/kontesˈtaɾ/
#971 of 5,000 Core 1000
Translation
to answer, to reply
Word origin
From Latin contestari ('to call to witness, to bring an action'), from cum ('with') and testari ('to bear witness'), from testis ('witness'). The same root gives English 'testify' and 'contest'.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- contestari
- English cognates
- contest, testify, testimony
Grammar
Verb type-ar regular
Conjugation
Regular -ar conjugation. Pronouns: yo, tú, él/ella/ud., nos., vos., ellos/uds..
Indicative
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contesto | contesté | contestaba | contestaré | contestaría |
| tú | contestas | contestaste | contestabas | contestarás | contestarías |
| él/ella/ud. | contesta | contestó | contestaba | contestará | contestaría |
| nos. | contestamos | contestamos | contestábamos | contestaremos | contestaríamos |
| vos. | contestáis | contestasteis | contestabais | contestaréis | contestaríais |
| ellos/uds. | contestan | contestaron | contestaban | contestarán | contestarían |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect (-ra) | Imperfect (-se) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | conteste | contestara | contestase |
| tú | contestes | contestaras | contestases |
| él/ella/ud. | conteste | contestara | contestase |
| nos. | contestemos | contestáramos | contestásemos |
| vos. | contestéis | contestarais | contestaseis |
| ellos/uds. | contesten | contestaran | contestasen |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tú | contesta |
| ud. | conteste |
| nosotros | contestemos |
| vosotros | contestad |
| uds. | contesten |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- contestando
- Past participle
- contestado
Examples
suena.
You have to answer the phone when it rings.
.
I didn't know how to answer his question.
, .
Please reply to my message soon.
.
The boy didn't want to answer his mother.
.
I am going to answer the email after lunch.
Used in
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 20.