Calificarse Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb calificarse means to qualify, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Calificarse means to qualify, and it is the reflexive verb for reaching a standard: you qualify for the final, for the World Cup, for the next round. It takes para for the competition, as in calificarse para la final, and it is a classic sports verb. Like every Spanish verb, calificarse 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 me califico para la final del torneo, and in the preterite you say me califiqué entre los diez mejores. 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: calificarse
  • English: to qualify
  • Verb type: reflexive spelling-changing verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: calificando
  • Past participle: calificado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + calificado)
  • Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se — one before every conjugated form, matching the person.
  • Spelling change: the stem spelling changes in some forms so the pronunciation stays the same — see the notes under each tense.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for calificarse, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Calificarse is reflexive: me califico, te calificas. The spelling change c to qu applies: me califiqué in the preterite.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for calificarse. 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 Pronoun Form
yo me califico
tú te calificas
él/ella/Ud. se califica
nosotros/as nos calificamos
vosotros/as os calificáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se califican

Preterite

Person Pronoun Form
yo me califiqué
tú te calificaste
él/ella/Ud. se calificó
nosotros/as nos calificamos
vosotros/as os calificasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se calificaron

Imperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me calificaba
tú te calificabas
él/ella/Ud. se calificaba
nosotros/as nos calificábamos
vosotros/as os calificabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se calificaban

Future

Person Pronoun Form
yo me calificaré
tú te calificarás
él/ella/Ud. se calificará
nosotros/as nos calificaremos
vosotros/as os calificaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se calificarán

Conditional

Person Pronoun Form
yo me calificaría
tú te calificarías
él/ella/Ud. se calificaría
nosotros/as nos calificaríamos
vosotros/as os calificaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se calificarían

Present perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me he calificado
tú te has calificado
él/ella/Ud. se ha calificado
nosotros/as nos hemos calificado
vosotros/as os habéis calificado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se han calificado

Pluperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me había calificado
tú te habías calificado
él/ella/Ud. se había calificado
nosotros/as nos habíamos calificado
vosotros/as os habíais calificado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habían calificado

Future perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habré calificado
tú te habrás calificado
él/ella/Ud. se habrá calificado
nosotros/as nos habremos calificado
vosotros/as os habréis calificado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrán calificado

Conditional perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habría calificado
tú te habrías calificado
él/ella/Ud. se habría calificado
nosotros/as nos habríamos calificado
vosotros/as os habríais calificado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrían calificado

Present subjunctive

Person Pronoun Form
yo me califique
tú te califiques
él/ella/Ud. se califique
nosotros/as nos califiquemos
vosotros/as os califiquéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se califiquen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Pronoun Form
yo me calificara
tú te calificaras
él/ella/Ud. se calificara
nosotros/as nos calificáramos
vosotros/as os calificarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se calificaran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te califica
él/ella/Ud. se califique
nosotros/as nos califiquemos
vosotros/as os calificad
ellos/ellas/Uds. se califiquen

Imperative (negative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te califiques
él/ella/Ud. se califique
nosotros/as nos califiquemos
vosotros/as os califiquéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se califiquen

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund calificando with estar for the progressive: estoy calificando (with the pronoun attached: calificándose)
Past participle calificado with haber for the perfect tenses: he calificado

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 calificarse, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Me califico para la final del torneo. 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 here: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite is me califiqué, never me calificé. For calificarse, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, me califiqué para el mundial de fútbol. 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 calificarse, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, me calificaba entre los diez mejores. 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 calificarse, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, me calificaré para la siguiente ronda. 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 calificarse, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Me calificaría para la final del torneo 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 calificarse, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, me he calificado para el mundial de fútbol. 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 calificarse, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me había calificado entre los diez mejores 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 calificarse, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, me habré calificado para la siguiente ronda. 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 calificarse, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me habría calificado para la final del torneo 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 calificarse, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él se califique para el mundial de fútbol. 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 calificarse, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él se calificara entre los diez mejores, 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 calificarse, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: Que se califique para la siguiente ronda. 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 calificarse, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No te califiques para la final del torneo. 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 calificarse, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Me califico para la final del torneo. — I qualify for the tournament final.
  2. Se califica para el mundial de fútbol. — He/she qualifies for the football World Cup.
  3. Ayer, me califiqué entre los diez mejores. — Yesterday, I qualified among the ten best.
  4. Antes, nosotros nos calificábamos para la siguiente ronda. — Before, we used to qualify for the next round.
  5. Mañana, tú te calificarás para la final del torneo. — Tomorrow, you will qualify for the tournament final.
  6. Yo me calificaría para el mundial de fútbol si tuviera más tiempo. — I would qualify for the football World Cup if I had more time.
  7. Él se ha calificado entre los diez mejores. — He has qualified among the ten best.
  8. Espero que él se califique para la siguiente ronda. — I hope he qualifies for the next round.
  9. Yo ya me había calificado para la final del torneo antes de salir. — I had already qualified for the tournament final before leaving.
  10. Ellos se calificaban para el mundial de fútbol cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to qualify for the football World Cup when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo califico para la final del torneo. — Right: Yo me califico para la final del torneo. — Calificarse is reflexive, so the pronoun me is required: without it the verb means something else, or nothing at all.
  2. Wrong: Ayer, yo me calificé entre los diez mejores. — Right: Ayer, yo me califiqué entre los diez mejores. — Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite is me califiqué, never me calificé.
  3. Wrong: Treating calificarse and clasificarse as identical in every context. — Right: Calificarse means to qualify, while clasificarse means to qualify, the more common synonym. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: calificarse fits sentences such as Me califico para la final del torneo, while clasificarse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy calificado para el mundial de fútbol. — Right: Yo he calificado para el mundial de fútbol. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he calificado, has calificado, ha calificado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo califiqué entre los diez mejores todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo calificaba entre los diez mejores todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (calificaba), not the preterite. The preterite (califiqué) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ para la final del torneo. (present tense) A. me califico B. te calificas C. se califica D. nos calificamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ para el mundial de fútbol. (preterite) A. me califiqué B. te calificaste C. se calificaron D. se calificó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ entre los diez mejores. (imperfect) A. te calificabas B. se calificaban C. nos calificábamos D. me calificaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ para la siguiente ronda. (future) A. nos calificaremos B. te calificarás C. me calificaré D. se calificará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ para la final del torneo si pudiera. (conditional) A. me calificaría B. te calificarías C. se calificaría D. se calificarían

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ para el mundial de fútbol. (present subjunctive) A. me califique B. te califiques C. nos califiquemos D. se califique

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ entre los diez mejores, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. se calificara B. nos calificáramos C. me calificara D. te calificaras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ para la siguiente ronda. (present perfect) A. se han calificado B. nos hemos calificado C. me he calificado D. te has calificado

  9. Complete the command: No ___ para la final del torneo. (negative imperative, tú) A. te califiques B. se califique C. nos califiquemos D. os califiquéis

  10. Which is the gerund of calificarse, used with estar for the progressive? A. calificado B. califico C. califiqué D. calificando

Answer key

  1. me califico — The first-person present of calificarse is me califico. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. se calificó — The third-person preterite of calificarse is se calificó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. nos calificábamos — The nosotros imperfect of calificarse is nos calificábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. te calificarás — The second-person future of calificarse is te calificarás.
  5. me calificaría — The first-person conditional of calificarse is me calificaría, the form for what would happen.
  6. se califique — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of calificarse is se califique.
  7. me calificara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of calificarse is me calificara.
  8. nos hemos calificado — The nosotros present perfect of calificarse is nos hemos calificado: hemos + calificado.
  9. te califiques — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: te califiques.
  10. calificando — The gerund of calificarse is calificando: estoy calificando. The participle calificado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does calificarse mean in English?

Calificarse means to qualify. It is used in everyday situations such as Me califico para la final del torneo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is calificarse a reflexive verb?

Yes. Calificarse is reflexive, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun that matches the person: me, te, se, nos, os or se. For example, Me califico para la final del torneo and él se califica para el mundial de fútbol. If you leave the pronoun out, the verb changes meaning or stops making sense.

What is the difference between calificarse and clasificarse?

Calificarse means to qualify, while clasificarse means to qualify, the more common synonym. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use calificarse when you mean to qualify, as in Me califico para la final del torneo, and use clasificarse for to qualify, the more common synonym. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I qualify” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo me califiqué para el mundial de fútbol. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo me calificaba entre los diez mejores. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo me he calificado para el mundial de fútbol.

How do I practise calificarse?

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

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