cerrar means "to close" and is used for shutting objects such as doors, windows, stores, etc. It is a stem-changing verb, where the "e" in the stem changes to "ie" in most present tense forms.
- Meaning: to close, shut
- Use: doors, windows, businesses, agreements, etc.
- Verb type: regular -ar in infinitive, but stem-changing (e → ie)
- Stem: cerr- → cierr- (in most forms)
| Infinitive | Cerrar |
|---|---|
| English | to close |
| Type | -ar verb, stem-changing (e → ie) |
| Usage | To close or shut things (doors, windows, stores, etc.) |
Conjugation: Present Indicative
cerrar is a (boot verb) in which the "e" changes to "ie" in all forms except nosotros/as and vosotros/as:
| Subject | Conjugation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | Cierro | Stem change e→ie |
| Tú | Cierras | Stem change e→ie |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | Cierra | Stem change e→ie |
| Nosotros | Cerramos | Regular stem |
| Vosotros | Cerráis | Regular stem |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | Cierran | Stem change e→ie |
- Use: To express closing actions in the present for people or things.
Summary
- cerrar means "to close."
- It’s an -ar verb with a stem change: e → ie.
- Use it for closing things like doors, windows, or businesses.
- The stem changes in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Exercises
- What is the stem change for cerrar in the present tense?
- Can you use cerrar for both physical and metaphorical closing? Give examples.
- What are the correct present tense forms of cerrar for "we" and "they"?
Present tense
- Yo: cierro (I close)
- Tú: cierras (You close [informal])
- Él/Ella/Usted: cierra (He/She/You formal close)
- Nosotros/as: cerramos (We close)
- Vosotros/as: cerráis (You all close [informal])
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: cierran (They/You all close)
Correct forms are 'cierran' (ellos) and 'cerramos' (nosotros).
Preterite tense
- Yo: cerré
- Tú: cerraste
- Él/Ella/Usted: cerró
- Nosotros/as: cerramos
- Vosotros/as: cerrasteis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: cerraron
Note: No stem change in preterite.
No, *cerrar* does not undergo a stem change in the preterite.
Imperfect tense
- Yo: cerraba
- Tú: cerrabas
- Él/Ella/Usted: cerraba
- Nosotros/as: cerrábamos
- Vosotros/as: cerrabais
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: cerraban
No stem change; regular -ar endings.
Conditional tense
- Yo: cerraría
- Tú: cerrarías
- Él/Ella/Usted: cerraría
- Nosotros/as: cerraríamos
- Vosotros/as: cerraríais
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: cerrarían
No stem change; add -ía endings to the infinitive.
Subjunctive (present)
The stem change (e → ie) applies, similar to the indicative "boot":
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | Cierre |
| Tú | Cierres |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | Cierre |
| Nosotros | Cerremos |
| Vosotros | Cerréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | Cierren |
Use for doubt, emotion, wishes, recommendations, etc.
cerrar is an essential, commonly used Spanish verb for expressing the action of closing. Its stem change and regular -ar patterns make it typical for many situations.
- Use cerrar for physical or metaphorical closing.
- Remember the e→ie stem change in most forms.
- Practice open/close real-world analogies with cerrar.