contrastéis

Contrastéis is the second-person plural present subjunctive form of the Spanish verb contrastar (to contrast or to compare). It appears in clauses that require the subjunctive mood and is used in Spanish varieties that employ the vosotros form, primarily in Spain and parts of the world where vosotr@s is standard.

Morphology and usage

The form is built from the stem contrast- plus the subjunctive ending -éis for vosotros: vosotros contrastéis. This form contrasts with the indicative vosotros contrastáis and with other persons in the present subjunctive (yo contraste, tú contrastes, él contraste, nosotros contrastemos, ellos contrasten). In regions that do not use vosotr@s, such as much of Latin America, contrastéis is uncommon or unused; the corresponding forms for ustedes are contrasten (present subjunctive) or simply the verbal forms from the ustedes paradigm.

Regional and stylistic notes

Contrastéis tends to appear in formal writing, literary contexts, or instructional materials where the vosotros paradigm is standard. In everyday speech in areas without vosotros, speakers typically avoid this form or replace it with the ustedes forms. The verb contrastar itself denotes the act of comparing or distinguishing differences between elements, or verifying consistency between data sets.

Example

Es necesario que vosotros contrastéis las cifras con las del informe para detectar discrepancias.

Etymology

Contrastéis derives from contrastar, which in turn traces to roots meaning to oppose or to put in contrast, with the form reflecting the vosotros present-subjunctive ending.