The Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) of Contestar is used to give direct orders or instructions to answer something, for example Contesta la pregunta. (Answer the question.)

Contestar is a regular -ar verb, so its Imperative conjugations follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Contestar (to answer) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Castilian Spanish):

Contestar generally means to answer or reply, but has several different meanings in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands), some of which might surprise you.

To answer or reply: This is the most common meaning. For example, ¡Contesta el teléfono! (Answer the phone!)

To respond: Similar to answering, but implies a more substantive response. For example, ¡Contesta la pregunta con sinceridad! (Respond to the question honestly!)

To retort or talk back: Used when responding in a rude or disrespectful way. For example, ¡No me contestes así! (Don’t talk back to me like that!)

To solve or work out: In the context of problems or exercises. For example, ¡Contesta estos problemas de matemáticas! (Work out these math problems!)

To respond to a call or request: For example, ¡Contesta mi mensaje cuando puedas! (Reply to my message when you can!)

Examples

Examples of Contestar in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands)

¡Contesta la llamada! (Answer the call!)

Cuando el profesor pregunte, contestemos todos a la vez. (When the teacher asks, let’s all answer at once.)

Chicos, contestad el examen con cuidado. (Kids, answer the exam carefully.)

Señores, contesten la encuesta en línea. (Gentlemen, answer the online survey.)

Oye, ¿puedes contestar el teléfono? Estoy ocupado. (Hey, can you answer the phone? I’m busy.)

Mamá, contestemos el crucigrama juntas. (Mom, let’s do the crossword puzzle together.)

Amigos, contestad el cuestionario con sinceridad. (Friends, answer the questionnaire sincerely.)

Equipo, contesten las preguntas del cliente con respeto. (Team, answer the client’s questions respectfully.)

¿Puedes contestar el mensaje de texto, por favor? (Can you answer the text message, please?)

Vamos a contestemos el formulario de inmigración juntos. (Let’s fill out the immigration form together.)

Ustedes, contesten la pregunta del profesor. (You all, answer the teacher’s question.)

¡Contesta el correo electrónico de tu jefe! (Answer your boss’s email!)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Contestar (to answer) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperative mood is also known as the Command Form, Affirmative Command Mood, or Direct Command Form in English, and as Modo Imperativo, Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, or Forma de Mandato in Spanish.