Apreciar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb apreciar means to appreciate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Apreciar means to appreciate, and it covers appreciating a favour, appreciating art, appreciating a person's qualities and noticing a small detail, as in apreciar la diferencia. It is a polite verb of gratitude and of taste, common in letters and in careful speech. Like every Spanish verb, apreciar 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 aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto, and in the preterite you say aprecié el arte moderno del museo. 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: apreciar
- English: to appreciate
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: apreciando
- Past participle: apreciado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + apreciado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for apreciar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Apreciar is fully regular: aprecié, apreciaba, apreciaré. Note the ci in every form: aprecio, aprecias, aprecia.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for apreciar. 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 | aprecio |
| tú | aprecias |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprecia |
| nosotros/as | apreciamos |
| vosotros/as | apreciáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprecian |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aprecié |
| tú | apreciaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | apreció |
| nosotros/as | apreciamos |
| vosotros/as | apreciasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apreciaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apreciaba |
| tú | apreciabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | apreciaba |
| nosotros/as | apreciábamos |
| vosotros/as | apreciabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apreciaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apreciaré |
| tú | apreciarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | apreciará |
| nosotros/as | apreciaremos |
| vosotros/as | apreciaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apreciarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apreciaría |
| tú | apreciarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | apreciaría |
| nosotros/as | apreciaríamos |
| vosotros/as | apreciaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apreciarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he apreciado |
| tú | has apreciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha apreciado |
| nosotros/as | hemos apreciado |
| vosotros/as | habéis apreciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han apreciado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había apreciado |
| tú | habías apreciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había apreciado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos apreciado |
| vosotros/as | habíais apreciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían apreciado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré apreciado |
| tú | habrás apreciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá apreciado |
| nosotros/as | habremos apreciado |
| vosotros/as | habréis apreciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán apreciado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría apreciado |
| tú | habrías apreciado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría apreciado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos apreciado |
| vosotros/as | habríais apreciado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían apreciado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aprecie |
| tú | aprecies |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprecie |
| nosotros/as | apreciemos |
| vosotros/as | apreciéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprecien |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | apreciara |
| tú | apreciaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | apreciara |
| nosotros/as | apreciáramos |
| vosotros/as | apreciarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | apreciaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aprecia |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprecie |
| nosotros/as | apreciemos |
| vosotros/as | apreciad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprecien |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aprecies |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprecie |
| nosotros/as | apreciemos |
| vosotros/as | apreciéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprecien |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | apreciando | with estar for the progressive: estoy apreciando |
| Past participle | apreciado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he apreciado |
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 apreciar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto. 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 apreciar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, aprecié la diferencia entre los dos vinos. 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 apreciar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, apreciaba el arte moderno del museo. 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 apreciar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, apreciaré a mis amigos de verdad. 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 apreciar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Apreciaría tu ayuda en este proyecto 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 apreciar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he apreciado la diferencia entre los dos vinos. 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 apreciar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había apreciado el arte moderno del museo 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 apreciar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré apreciado a mis amigos de verdad. 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 apreciar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría apreciado tu ayuda en este proyecto 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For apreciar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él aprecie la diferencia entre los dos vinos. 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 apreciar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él apreciara el arte moderno del museo, 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For apreciar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡aprecia a mis amigos de verdad! 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For apreciar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No aprecies tu ayuda en este proyecto. 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 apreciar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto. — I appreciate your help with this project.
- Aprecia la diferencia entre los dos vinos. — He/she appreciates the difference between the two wines.
- Ayer, aprecié el arte moderno del museo. — Yesterday, I appreciated the modern art in the museum.
- Antes, nosotros apreciábamos a mis amigos de verdad. — Before, we used to appreciate my true friends.
- Mañana, tú apreciarás tu ayuda en este proyecto. — Tomorrow, you will appreciate your help with this project.
- Yo apreciaría la diferencia entre los dos vinos si tuviera más tiempo. — I would appreciate the difference between the two wines if I had more time.
- Él ha apreciado el arte moderno del museo. — He has appreciated the modern art in the museum.
- Espero que él aprecie a mis amigos de verdad. — I hope he appreciates my true friends.
- Yo ya había apreciado tu ayuda en este proyecto antes de salir. — I had already appreciated your help with this project before leaving.
- Ellos apreciaban la diferencia entre los dos vinos cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to appreciate the difference between the two wines when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo aprecia tu ayuda en este proyecto. — Right: Yo aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto. — The person matters: aprecia is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is aprecio. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating apreciar and valorar as identical in every context. — Right: Apreciar means to appreciate, while valorar means to value something or someone. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: apreciar fits sentences such as Aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto, while valorar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy apreciado la diferencia entre los dos vinos. — Right: Yo he apreciado la diferencia entre los dos vinos. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he apreciado, has apreciado, ha apreciado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo aprecié el arte moderno del museo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo apreciaba el arte moderno del museo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (apreciaba), not the preterite. The preterite (aprecié) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on apreciar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ tu ayuda en este proyecto. (present tense) A. aprecio B. aprecias C. aprecia D. apreciamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la diferencia entre los dos vinos. (preterite) A. aprecié B. apreciaste C. apreciaron D. apreció
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el arte moderno del museo. (imperfect) A. apreciabas B. apreciaban C. apreciábamos D. apreciaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a mis amigos de verdad. (future) A. apreciaremos B. apreciarás C. apreciaré D. apreciará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ tu ayuda en este proyecto si pudiera. (conditional) A. apreciaría B. apreciarías C. apreciarían D. aprecio
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la diferencia entre los dos vinos. (present subjunctive) A. aprecies B. apreciemos C. aprecio D. aprecie
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el arte moderno del museo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. apreciáramos B. aprecio C. apreciara D. apreciaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a mis amigos de verdad. (present perfect) A. han apreciado B. hemos apreciado C. he apreciado D. has apreciado
Complete the command: ¡___ tu ayuda en este proyecto! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. aprecia B. aprecie C. apreciemos D. apreciad
Which is the gerund of apreciar, used with estar for the progressive? A. apreciado B. aprecio C. aprecié D. apreciando
Answer key
- aprecio — The first-person present of apreciar is aprecio. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- apreció — The third-person preterite of apreciar is apreció, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- apreciábamos — The nosotros imperfect of apreciar is apreciábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- apreciarás — The second-person future of apreciar is apreciarás.
- apreciaría — The first-person conditional of apreciar is apreciaría, the form for what would happen.
- aprecie — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of apreciar is aprecie.
- apreciara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of apreciar is apreciara.
- hemos apreciado — The nosotros present perfect of apreciar is hemos apreciado: hemos + apreciado.
- aprecia — The affirmative tú imperative of apreciar is aprecia.
- apreciando — The gerund of apreciar is apreciando: estoy apreciando. The participle apreciado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does apreciar mean in English?
Apreciar means to appreciate. It is used in everyday situations such as Aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is apreciar regular or irregular?
Apreciar 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 aprecio in the present and aprecié in the preterite.
What is the difference between apreciar and valorar?
Apreciar means to appreciate, while valorar means to value something or someone. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use apreciar when you mean to appreciate, as in Aprecio tu ayuda en este proyecto, and use valorar for to value something or someone. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I appreciate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo aprecié la diferencia entre los dos vinos. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo apreciaba el arte moderno del museo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he apreciado la diferencia entre los dos vinos.
How do I practise apreciar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the apreciar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Apreciar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for apreciar.
- Apreciar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for apreciar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Apresurar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with apreciar.
- Apostar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with apreciar.
- Aprovechar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with apreciar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.