Introduction
Usar means “to use”, and it is one of the verbs you will use every day in Spanish. Usar is the verb for using a thing: a phone, a computer, a tool. The thing used is the direct object, with no preposition. Usar para + infinitive or noun means to use something for a purpose. The para marks what the thing is for. This page shows usar in real sentences, in short dialogues, and in the mistakes learners make most often, and it finishes with a ten-question quiz so you can test yourself. Every sentence below comes with its English translation, and every form is the correct present-tense form unless the sentence is clearly marked as past or future. For a first taste: “Yo uso el móvil todos los días.” — I use the mobile phone every day.
Usar in real example sentences
The twelve sentences below are grouped by how usar is used. Read each one out loud, then read the translation. If a sentence feels useful, copy it into your own notebook with one small change — a different time, a different person, a different place — and you have a new sentence of your own.
In the present: everyday use
These sentences use usar in the present tense, which is how you will meet it most often: routines, facts, and things happening now.
“Yo uso el móvil todos los días.” — I use the mobile phone every day.
“¿Tú usas el ordenador?” — Do you use the computer?
“Mi padre usa el coche para ir al trabajo.” — My father uses the car to go to work.
“Nosotros usamos la mesa como escritorio.” — We use the table as a desk.
Talking about the past
The present is not the only tense you need. These sentences show usar in the past, so you can talk about what already happened.
“Ayer yo usé el móvil todo el día.” — Yesterday I used the mobile phone all day. (preterite)
“Mi padre usaba el coche para ir al trabajo siempre.” — My father always used to use the car to go to work. (imperfect)
Plans and things already done
These sentences look forward, or look back at something already finished. Notice how the verb form changes while the meaning of usar stays the same.
“Nosotros usaremos la mesa como escritorio mañana.” — We will use the table as a desk tomorrow. (future)
“¿Tú has usado alguna vez el diccionario?” — Have you ever used the dictionary? (present perfect)
More everyday uses
Four more present-tense sentences, covering the remaining persons, so you can see the whole table in action.
“Vosotros usáis la bicicleta.” — You use the bicycle.
“Ellos usan el diccionario.” — They use the dictionary.
“Yo uso gafas para leer.” — I use glasses to read.
“El profesor usa la pizarra.” — The teacher uses the blackboard.
Usar in context
Single sentences teach you the forms. Dialogues teach you when to use them. Read the short conversation below, then the paragraph that follows, and notice how usar appears naturally, without anyone stopping to think about conjugation.
A short dialogue
Sara: “¿Tú usas el ordenador?” — Do you use the computer?
Diego: “Sí, yo uso el móvil todos los días.” — Yes, I use the mobile phone every day.
Sara: “Nosotros usamos la mesa como escritorio.” — We use the table as a desk.
Diego: “Y ellos usan el diccionario.” — And they use the dictionary.
Sara: “Vosotros usáis la bicicleta.” — You use the bicycle.
Diego: “Sí, y mi padre usa el coche para ir al trabajo.” — Yes, and my father uses the car to go to work.
A short paragraph
Sara usa el móvil todos los días, y su padre usa el coche para ir al trabajo. Nosotros usamos la mesa como escritorio, y ellos usan el diccionario. Yo uso gafas para leer, y el profesor usa la pizarra. Usar is part of every day, because using a phone, using something for a purpose and using something as something else are all part of the same verb.
Common mistakes with usar
These are the errors learners actually make with usar. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.
Wrong: “Yo uso de el móvil.” Right: “Yo uso el móvil.” Why: Usar takes a direct object with no preposition: uso el móvil, not uso de el móvil. The de appears only in phrases such as 'uso un poco de crema', where it belongs to the quantity.
Wrong: “Ellos usa el diccionario.” Right: “Ellos usan el diccionario.” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form usan. The singular usa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun such as el profesor.
Wrong: “Yo uso el móvil ayer.” Right: “Ayer yo usé el móvil todo el día.” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to usé.
Wrong: “Nosotros usas la bicicleta.” Right: “Nosotros usamos la bicicleta.” Why: Nosotros needs usamos. The tú form usas belongs with tú.
Wrong: “Ellos uso todos los días.” Right: “Ellos usan todos los días.” Why: The verb must agree with its subject. Ellos needs the ellos form usan, not the yo form uso. This is the most common agreement slip in the present tense, and it happens because learners memorise the yo form first and then reuse it for every person.
Quiz: usar in use
Ten questions on usar in real sentences. Choose the correct answer for each one, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained.
1. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ______ la bicicleta.” (You use the bicycle.)
- (a) usas
- (b) usáis
- (c) uso
Answer: usáis — The vosotros/as form of usar in the present tense is usáis.
2. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ______ el diccionario.” (They use the dictionary.)
- (a) usan
- (b) uso
- (c) usas
Answer: usan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. form of usar in the present tense is usan.
3. Complete the sentence (preterite): “Ayer yo ______ el móvil todo el día.” (Yesterday I used the mobile phone all day.)
- (a) usaste
- (b) usó
- (c) usé
Answer: usé — In the preterite, the yo form of usar is usé.
4. Complete the sentence (imperfect): “Mi padre ______ el coche para ir al trabajo siempre.” (My father always used to use the car to go to work.)
- (a) usabas
- (b) usaba
- (c) usaba
Answer: usaba — In the imperfect, the él/ella/Ud. form of usar is usaba.
5. Complete the sentence (future): “Nosotros ______ la mesa como escritorio mañana.” (We will use the table as a desk tomorrow.)
- (a) usaremos
- (b) usaré
- (c) usarás
Answer: usaremos — In the future, the nosotros/as form of usar is usaremos.
6. What does usar mean in English?
- (a) to finish, to end
- (b) to serve
- (c) to use
Answer: to use — Usar means “to use”. The other options are the meanings of different verbs.
7. Which sentence is correct?
- (a) Yo uso el móvil.
- (b) Yo uso de el móvil.
- (c) Ellos usa el diccionario.
Answer: Yo uso el móvil. — “Yo uso el móvil.” is correct. The other two sentences contain the mistakes explained in the section above.
8. How do you say “I use glasses to read.” in Spanish?
- (a) Yo usan gafas para leer.
- (b) Yo uso gafas para leer.
- (c) El profesor usa la pizarra.
Answer: Yo uso gafas para leer. — “Yo uso gafas para leer.” is the correct translation. The second option means something different, and the third uses the wrong person's form.
9. What is the nosotros form of usar in the present tense?
- (a) uso
- (b) usas
- (c) usamos
Answer: usamos — The nosotros form is usamos.
10. Which of these sentences is in the present tense?
- (a) Ayer yo usé el móvil todo el día.
- (b) Nosotros usaremos la mesa como escritorio mañana.
- (c) Yo uso el móvil todos los días.
Answer: Yo uso el móvil todos los días. — “Yo uso el móvil todos los días.” is in the present tense. The other two are in the preterite and the future.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I use the phone' in Spanish?
Say 'Uso el móvil'. The phone follows directly with no preposition. For a routine: 'Uso el móvil todos los días'.
How do you say 'to use something for work' in Spanish?
Say 'usar algo para el trabajo'. In the present: 'Mi padre usa el coche para ir al trabajo'. The para marks the purpose.
Can usar be used with como?
Yes. Usar como + noun means to use something as something else: 'Usamos la mesa como escritorio' means we use the table as a desk. It is how you describe an improvised use.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of usar — every tense of usar in one place.
- Usar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Spanish verbs — the hub for every Spanish verb on VerbFlow.
- Verb quiz — test yourself on usar and other verbs.
- Conjugation practice — drill the forms of usar until they are automatic.