Aplicar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb aplicar means to apply, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Aplicar means to apply, and it covers applying cream to skin, applying a theory in practice, applying a new rule and applying a discount. It is a spelling-change verb: the c becomes qu before e. Like every Spanish verb, aplicar 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 aplico la crema en la piel, and in the preterite you say apliqué una norma nueva en el colegio. 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: aplicar
  • English: to apply
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: aplicando
  • Past participle: aplicado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + aplicado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for aplicar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite is apliqué and the subjunctive is aplique.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for aplicar. 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 aplico
tú aplicas
él/ella/Ud. aplica
nosotros/as aplicamos
vosotros/as aplicáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. aplican

Preterite

Person Form
yo apliqué
tú aplicaste
él/ella/Ud. aplicó
nosotros/as aplicamos
vosotros/as aplicasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. aplicaron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo aplicaba
tú aplicabas
él/ella/Ud. aplicaba
nosotros/as aplicábamos
vosotros/as aplicabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. aplicaban

Future

Person Form
yo aplicaré
tú aplicarás
él/ella/Ud. aplicará
nosotros/as aplicaremos
vosotros/as aplicaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. aplicarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo aplicaría
tú aplicarías
él/ella/Ud. aplicaría
nosotros/as aplicaríamos
vosotros/as aplicaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. aplicarían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo aplique
tú apliques
él/ella/Ud. aplique
nosotros/as apliquemos
vosotros/as apliquéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apliquen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo aplicara
tú aplicaras
él/ella/Ud. aplicara
nosotros/as aplicáramos
vosotros/as aplicarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. aplicaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú aplica
él/ella/Ud. aplique
nosotros/as apliquemos
vosotros/as aplicad
ellos/ellas/Uds. apliquen

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú apliques
él/ella/Ud. aplique
nosotros/as apliquemos
vosotros/as apliquéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. apliquen

Gerund and past participle

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

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the spelling change here: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For aplicar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Aplico la crema en la piel. 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 in the first person: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite first person is apliqué. For aplicar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, apliqué la teoría en la práctica. 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 aplicar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, aplicaba una norma nueva en el colegio. 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 aplicar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, aplicaré el descuento a la factura. 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 aplicar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Aplicaría la crema en la piel 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 aplicar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he aplicado la teoría en la práctica. 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 aplicar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había aplicado una norma nueva en el colegio 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 aplicar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré aplicado el descuento a la factura. 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 aplicar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría aplicado la crema en la piel 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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For aplicar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él aplique la teoría en la práctica. 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 aplicar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él aplicara una norma nueva en el colegio, 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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For aplicar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Aplica el descuento a la factura! 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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For aplicar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No apliques la crema en la piel. 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 aplicar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Aplico la crema en la piel. — I apply the cream on the skin.
  2. Aplica la teoría en la práctica. — He/she applies the theory in practice.
  3. Ayer, apliqué una norma nueva en el colegio. — Yesterday, I applied a new rule at school.
  4. Antes, nosotros aplicábamos el descuento a la factura. — Before, we used to apply the discount to the bill.
  5. Mañana, tú aplicarás la crema en la piel. — Tomorrow, you will apply the cream on the skin.
  6. Yo aplicaría la teoría en la práctica si tuviera más tiempo. — I would apply the theory in practice if I had more time.
  7. Él ha aplicado una norma nueva en el colegio. — He has applied a new rule at school.
  8. Espero que él aplique el descuento a la factura. — I hope he applies the discount to the bill.
  9. Yo ya había aplicado la crema en la piel antes de salir. — I had already applied the cream on the skin before leaving.
  10. Ellos aplicaban la teoría en la práctica cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to apply the theory in practice when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo aplica la crema en la piel. — Right: Yo aplico la crema en la piel. — The person matters: aplica is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is aplico. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo aplicé la teoría en la práctica. — Right: Yo apliqué la teoría en la práctica. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is apliqué, not aplicé. aplicar is a spelling-change verb: c becomes qu before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
  3. Wrong: Treating aplicar and usar as identical in every context. — Right: Aplicar means to apply, while usar means to use, the general verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: aplicar fits sentences such as Aplico la crema en la piel, while usar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy aplicado la teoría en la práctica. — Right: Yo he aplicado la teoría en la práctica. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he aplicado, has aplicado, ha aplicado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo apliqué una norma nueva en el colegio todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo aplicaba una norma nueva en el colegio todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (aplicaba), not the preterite. The preterite (apliqué) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la crema en la piel. (present tense) A. aplico B. aplicas C. aplica D. aplicamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la teoría en la práctica. (preterite) A. apliqué B. aplicaste C. aplicaron D. aplicó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una norma nueva en el colegio. (imperfect) A. aplicabas B. aplicaban C. aplicábamos D. aplicaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el descuento a la factura. (future) A. aplicaremos B. aplicarás C. aplicaré D. aplicará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la crema en la piel si pudiera. (conditional) A. aplicaría B. aplicarías C. aplicarían D. aplico

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la teoría en la práctica. (present subjunctive) A. apliques B. apliquemos C. aplico D. aplique

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una norma nueva en el colegio, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. aplicáramos B. aplico C. aplicara D. aplicaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el descuento a la factura. (present perfect) A. han aplicado B. hemos aplicado C. he aplicado D. has aplicado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la crema en la piel! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. aplica B. aplique C. apliquemos D. aplicad

  10. Which is the gerund of aplicar, used with estar for the progressive? A. aplicado B. aplico C. apliqué D. aplicando

Answer key

  1. aplico — The first-person present of aplicar is aplico. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. aplicó — The third-person preterite of aplicar is aplicó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. aplicábamos — The nosotros imperfect of aplicar is aplicábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. aplicarás — The second-person future of aplicar is aplicarás.
  5. aplicaría — The first-person conditional of aplicar is aplicaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. aplique — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of aplicar is aplique.
  7. aplicara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of aplicar is aplicara.
  8. hemos aplicado — The nosotros present perfect of aplicar is hemos aplicado: hemos + aplicado.
  9. aplica — The affirmative tú imperative of aplicar is aplica.
  10. aplicando — The gerund of aplicar is aplicando: estoy aplicando. The participle aplicado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does aplicar mean in English?

Aplicar means to apply. It is used in everyday situations such as Aplico la crema en la piel. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is aplicar regular or irregular?

Aplicar 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 aplico in the present and apliqué in the preterite.

What is the difference between aplicar and usar?

Aplicar means to apply, while usar means to use, the general verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use aplicar when you mean to apply, as in Aplico la crema en la piel, and use usar for to use, the general verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I apply” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo apliqué la teoría en la práctica. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo aplicaba una norma nueva en el colegio. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he aplicado la teoría en la práctica.

How do I practise aplicar?

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

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