Usar means 'to use', a regular -ar verb that is especially useful in the age of technology (uso el móvil, uso internet para…). Its forms are entirely predictable. Usar is ideal for the technology and daily-life topics at GCSE, where you often need to explain what you use something for (uso el ordenador para hacer mis deberes). A close synonym, utilizar, means the same thing and adds variety to your writing.
Quick facts
Usar (to use) is a regular -ar verb.
Real sentences across different tenses — the kind of thing you'd actually say or write.
Uso el móvil (I use my phone).
Usar para: uso internet para estudiar.
¿Qué talla usas? (what size do you take?).
Utilizar means the same and adds variety.
Fixed expressions worth knowing — they come up in listening, reading and writing tasks.
Idiomatic expressions
Usar is a regular verb. Make sure you know the endings for each tense — especially the preterite and subjunctive, which is where marks are most often lost.
usar is a regular -ar verb — it follows the standard -ar pattern in every tense. That makes it a good one to drill: if you know usar, you know the template for all regular -ar verbs.
Type conjugations from memory and get instant feedback. That's how you actually build the automatic recall the exam needs — not from reading tables.
Practice usar now →Three questions. Press Enter to check each answer.
yo: uso, tú: usas, él: usa, nosotros: usamos, vosotros: usáis, ellos: usan
Usar is a regular -ar verb following the standard -ar pattern.
Use usar in multiple tenses to show range — present, preterite and future at minimum. This is a key criterion for higher GCSE marks.
This reference is written for UK GCSE and A-Level Spanish learners and their teachers. It is designed for exam revision: every form is checked against standard conjugation rules, and the examples reflect the registers and topics that come up in the AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas specifications. Usar is a high-frequency verb and appears often in exam papers. For active recall, use the free practice tool rather than only reading the tables.
Last updated 2 August 2026. Written by Daniel Holmes for GCSE & A-Level Spanish students.