Tocar is a Spanish verb that means “to touch.” If you’re learning Spanish, mastering verb conjugations is essential, and tocar is no exception.
This guide will walk you through the key tocar verb conjugation patterns and concepts you need to know.
The tocar preterite (past) tense
Tocar is irregular in the preterite tense, meaning its conjugations don’t follow the standard rules.
You’ll see the irregularity in the “yo” form, which is toqué. The other forms are:
- tú tocaste
- él/ella/usted tocó
- nosotros tocamos
- vosotros tocasteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes tocaron
Good to know: Tocar is the 36th most-used irregular verb, according to the 100 Most Used Spanish Preterite Tense Verbs Poster.
Present Participle and Imperfect Tense
- Present Participle: The present participle of “tocar” is “tocando.” You’ll often see it used in compound tenses, like “está tocando” (is playing).
- Imperfect Tense: The imperfect tense of “tocar” is based on the root “tocaba.” We use the imperfect to talk about things that used to happen regularly in the past, like “yo tocaba la guitarra” (I used to play the guitar).
Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
In Spanish, regular verbs follow predictable conjugation patterns based on their infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir). Irregular verbs, however, deviate from these standard patterns.
Knowing whether a verb is regular or irregular is essential for conjugating it correctly and speaking Spanish fluently.
Wrapping Up
Tocar is a great example of an irregular verb in Spanish. Mastering its many forms will improve your overall fluency. If you’re looking for extra help, conjugation charts and other resources can help you practice.