Tardarse Conjugation in Spanish
tardarse means "to take (a long time), to be late" in English, and it comes up when people talk about getting to school, preparing dinner, getting dressed in the morning and the way because of the rain. This page gives you the complete conjugation of tardarse 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. tardarse 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 tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "Every day, I take (a long time) in getting to school." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: tardarse
- English: to take (a long time), to be late
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: tardando
- Past participle: tardado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + tardado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of tardarse with all six persons. The gerund is tardando and the past participle is tardado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tardo |
| tú | tardas |
| él/ella/Ud. | tarda |
| nosotros/as | tardamos |
| vosotros/as | tardáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tardan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tardé |
| tú | tardaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | tardó |
| nosotros/as | tardamos |
| vosotros/as | tardasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tardaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tardaba |
| tú | tardabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | tardaba |
| nosotros/as | tardábamos |
| vosotros/as | tardabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tardaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tardaré |
| tú | tardarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | tardará |
| nosotros/as | tardaremos |
| vosotros/as | tardaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tardarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tardaría |
| tú | tardarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | tardaría |
| nosotros/as | tardaríamos |
| vosotros/as | tardaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tardarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he tardado |
| tú | has tardado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha tardado |
| nosotros/as | hemos tardado |
| vosotros/as | habéis tardado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han tardado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había tardado |
| tú | habías tardado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había tardado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos tardado |
| vosotros/as | habíais tardado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían tardado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré tardado |
| tú | habrás tardado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá tardado |
| nosotros/as | habremos tardado |
| vosotros/as | habréis tardado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán tardado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría tardado |
| tú | habrías tardado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría tardado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos tardado |
| vosotros/as | habríais tardado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían tardado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tarde |
| tú | tardes |
| él/ella/Ud. | tarde |
| nosotros/as | tardemos |
| vosotros/as | tardéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tarden |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tardara |
| tú | tardaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | tardara |
| nosotros/as | tardáramos |
| vosotros/as | tardarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tardaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | tarda |
| él/ella/Ud. | tarde |
| nosotros/as | tardemos |
| vosotros/as | tardad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tarden |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | tardes |
| él/ella/Ud. | tarde |
| nosotros/as | tardemos |
| vosotros/as | tardéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | tarden |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about tardarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of tardarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "Every day, I take (a long time) in getting to school." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me tardé en preparar la cena. — "Yesterday, I took (a long time) in preparing dinner." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me tardaba en vestirse por la mañana. — "In the past, I used to take (a long time) in getting dressed in the morning." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos tardaremos en el camino por la lluvia. — "Tomorrow, we will take (a long time) on the way because of the rain." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te tardarías en llegar a la escuela. — "If you could, you would take (a long time) in getting to school." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he tardado en preparar la cena. — "I have taken (a long time) in preparing dinner." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había tardado en vestirse por la mañana. — "Before the party, I had taken (a long time) in getting dressed in the morning." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré tardado en el camino por la lluvia. — "By tomorrow, I will have taken (a long time) on the way because of the rain." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría tardado en llegar a la escuela. — "If I had been able to, I would have taken (a long time) in getting to school." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se tarde en preparar la cena. — "I hope that he/she takes (a long time) in preparing dinner." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se tardara en vestirse por la mañana, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she took (a long time) in getting dressed in the morning, everything would turn out better." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se tarde en el camino por la lluvia! — "Let him/her take (a long time) on the way because of the rain!" For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- 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 tardarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te tardes en llegar a la escuela. — "Do not take (a long time) in getting to school." For tardarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem tard- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: tardarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with tardarse, 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 tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "Every day, I take (a long time) in getting to school." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me tardé en preparar la cena. — "Yesterday, I took (a long time) in preparing dinner." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me tardaba en vestirse por la mañana. — "In the past, I used to take (a long time) in getting dressed in the morning." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos tardaremos en el camino por la lluvia. — "Tomorrow, we will take (a long time) on the way because of the rain." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te tardarías en llegar a la escuela. — "If you could, you would take (a long time) in getting to school." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he tardado en preparar la cena. — "I have taken (a long time) in preparing dinner." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se tarde en vestirse por la mañana. — "I hope that he/she takes (a long time) in getting dressed in the morning." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se tardara en el camino por la lluvia, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she took (a long time) on the way because of the rain, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te tardes en llegar a la escuela! — "Do not take (a long time) in getting to school!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy tardando en preparar la cena. — "Now, I am taking (a long time) in preparing dinner." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with tardarse
The errors learners actually make with tardarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo tardo en llegar a la escuela.
- Right: Yo me tardo en llegar a la escuela.
- Why: tardarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me tardo en llegar a la escuela.. 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 tardais en llegar a la escuela.
- Right: Vosotros os tardáis en llegar a la escuela.
- Why: The vosotros form tardáis 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 tardo en preparar la cena.
- Right: Ayer, yo me tardé en preparar la cena.
- 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 tardé en preparar la cena. — "Yesterday, I took (a long time) in preparing dinner."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy tardado en vestirse por la mañana.
- Right: Me estoy tardando en vestirse por la mañana.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund tardando for the progressive. The participle tardado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he tardado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos tarda en llegar a la escuela.
- Right: Nosotros nos tardamos en llegar a la escuela.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes tardamos, while tarda belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: tardarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on tardarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of tardarse in the present tense?
- (a) tardas
- (b) tarda
- (c) tardamos
- (d) tardo
Answer: (d) tardo. The yo form is tardo. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of tardarse in the present tense?
- (a) tarda
- (b) tardamos
- (c) tardas
- (d) tardo
Answer: (c) tardas. The tú form is tardas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of tardarse in the present tense?
- (a) tardamos
- (b) tarda
- (c) tardo
- (d) tardas
Answer: (b) tarda. The él/ella form is tarda. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of tardarse in the present tense?
- (a) tardamos
- (b) tardo
- (c) tardas
- (d) tarda
Answer: (a) tardamos. The nosotros form is tardamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of tardarse in the present tense?
- (a) tardo
- (b) tardas
- (c) tarda
- (d) tardan
Answer: (d) tardan. The ellos/ellas form is tardan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of tardarse?
- (a) tardado
- (b) tardo
- (c) tardarse
- (d) tardando
Answer: (d) tardando. The gerund is tardando, used for the progressive: me estoy tardando.
7. What is the past participle of tardarse?
- (a) tardé
- (b) tardarse
- (c) tardado
- (d) tardando
Answer: (c) tardado. The past participle is tardado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he tardado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ en llegar a la escuela.
- (a) tardamos
- (b) tardo
- (c) tardas
- (d) tarda
Answer: (b) tardo. The sentence needs the yo form tardo (Every day, I take (a long time) in getting to school.)
9. What is the yo form of tardarse in the preterite?
- (a) tardé
- (b) tardaste
- (c) tardó
- (d) tardamos
Answer: (a) tardé. The yo preterite is tardé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en vestirse por la mañana.
- (a) tardemos
- (b) tardéis
- (c) tarde
- (d) tardes
Answer: (c) tarde. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is tarde.
Frequently asked questions about tardarse
Is tardarse regular?
Yes. tardarse is a regular -ar verb: tardo, tardé, tardaba, tardaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does tardarse mean, and when do I use it?
tardarse means "to take (a long time), to be late" in English. Use it when you talk about getting to school, preparing dinner, getting dressed in the morning and the way because of the rain — for example: Yo me tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "I take (a long time) in getting to school." 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 tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "I take (a long time) in getting to school." 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 tardarse reflexive?
Yes. tardarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "I take (a long time) in getting to school." 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 tardarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me tardo en llegar a la escuela. — "I take (a long time) in getting to school." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me tardé en llegar a la escuela. — "Yesterday, I took (a long time) in getting to school." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.