Alzar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb alzar means to raise, to lift, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Alzar means to raise or to lift, to move something up, such as a hand, a voice or a flag. It is used in classrooms, meetings and ceremonies, and it is a spelling-change verb: z becomes c before e. Like every Spanish verb, alzar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say alzo la mano para preguntar, and in the preterite you say alcé la bandera en el mástil. 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: alzar
- English: to raise, to lift
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: alzando
- Past participle: alzado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + alzado)
- Spelling change: Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce and the preterite first person is alcé — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for alzar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite first person is alcé. In the present tense it is regular: alzo.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for alzar. 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.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alzo |
| tú | alzas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alza |
| nosotros/as | alzamos |
| vosotros/as | alzáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alzan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alcé |
| tú | alzaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | alzó |
| nosotros/as | alzamos |
| vosotros/as | alzasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alzaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alzaba |
| tú | alzabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alzaba |
| nosotros/as | alzábamos |
| vosotros/as | alzabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alzaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alzaré |
| tú | alzarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | alzará |
| nosotros/as | alzaremos |
| vosotros/as | alzaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alzarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alzaría |
| tú | alzarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | alzaría |
| nosotros/as | alzaríamos |
| vosotros/as | alzaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alzarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he alzado |
| tú | has alzado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha alzado |
| nosotros/as | hemos alzado |
| vosotros/as | habéis alzado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han alzado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había alzado |
| tú | habías alzado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había alzado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos alzado |
| vosotros/as | habíais alzado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían alzado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré alzado |
| tú | habrás alzado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá alzado |
| nosotros/as | habremos alzado |
| vosotros/as | habréis alzado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán alzado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría alzado |
| tú | habrías alzado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría alzado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos alzado |
| vosotros/as | habríais alzado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían alzado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alce |
| tú | alces |
| él/ella/Ud. | alce |
| nosotros/as | alcemos |
| vosotros/as | alcéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alcen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alzara |
| tú | alzaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | alzara |
| nosotros/as | alzáramos |
| vosotros/as | alzarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alzaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alza |
| él/ella/Ud. | alce |
| nosotros/as | alcemos |
| vosotros/as | alzad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alcen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alces |
| él/ella/Ud. | alce |
| nosotros/as | alcemos |
| vosotros/as | alcéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alcen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | alzando | with estar for the progressive: estoy alzando |
| Past participle | alzado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he alzado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Alzo la mano para preguntar. Learn the present 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 with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. Note the spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce and the preterite first person is alcé — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For alzar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, alcé la voz en la reunión. 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.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, alzaba la bandera en el mástil. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, alzaré el telón del teatro. 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 with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Alzaría la mano para preguntar si pudiera. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he alzado la voz en la reunión. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había alzado la bandera en el mástil antes de salir. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré alzado el telón del teatro. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría alzado la mano para preguntar con más tiempo. 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. Note the spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce and the preterite first person is alcé — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For alzar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él alce la voz en la reunión. 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.
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 this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alzar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él alzara la bandera en el mástil, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive 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. Note the spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce and the preterite first person is alcé — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For alzar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Alza el telón del teatro! Learn the affirmative imperative 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. Note the spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce and the preterite first person is alcé — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. For alzar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No alces la mano para preguntar. Learn the negative imperative 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 alzar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Alzo la mano para preguntar. — I raise my hand to ask a question.
- Alza la voz en la reunión. — He/she raises my voice in the meeting.
- Ayer, alcé la bandera en el mástil. — Yesterday, I raised the flag on the mast.
- Antes, nosotros alzábamos el telón del teatro. — Before, we used to raise the theatre curtain.
- Mañana, tú alzarás la mano para preguntar. — Tomorrow, you will raise my hand to ask a question.
- Yo alzaría la voz en la reunión si tuviera más tiempo. — I would raise my voice in the meeting if I had more time.
- Él ha alzado la bandera en el mástil. — He has raised the flag on the mast.
- Espero que él alce el telón del teatro. — I hope he raises the theatre curtain.
- Yo ya había alzado la mano para preguntar antes de salir. — I had already raised my hand to ask a question before leaving.
- Ellos alzaban la voz en la reunión cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to raise my voice in the meeting when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo alza la mano para preguntar. — Right: Yo alzo la mano para preguntar. — The person matters: alza is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is alzo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Espero que yo alze la voz en la reunión. — Right: Espero que yo alce la voz en la reunión. — Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce, never alze.
- Wrong: Treating alzar and levantar as identical in every context. — Right: Alzar means to raise, to lift, while levantar means to lift up. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: alzar fits sentences such as Alzo la mano para preguntar, while levantar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy alzado la voz en la reunión. — Right: Yo he alzado la voz en la reunión. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he alzado, has alzado, ha alzado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo alcé la bandera en el mástil todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo alzaba la bandera en el mástil todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (alzaba), not the preterite. The preterite (alcé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on alzar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la mano para preguntar. (present tense) A. alzo B. alzas C. alza D. alzamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la voz en la reunión. (preterite) A. alcé B. alzaste C. alzaron D. alzó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la bandera en el mástil. (imperfect) A. alzabas B. alzaban C. alzábamos D. alzaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el telón del teatro. (future) A. alzaremos B. alzarás C. alzaré D. alzará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la mano para preguntar si pudiera. (conditional) A. alzaría B. alzarías C. alzarían D. alzo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la voz en la reunión. (present subjunctive) A. alces B. alcemos C. alzo D. alce
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la bandera en el mástil, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. alzáramos B. alzo C. alzara D. alzaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el telón del teatro. (present perfect) A. han alzado B. hemos alzado C. he alzado D. has alzado
Complete the command: ¡___ la mano para preguntar! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. alza B. alce C. alcemos D. alzad
Which is the gerund of alzar, used with estar for the progressive? A. alzado B. alzo C. alcé D. alzando
Answer key
- alzo — The first-person present of alzar is alzo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- alzó — The third-person preterite of alzar is alzó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- alzábamos — The nosotros imperfect of alzar is alzábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- alzarás — The second-person future of alzar is alzarás.
- alzaría — The first-person conditional of alzar is alzaría, the form for what would happen.
- alce — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of alzar is alce.
- alzara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of alzar is alzara.
- hemos alzado — The nosotros present perfect of alzar is hemos alzado: hemos + alzado.
- alza — The affirmative tú imperative of alzar is alza.
- alzando — The gerund of alzar is alzando: estoy alzando. The participle alzado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does alzar mean in English?
Alzar means to raise, to lift. It is used in everyday situations such as Alzo la mano para preguntar. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is alzar regular or irregular?
Alzar is a spelling-change verb, so it is not fully regular. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the present subjunctive is alce and the preterite first person is alcé — the sound stays the same, only the spelling changes. The other tenses follow the regular -ar endings. Learn the changed forms from the tables above rather than applying the regular spelling.
What is the difference between alzar and levantar?
Alzar means to raise, to lift, while levantar means to lift up. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use alzar when you mean to raise, to lift, as in Alzo la mano para preguntar, and use levantar for to lift up. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I raise” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo alcé la voz en la reunión. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo alzaba la bandera en el mástil. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he alzado la voz en la reunión.
How do I practise alzar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the alzar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Alzar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for alzar.
- Alzar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for alzar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Alumbrar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alzar.
- Amamantar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alzar.
- Alterar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alzar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.