Aprovechar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb aprovechar means to take advantage of, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Aprovechar means to take advantage of, and it is used for making the most of an opportunity, an offer, free time or good weather: you take advantage of a sale, of a holiday, of a chance to learn. It is a positive verb of seizing the moment, and it is very frequent in everyday Spanish. Like every Spanish verb, aprovechar 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 aprovecho la oferta del supermercado, and in the preterite you say aproveché la oportunidad de viajar. 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: aprovechar
- English: to take advantage of
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: aprovechando
- Past participle: aprovechado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + aprovechado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for aprovechar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Aprovechar is fully regular: aproveché, aprovechaba, aprovecharé. Note the ch in every form: aprovecho, aprovechas.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for aprovechar. 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 | aprovecho |
| tú | aprovechas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprovecha |
| nosotros/as | aprovechamos |
| vosotros/as | aprovecháis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovechan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aproveché |
| tú | aprovechaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprovechó |
| nosotros/as | aprovechamos |
| vosotros/as | aprovechasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovecharon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aprovechaba |
| tú | aprovechabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprovechaba |
| nosotros/as | aprovechábamos |
| vosotros/as | aprovechabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovechaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aprovecharé |
| tú | aprovecharás |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprovechará |
| nosotros/as | aprovecharemos |
| vosotros/as | aprovecharéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovecharán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aprovecharía |
| tú | aprovecharías |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprovecharía |
| nosotros/as | aprovecharíamos |
| vosotros/as | aprovecharíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovecharían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he aprovechado |
| tú | has aprovechado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha aprovechado |
| nosotros/as | hemos aprovechado |
| vosotros/as | habéis aprovechado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han aprovechado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había aprovechado |
| tú | habías aprovechado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había aprovechado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos aprovechado |
| vosotros/as | habíais aprovechado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían aprovechado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré aprovechado |
| tú | habrás aprovechado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá aprovechado |
| nosotros/as | habremos aprovechado |
| vosotros/as | habréis aprovechado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán aprovechado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría aprovechado |
| tú | habrías aprovechado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría aprovechado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos aprovechado |
| vosotros/as | habríais aprovechado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían aprovechado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aproveche |
| tú | aproveches |
| él/ella/Ud. | aproveche |
| nosotros/as | aprovechemos |
| vosotros/as | aprovechéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovechen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aprovechara |
| tú | aprovecharas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aprovechara |
| nosotros/as | aprovecháramos |
| vosotros/as | aprovecharais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovecharan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aprovecha |
| él/ella/Ud. | aproveche |
| nosotros/as | aprovechemos |
| vosotros/as | aprovechad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovechen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aproveches |
| él/ella/Ud. | aproveche |
| nosotros/as | aprovechemos |
| vosotros/as | aprovechéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aprovechen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | aprovechando | with estar for the progressive: estoy aprovechando |
| Past participle | aprovechado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he aprovechado |
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 aprovechar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Aprovecho la oferta del supermercado. 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 aprovechar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, aproveché el tiempo libre para leer. 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 aprovechar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, aprovechaba la oportunidad de viajar. 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 aprovechar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, aprovecharé el buen tiempo del fin de semana. 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 aprovechar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Aprovecharía la oferta del supermercado 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 aprovechar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he aprovechado el tiempo libre para leer. 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 aprovechar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había aprovechado la oportunidad de viajar 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 aprovechar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré aprovechado el buen tiempo del fin de semana. 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 aprovechar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría aprovechado la oferta del supermercado 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 aprovechar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él aproveche el tiempo libre para leer. 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 aprovechar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él aprovechara la oportunidad de viajar, 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 aprovechar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡aprovecha el buen tiempo del fin de semana! 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 aprovechar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No aproveches la oferta del supermercado. 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 aprovechar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Aprovecho la oferta del supermercado. — I take advantage of the supermarket offer.
- Aprovecha el tiempo libre para leer. — He/she takes advantage of free time to read.
- Ayer, aproveché la oportunidad de viajar. — Yesterday, I took advantage of the chance to travel.
- Antes, nosotros aprovechábamos el buen tiempo del fin de semana. — Before, we used to take advantage of the good weather at the weekend.
- Mañana, tú aprovecharás la oferta del supermercado. — Tomorrow, you will take advantage of the supermarket offer.
- Yo aprovecharía el tiempo libre para leer si tuviera más tiempo. — I would take advantage of free time to read if I had more time.
- Él ha aprovechado la oportunidad de viajar. — He has taken advantage of the chance to travel.
- Espero que él aproveche el buen tiempo del fin de semana. — I hope he takes advantage of the good weather at the weekend.
- Yo ya había aprovechado la oferta del supermercado antes de salir. — I had already taken advantage of the supermarket offer before leaving.
- Ellos aprovechaban el tiempo libre para leer cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to take advantage of free time to read when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo aprovecha la oferta del supermercado. — Right: Yo aprovecho la oferta del supermercado. — The person matters: aprovecha is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is aprovecho. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating aprovechar and disfrutar as identical in every context. — Right: Aprovechar means to take advantage of, while disfrutar means to enjoy something. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: aprovechar fits sentences such as Aprovecho la oferta del supermercado, while disfrutar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy aprovechado el tiempo libre para leer. — Right: Yo he aprovechado el tiempo libre para leer. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he aprovechado, has aprovechado, ha aprovechado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo aproveché la oportunidad de viajar todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo aprovechaba la oportunidad de viajar todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (aprovechaba), not the preterite. The preterite (aproveché) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on aprovechar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la oferta del supermercado. (present tense) A. aprovecho B. aprovechas C. aprovecha D. aprovechamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el tiempo libre para leer. (preterite) A. aproveché B. aprovechaste C. aprovecharon D. aprovechó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la oportunidad de viajar. (imperfect) A. aprovechabas B. aprovechaban C. aprovechábamos D. aprovechaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el buen tiempo del fin de semana. (future) A. aprovecharemos B. aprovecharás C. aprovecharé D. aprovechará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la oferta del supermercado si pudiera. (conditional) A. aprovecharía B. aprovecharías C. aprovecharían D. aprovecho
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el tiempo libre para leer. (present subjunctive) A. aproveches B. aprovechemos C. aprovecho D. aproveche
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la oportunidad de viajar, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. aprovecháramos B. aprovecho C. aprovechara D. aprovecharas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el buen tiempo del fin de semana. (present perfect) A. han aprovechado B. hemos aprovechado C. he aprovechado D. has aprovechado
Complete the command: ¡___ la oferta del supermercado! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. aprovecha B. aproveche C. aprovechemos D. aprovechad
Which is the gerund of aprovechar, used with estar for the progressive? A. aprovechado B. aprovecho C. aproveché D. aprovechando
Answer key
- aprovecho — The first-person present of aprovechar is aprovecho. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- aprovechó — The third-person preterite of aprovechar is aprovechó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- aprovechábamos — The nosotros imperfect of aprovechar is aprovechábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- aprovecharás — The second-person future of aprovechar is aprovecharás.
- aprovecharía — The first-person conditional of aprovechar is aprovecharía, the form for what would happen.
- aproveche — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of aprovechar is aproveche.
- aprovechara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of aprovechar is aprovechara.
- hemos aprovechado — The nosotros present perfect of aprovechar is hemos aprovechado: hemos + aprovechado.
- aprovecha — The affirmative tú imperative of aprovechar is aprovecha.
- aprovechando — The gerund of aprovechar is aprovechando: estoy aprovechando. The participle aprovechado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does aprovechar mean in English?
Aprovechar means to take advantage of. It is used in everyday situations such as Aprovecho la oferta del supermercado. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is aprovechar regular or irregular?
Aprovechar 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 aprovecho in the present and aproveché in the preterite.
What is the difference between aprovechar and disfrutar?
Aprovechar means to take advantage of, while disfrutar means to enjoy something. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use aprovechar when you mean to take advantage of, as in Aprovecho la oferta del supermercado, and use disfrutar for to enjoy something. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I take advantage of” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo aproveché el tiempo libre para leer. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo aprovechaba la oportunidad de viajar. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he aprovechado el tiempo libre para leer.
How do I practise aprovechar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the aprovechar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Aprovechar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for aprovechar.
- Aprovechar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for aprovechar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Apuntar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with aprovechar.
- Apresurar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with aprovechar.
- Apreciar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with aprovechar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.