Aprobar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb aprobar means to pass (an exam), to approve, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Aprobar has two main senses: to pass an exam, and to approve a law, a project or a budget. In Spain, aprobar un examen means to pass it; in Latin America the same sense is common. Like every Spanish verb, aprobar 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 Yo apruebo el examen de conducir — "I pass the driving test". 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.

The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba and aprueban — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: aprobamos, aprobáis.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: aprobar
  • English: to pass (an exam), to approve
  • Verb type: stem-changing -ar verb (o → ue)
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: aprobando
  • Past participle: aprobado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + aprobado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for aprobar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for aprobar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem.

Present indicative

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | apruebo | | tú | apruebas | | él/ella/Ud. | aprueba | | nosotros/as | aprobamos | | vosotros/as | aprobáis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprueban |

Preterite

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | aprobé | | tú | aprobaste | | él/ella/Ud. | aprobó | | nosotros/as | aprobamos | | vosotros/as | aprobasteis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprobaron |

Imperfect

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | aprobaba | | tú | aprobabas | | él/ella/Ud. | aprobaba | | nosotros/as | aprobábamos | | vosotros/as | aprobabais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprobaban |

Future

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | aprobaré | | tú | aprobarás | | él/ella/Ud. | aprobará | | nosotros/as | aprobaremos | | vosotros/as | aprobaréis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprobarán |

Conditional

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | aprobaría | | tú | aprobarías | | él/ella/Ud. | aprobaría | | nosotros/as | aprobaríamos | | vosotros/as | aprobaríais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprobarían |

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | apruebe | | tú | apruebes | | él/ella/Ud. | apruebe | | nosotros/as | aprobemos | | vosotros/as | aprobéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprueben |

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | yo | aprobara | | tú | aprobaras | | él/ella/Ud. | aprobara | | nosotros/as | aprobáramos | | vosotros/as | aprobarais | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprobaran |

Imperative (affirmative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | aprueba | | él/ella/Ud. | apruebe | | nosotros/as | aprobemos | | vosotros/as | aprobad | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprueben |

Imperative (negative)

| Person | Form | |---|---|---| | tú | apruebes | | él/ella/Ud. | apruebe | | nosotros/as | aprobemos | | vosotros/as | aprobéis | | ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprueben |

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund aprobando with estar for the progressive: está aprobando
Past participle aprobado with haber for the perfect tenses: he aprobado

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba and aprueban — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: aprobamos, aprobáis. For aprobar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo apruebo el examen de conducir — "I pass the driving test".

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 aprobar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, yo aprobé la ley en el parlamento — "Yesterday, I passed the law in parliament".

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 aprobar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, yo aprobaba el proyecto de su jefe — "As a child, I used to pass his boss's project".

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 aprobar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, yo aprobaré las matemáticas con un diez — "Tomorrow, I will pass maths with a top mark".

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 aprobar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Yo aprobaría el examen de conducir si pudiera — "I would pass the driving test if I could".

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 aprobar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, yo he aprobado la ley en el parlamento — "Today, I have passed the law in parliament".

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 aprobar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo ya había aprobado el proyecto de su jefe antes de salir — "I already had passed his boss's project before leaving".

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 aprobar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, yo habré aprobado las matemáticas con un diez — "By tomorrow, I will have passed maths with a top mark".

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 aprobar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría aprobado el examen de conducir con más tiempo — "I would have passed the driving test with more time".

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba and aprueban — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: aprobamos, aprobáis. For aprobar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él apruebe la ley en el parlamento — "I hope he passes the law in parliament".

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past. The -ra forms are 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 aprobar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo aprobara el proyecto de su jefe, todo cambiaría — "If I passed his boss's project, everything would change".

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba and aprueban — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: aprobamos, aprobáis. For aprobar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Aprueba las matemáticas con un diez. — "Pass maths with a top mark.".

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba and aprueban — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: aprobamos, aprobáis. For aprobar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No apruebes el examen de conducir. — "Do not pass the driving test.".

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with aprobar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Yo apruebo el examen de conducir — "I pass the driving test"
  2. Mi amigo aprueba la ley en el parlamento — "My friend passes the law in parliament"
  3. Ayer, yo aprobé el proyecto de su jefe — "Yesterday, I passed his boss's project"
  4. Antes, nosotros aprobábamos las matemáticas con un diez — "Before, we used to pass maths with a top mark"
  5. Mañana, tú aprobarás el presupuesto del año — "Tomorrow, you will pass the year's budget"
  6. Yo aprobaría el examen de conducir si tuviera más tiempo — "I would pass the driving test if I had more time"
  7. Él ha aprobado la ley en el parlamento — "He has passed the law in parliament"
  8. Espero que él apruebe el proyecto de su jefe — "I hope he passes his boss's project"
  9. Yo ya había aprobado las matemáticas con un diez antes de salir — "I already had passed maths with a top mark before leaving"
  10. Ellos aprobaban el presupuesto del año cuando eran jóvenes — "They used to pass the year's budget when they were young"

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo aprobo la ley en el parlamento. — Right: Yo apruebo la ley en el parlamento. — aprobar is a stem-changing verb (o → ue): the stem vowel changes in the stressed present forms, so the yo form is apruebo, not aprobo.
  2. Wrong: Espero que él aprueba la ley en el parlamento — Right: Espero que él apruebe la ley en el parlamento — After espero que, Spanish requires the subjunctive: Espero que él apruebe la ley en el parlamento — not the indicative Espero que él aprueba la ley en el parlamento.
  3. Wrong: Ayer, yo apruebo el proyecto de su jefe — Right: Ayer, yo aprobé el proyecto de su jefe — Ayer points to a finished action in the past, so it needs the preterite: Ayer, yo aprobé el proyecto de su jefe.
  4. Wrong: De niño, yo aprobé las matemáticas con un diez todos los días — Right: De niño, yo aprobaba las matemáticas con un diez todos los días — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect, not the preterite: De niño, yo aprobaba las matemáticas con un diez todos los días.
  5. Wrong: Yo apruebo en el examen de conducir. — Right: Yo apruebo el examen de conducir. — aprobar takes this complement directly, with no preposition: Yo apruebo el examen de conducir.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ el examen de conducir — "I pass the driving test" (present) A. apruebo B. apruebas C. aprueba D. aprobamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Él ______ la ley en el parlamento — "He passed the law in parliament" (preterite) A. aprobé B. aprobaste C. aprobamos D. aprobó

  3. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ el proyecto de su jefe — "We used to pass his boss's project" (imperfect) A. aprobabas B. aprobabais C. aprobábamos D. aprobaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Tú ______ las matemáticas con un diez — "You will pass maths with a top mark" (future) A. aprobaré B. aprobará C. aprobaremos D. aprobarás

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ el presupuesto del año — "I would pass the year's budget" (conditional) A. aprobaría B. aprobarías C. aprobaríamos D. aprobaríais

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ______ el examen de conducir — "I hope he passes the driving test" (present subjunctive) A. apruebes B. aprobemos C. aprobéis D. apruebe

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ______ la ley en el parlamento, todo cambiaría — "If I passed the law in parliament, everything would change" (imperfect subjunctive) A. aprobaras B. aprobáramos C. aprobarais D. aprobara

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ______ el proyecto de su jefe — "We have passed his boss's project" (present perfect) A. has aprobado B. ha aprobado C. hemos aprobado D. he aprobado

  9. Complete the sentence: No ______ las matemáticas con un diez. — "Do not pass maths with a top mark." (negative imperative) A. apruebe B. aprobemos C. aprobéis D. apruebes

  10. Which is the gerund of aprobar, used with estar for the progressive? A. aprobado B. apruebo C. aprobé D. aprobando

Answer key

  1. apruebo — The present form for yo is apruebo.
  2. aprobó — The preterite form for él/ella/Ud. is aprobó.
  3. aprobábamos — The imperfect form for nosotros/as is aprobábamos.
  4. aprobarás — The future form for tú is aprobarás.
  5. aprobaría — The conditional form for yo is aprobaría.
  6. apruebe — The present subjunctive form for él/ella/Ud. is apruebe.
  7. aprobara — The imperfect subjunctive form for yo is aprobara.
  8. hemos aprobado — The present perfect form for nosotros/as is hemos aprobado.
  9. apruebes — The negative imperative form is apruebes.
  10. aprobando — The gerund of aprobar is aprobando: estoy aprobando. The participle aprobado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does aprobar mean in English?

aprobar means to pass (an exam), to approve. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo apruebo el examen de conducir — "I pass the driving test". The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is aprobar regular?

No. aprobar is a stem-changing -ar verb (o → ue). The stem vowel changes in the stressed forms of the present: apruebo, apruebas, aprueba and aprueban — but nosotros and vosotros keep the plain stem: aprobamos, aprobáis. The nosotros and vosotros forms keep the plain stem, which is the part learners most often get right by accident.

What is the gerund and the past participle of aprobar?

The gerund is aprobando and the past participle is aprobado. Use the gerund with estar for the progressive, and the participle with haber for the perfect tenses.

How do I say "I pass" in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Ayer, yo aprobé la ley en el parlamento — "Yesterday, I passed the law in parliament". For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: De niño, yo aprobaba el proyecto de su jefe — "As a child, I used to pass his boss's project". For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Hoy, yo he aprobado la ley en el parlamento — "Today, I have passed the law in parliament".

What is the difference between aprobar and suspender?

Suspender un examen means to fail it — the opposite of aprobar. In Latin America, reprobar is also used for failing an exam. Aprobar has two main senses: to pass an exam, and to approve a law, a project or a budget. In Spain, aprobar un examen means to pass it; in Latin America the same sense is common.

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