Actualizar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb actualizar means to update, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Actualizar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb, so the tables below show you exactly how it behaves in every tense. It has a spelling change (z → c before e), which keeps the pronunciation of the stem the same when the ending changes. On this page you will find the full conjugation of actualizar in all thirteen tenses, notes on when to use each one, example sentences, the mistakes learners make most often, a ten-question quiz and answers to the questions students ask about this verb. For example, in the present tense you say Yo actualizo la página web — "I update the website" — and in the preterite you say Yo actualicé los datos — "I updated the data". Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: actualizar
- English: to update
- Verb type: spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: actualizando
- Past participle: actualizado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + actualizado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for actualizar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for actualizar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Gerund: actualizando · Past participle: actualizado
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualizo |
| tú | actualizas |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualiza |
| nosotros/as | actualizamos |
| vosotros/as | actualizáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualizan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualicé |
| tú | actualizaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualizó |
| nosotros/as | actualizamos |
| vosotros/as | actualizasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualizaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualizaba |
| tú | actualizabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualizaba |
| nosotros/as | actualizábamos |
| vosotros/as | actualizabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualizaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualizaré |
| tú | actualizarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualizará |
| nosotros/as | actualizaremos |
| vosotros/as | actualizaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualizarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualizaría |
| tú | actualizarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualizaría |
| nosotros/as | actualizaríamos |
| vosotros/as | actualizaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualizarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he actualizado |
| tú | has actualizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha actualizado |
| nosotros/as | hemos actualizado |
| vosotros/as | habéis actualizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han actualizado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había actualizado |
| tú | habías actualizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había actualizado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos actualizado |
| vosotros/as | habíais actualizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían actualizado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré actualizado |
| tú | habrás actualizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá actualizado |
| nosotros/as | habremos actualizado |
| vosotros/as | habréis actualizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán actualizado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría actualizado |
| tú | habrías actualizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría actualizado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos actualizado |
| vosotros/as | habríais actualizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían actualizado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualice |
| tú | actualices |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualice |
| nosotros/as | actualicemos |
| vosotros/as | actualicéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualicen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | actualizara |
| tú | actualizaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualizara |
| nosotros/as | actualizáramos |
| vosotros/as | actualizarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualizaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | actualiza |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualice |
| nosotros/as | actualicemos |
| vosotros/as | actualizad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualicen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | actualices |
| él/ella/Ud. | actualice |
| nosotros/as | actualicemos |
| vosotros/as | actualicéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | actualicen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | actualizando | with estar for the progressive: estoy actualizando |
| Past participle | actualizado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he actualizado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. It is the tense you will use most often in everyday conversation, for habits with words like todos los días and for statements that are true in general. For actualizar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo actualizo los datos — "I update the data". Learn the present indicative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions in the past — things that started and ended, often with time words like ayer, anoche or la semana pasada. The preterite moves a story forward, one completed event at a time. For actualizar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Yo actualicé el programa — "I updated the program". Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense. Spelling change in the preterite: the yo form is actualicé (z → c before e), so the sound of the stem stays the same.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with words like antes, de niño or mientras. It describes how things used to be, not one finished event. For actualizar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo actualizaba la página web — "I used to update the website". Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. It talks about what will happen, not what is happening now. For actualizar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Yo actualizaré los datos — "I will update the data". Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often in si clauses. It softens a request and describes imagined situations. For actualizar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo actualizaría el programa — "I would update the program". Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. It connects the past with the present moment. For actualizar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo he actualizado la página web — "I have updated the website". Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. It is the past of the past, and it usually appears with antes de or ya. For actualizar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo había actualizado los datos — "I had updated the data". Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time, often with para mañana or para el viernes. For actualizar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habré actualizado el programa — "I will have updated the program". Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. It looks back at a past that never happened. For actualizar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría actualizado la página web — "I would have updated the website". Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. The subjunctive does not state a fact; it states an attitude towards the action. For actualizar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él actualice los datos — "I hope he updates the data". Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense. The subjunctive keeps the spelling change: actualice, actualices, actualice all show z → c before e, just like the preterite yo form.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For actualizar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo actualizara el programa, todo cambiaría — "If I updated the program, everything would change". Learn the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. It tells someone to do something, and it has no yo form. For actualizar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Actualice la página web — "Let him update the website". Learn the imperative (affirmative) forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. It uses the subjunctive forms, so it looks different from the affirmative commands. For actualizar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No actualices los datos — "Don't update the data". Learn the imperative (negative) forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with actualizar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Yo actualizo el programa — "I update the program"
- Él actualiza la página web — "He updates the website"
- Yo actualicé los datos — "I updated the data"
- Yo actualizaba el programa — "I used to update the program"
- Tú actualizarás la página web — "You will update the website"
- Yo actualizaría los datos — "I would update the data"
- Él ha actualizado el programa — "He has updated the program"
- Espero que él actualice la página web — "I hope he updates the website"
- Yo había actualizado los datos — "I had updated the data"
- Ellos actualizaban el programa — "They used to update the program"
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Ellos actualiza la página web — Right: Ellos actualizan la página web — Ellos needs the ellos form actualizan. The singular actualiza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.
- Wrong: Ayer, yo actualizo — Right: Ayer, yo actualicé — The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to actualicé, with the spelling change z → c before e.
- Wrong: De niño, yo actualicé todos los días. — Right: Todos los días, yo actualizaba — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (actualizaba), not the preterite. The preterite (actualicé) is for one finished action.
- Wrong: Yo soy actualizado los datos. — Right: Yo he actualizado los datos. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he actualizado, has actualizado, ha actualizado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: Espero que él actualiza la página web. — Right: Espero que él actualice la página web. — After espero que, Spanish needs the subjunctive: actualice. The indicative actualiza is wrong here.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on actualizar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la página web. (present tense) A. actualiza B. hemos actualizado C. habías actualizado D. actualizo
Complete the sentence: Él ___ la página web. (preterite) A. actualizábamos B. actualizó C. actualizaría D. habría actualizado
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la página web. (imperfect) A. actualizamos B. habían actualizado C. actualizábamos D. habríamos actualizado
Complete the sentence: Tú ___ la página web. (future) A. actualizaré B. había actualizado C. actualizaríais D. actualizarás
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la página web. (conditional) A. actualizaría B. actualice C. actualizara D. actualizará
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la página web. (present subjunctive) A. actualizábamos B. actualice C. habíamos actualizado D. actualizaras
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la página web, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. actualizara B. actualizasteis C. actualizan D. habíais actualizado
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la página web. (present perfect) A. hemos actualizado B. había actualizado C. habré actualizado D. actualizáis
Complete the command: No ___ la página web. (negative imperative, tú) A. actualicemos B. actualicéis C. actualice D. actualices
Which is the gerund of actualizar, used with estar for the progressive? A. actualizaré B. actualizo C. actualicé D. actualizando
Answer key
- actualizo — The yo present tense of actualizar is actualizo.
- actualizó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of actualizar is actualizó.
- actualizábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of actualizar is actualizábamos.
- actualizarás — The tú future of actualizar is actualizarás.
- actualizaría — The yo conditional of actualizar is actualizaría.
- actualice — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of actualizar is actualice.
- actualizara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of actualizar is actualizara.
- hemos actualizado — The nosotros/as present perfect of actualizar is hemos actualizado.
- actualices — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: actualices.
- actualizando — The gerund of actualizar is actualizando: estoy actualizando. The participle actualizado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does actualizar mean in English?
Actualizar means to update. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo actualizo la página web. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is actualizar regular?
Mostly. Actualizar follows the regular -ar endings, but it has a spelling change (z → c before e). The tables on this page show every form, so you can see exactly where the spelling changes.
What is the gerund and the past participle of actualizar?
The gerund is actualizando, used with estar for the progressive: estoy actualizando. The past participle is actualizado, used with haber in the perfect tenses: he actualizado.
How do I say “I update” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo actualicé los datos. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: Yo actualizaba el programa. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Yo he actualizado la página web.
How do I practise actualizar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the actualizar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Actualizar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for actualizar.
- Actualizar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for actualizar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Programar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with actualizar.
- Formatear conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with actualizar.
- Pegarse conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with actualizar.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.
- Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.