Apagar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb apagar means to turn off, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Apagar means to turn off or to put out, and it is used for lights, phones, televisions and fires. It is the opposite of encender, and it is a spelling-change verb: the g becomes gu before e, so the subjunctive is apague, which keeps the hard g sound. Like every Spanish verb, apagar 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 apago la luz al salir de casa, and in the preterite you say apagué la televisión por la noche. 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: apagar
  • English: to turn off
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: apagando
  • Past participle: apagado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + apagado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for apagar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: g becomes gu before e, so the subjunctive is apague, never apage.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for apagar. 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 apago
tú apagas
él/ella/Ud. apaga
nosotros/as apagamos
vosotros/as apagáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apagan

Preterite

Person Form
yo apagué
tú apagaste
él/ella/Ud. apagó
nosotros/as apagamos
vosotros/as apagasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apagaron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo apagaba
tú apagabas
él/ella/Ud. apagaba
nosotros/as apagábamos
vosotros/as apagabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. apagaban

Future

Person Form
yo apagaré
tú apagarás
él/ella/Ud. apagará
nosotros/as apagaremos
vosotros/as apagaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apagarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo apagaría
tú apagarías
él/ella/Ud. apagaría
nosotros/as apagaríamos
vosotros/as apagaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. apagarían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he apagado
tú has apagado
él/ella/Ud. ha apagado
nosotros/as hemos apagado
vosotros/as habéis apagado
ellos/ellas/Uds. han apagado

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había apagado
tú habías apagado
él/ella/Ud. había apagado
nosotros/as habíamos apagado
vosotros/as habíais apagado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían apagado

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré apagado
tú habrás apagado
él/ella/Ud. habrá apagado
nosotros/as habremos apagado
vosotros/as habréis apagado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán apagado

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría apagado
tú habrías apagado
él/ella/Ud. habría apagado
nosotros/as habríamos apagado
vosotros/as habríais apagado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían apagado

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo apague
tú apagues
él/ella/Ud. apague
nosotros/as apaguemos
vosotros/as apaguéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apaguen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo apagara
tú apagaras
él/ella/Ud. apagara
nosotros/as apagáramos
vosotros/as apagarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. apagaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú apaga
él/ella/Ud. apague
nosotros/as apaguemos
vosotros/as apagad
ellos/ellas/Uds. apaguen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú apagues
él/ella/Ud. apague
nosotros/as apaguemos
vosotros/as apaguéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apaguen

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund apagando with estar for the progressive: estoy apagando
Past participle apagado with haber for the perfect tenses: he apagado

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 apagar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Apago la luz al salir de casa. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For apagar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, apagué el móvil en el cine. 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 apagar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, apagaba la televisión por la noche. 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 apagar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, apagaré el fuego con agua. 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 apagar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Apagaría la luz al salir de casa 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 apagar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he apagado el móvil en el cine. 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 apagar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había apagado la televisión por la noche 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 apagar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré apagado el fuego con agua. 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 apagar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría apagado la luz al salir de casa 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 here: g becomes gu before e, so the forms use apag-, keeping the hard g sound. For apagar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él apague el móvil en el cine. 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 apagar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él apagara la televisión por la noche, 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 here: g becomes gu before e, so the forms use apag-, keeping the hard g sound. For apagar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Apaga el fuego con agua! 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 here: g becomes gu before e, so the forms use apag-, keeping the hard g sound. For apagar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No apagues la luz al salir de casa. 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 apagar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Apago la luz al salir de casa. — I turn off the light on leaving the house.
  2. Apaga el móvil en el cine. — He/she turns off the phone in the cinema.
  3. Ayer, apagué la televisión por la noche. — Yesterday, I turned off the television at night.
  4. Antes, nosotros apagábamos el fuego con agua. — Before, we used to turn off the fire with water.
  5. Mañana, tú apagarás la luz al salir de casa. — Tomorrow, you will turn off the light on leaving the house.
  6. Yo apagaría el móvil en el cine si tuviera más tiempo. — I would turn off the phone in the cinema if I had more time.
  7. Él ha apagado la televisión por la noche. — He has turned off the television at night.
  8. Espero que él apague el fuego con agua. — I hope he turns off the fire with water.
  9. Yo ya había apagado la luz al salir de casa antes de salir. — I had already turned off the light on leaving the house before leaving.
  10. Ellos apagaban el móvil en el cine cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to turn off the phone in the cinema when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo apaga la luz al salir de casa. — Right: Yo apago la luz al salir de casa. — The person matters: apaga is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is apago. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Espero que yo apage la luz al salir de casa. — Right: Espero que yo apague la luz al salir de casa. — Spelling change: g becomes gu before e, so the present subjunctive is apague, never apage.
  3. Wrong: Treating apagar and encender as identical in every context. — Right: Apagar means to turn off, while encender means to turn on, its opposite. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: apagar fits sentences such as Apago la luz al salir de casa, while encender belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy apagado el móvil en el cine. — Right: Yo he apagado el móvil en el cine. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he apagado, has apagado, ha apagado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo apagué la televisión por la noche todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo apagaba la televisión por la noche todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (apagaba), not the preterite. The preterite (apagué) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on apagar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la luz al salir de casa. (present tense) A. apago B. apagas C. apaga D. apagamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el móvil en el cine. (preterite) A. apagué B. apagaste C. apagaron D. apagó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la televisión por la noche. (imperfect) A. apagabas B. apagaban C. apagábamos D. apagaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el fuego con agua. (future) A. apagaremos B. apagarás C. apagaré D. apagará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la luz al salir de casa si pudiera. (conditional) A. apagaría B. apagarías C. apagarían D. apago

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el móvil en el cine. (present subjunctive) A. apagues B. apaguemos C. apago D. apague

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la televisión por la noche, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. apagáramos B. apago C. apagara D. apagaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el fuego con agua. (present perfect) A. han apagado B. hemos apagado C. he apagado D. has apagado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la luz al salir de casa! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. apaga B. apague C. apaguemos D. apagad

  10. Which is the gerund of apagar, used with estar for the progressive? A. apagado B. apago C. apagué D. apagando

Answer key

  1. apago — The first-person present of apagar is apago. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. apagó — The third-person preterite of apagar is apagó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. apagábamos — The nosotros imperfect of apagar is apagábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. apagarás — The second-person future of apagar is apagarás.
  5. apagaría — The first-person conditional of apagar is apagaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. apague — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of apagar is apague.
  7. apagara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of apagar is apagara.
  8. hemos apagado — The nosotros present perfect of apagar is hemos apagado: hemos + apagado.
  9. apaga — The affirmative tú imperative of apagar is apaga.
  10. apagando — The gerund of apagar is apagando: estoy apagando. The participle apagado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does apagar mean in English?

Apagar means to turn off. It is used in everyday situations such as Apago la luz al salir de casa. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is apagar regular or irregular?

Apagar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including apago in the present and apagué in the preterite.

What is the difference between apagar and encender?

Apagar means to turn off, while encender means to turn on, its opposite. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use apagar when you mean to turn off, as in Apago la luz al salir de casa, and use encender for to turn on, its opposite. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I turn off” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo apagué el móvil en el cine. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo apagaba la televisión por la noche. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he apagado el móvil en el cine.

How do I practise apagar?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the apagar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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