Introduction

Tasar means “to appraise”, and this page covers exactly one thing: tasar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for tasar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about tasar in the present. Tasar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo taso la casa” — "I appraise the house". Everything on this page uses the forms of tasar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Tasar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo taso
tú tasas
él/ella/Ud. tasa
nosotros/as tasamos
vosotros/as tasáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. tasan

Gerund: tasando · Past participle: tasado

The gerund is tasando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy tasando” means the action of tasar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is tasado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he tasado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how tasar is used.

How the present of tasar is formed

Tasar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem tas and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving taso, tasas, tasa, tasamos, tasáis, tasan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, tasáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of tasar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form tasáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form taso is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of tasar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use tasar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, tasar goes in the present. Example: “Yo taso el coche” — "I appraise the car".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about tasar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él tasa por un experto” — "He appraises by an expert".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so taso can mean both "I appraise" and "I am appraising". Example: “Yo taso la casa” — "I appraise the house".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros tasamos el coche” — "We appraise the car".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with tasar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él tasa por un experto” — "He appraises by an expert".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo taso la casa” — "I appraise the house".

  • Preterite: “Yo tasé la casa” — "I appraised the house".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él tasa el coche” — "He appraises the car".

  • Preterite: “Él tasó el coche” — "He appraised the car".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros tasamos por un experto” — "We appraise by an expert".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros tasamos por un experto” — "We appraised by an expert".

  • The two sentences look identical: tasamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: tasar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo taso el coche” — "I appraise the car"

  2. “Tú tasas por un experto” — "You appraise by an expert"

  3. “Él tasa la casa” — "He appraises the house"

  4. “Nosotros tasamos el coche” — "We appraise the car"

  5. “Vosotros tasáis por un experto” — "You appraise by an expert"

  6. “Ellos tasan la casa” — "They appraise the house"

  7. “Yo taso el coche” — "I appraise the car"

  8. “Él tasa por un experto” — "He appraises by an expert"

Common mistakes with tasar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos tasa la casa” Right: “Ellos tasan la casa” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form tasan. The singular tasa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo tasé” Right: “Todos los días, yo taso” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (tasé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo tasa la casa.” Right: “Yo taso la casa” Why: Yo needs the yo form taso. The él form tasa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo taso” Right: “Ayer, yo tasé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to tasé.

Quiz: tasar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ por un experto.” (yo form)

A. tasáis B. taso C. tasa D. tasamos

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ la casa.” (tú form)

A. tasan B. tasas C. taso D. tasamos

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ el coche.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. tasas B. tasáis C. taso D. tasa

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ por un experto.” (nosotros/as form)

A. taso B. tasa C. tasan D. tasamos

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ la casa.” (vosotros/as form)

A. taso B. tasamos C. tasáis D. tasa

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ el coche.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. tasamos B. tasan C. tasa D. tasas

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo taso B. Todos los días, yo tasé

Answer key

  1. taso — The yo present of tasar is taso.
  2. tasas — The tú present of tasar is tasas.
  3. tasa — The él/ella/Ud. present of tasar is tasa.
  4. tasamos — The nosotros/as present of tasar is tasamos.
  5. tasáis — The vosotros/as present of tasar is tasáis.
  6. tasan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of tasar is tasan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo taso — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of tasar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo taso la casa. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of tasar formed?

Take the stem tas- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving taso, tasas, tasa, tasamos, tasáis, tasan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for tasar?

The present (taso) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (tasé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise tasar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — taso, tasas, tasa, tasamos, tasáis, tasan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the tasar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of tasar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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