, used for the progressive: me estoy limitando.
7. What is the past participle of limitarse?
- (a) limitado
- (b) limitando
- (c) limité
- (d) limitarse
Answer: (a) limitado. The past participle is limitado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he limitado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ a estudiar por las tardes.
- (a) limitas
- (b) limita
- (c) limitamos
- (d) limito
Answer: (d) limito. The sentence needs the yo form limito (Every day, I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons.)
9. What is the yo form of limitarse in the preterite?
- (a) limitó
- (b) limitamos
- (c) limité
- (d) limitaste
Answer: (c) limité. The yo preterite is limité. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a escuchar en la reunión.
- (a) limite
- (b) limites
- (c) limitemos
- (d) limitéis
Answer: (a) limite. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is limite.
Frequently asked questions about limitarse
Is limitarse regular?
Yes. limitarse is a regular -ar verb: limito, limité, limitaba, limitaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does limitarse mean, and when do I use it?
limitarse means "to limit oneself" in English. Use it when you talk about studying in the afternoons, watching from the window, listening in the meeting and eating vegetables at dinner — for example: Yo me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." 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 me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." 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 limitarse reflexive?
Yes. limitarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with limitarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me limito a estudiar por las tardes. — "I limit oneself to studying in the afternoons." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me limité a estudiar por las tardes. — "Yesterday, I limited oneself to studying in the afternoons." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.