Exigir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb exigir means to demand, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Exigir means to demand, and it is used for demanding an answer, demanding payment, demanding respect and demanding too much of someone. It is stronger than pedir, and it is a spelling-change verb: the g becomes j before o and a, as in exijo and exija. Like every Spanish verb, exigir 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 exijo una respuesta inmediata, and in the preterite you say exigí respeto en el trabajo. 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: exigir
- English: to demand
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: exigiendo
- Past participle: exigido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + exigido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for exigir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: g becomes j before o and a, so yo exijo and the subjunctive exija. Never write exigo.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for exigir. 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 | exijo |
| tú | exiges |
| él/ella/Ud. | exige |
| nosotros/as | exigimos |
| vosotros/as | exigís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exigen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exigí |
| tú | exigiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | exigió |
| nosotros/as | exigimos |
| vosotros/as | exigisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exigieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exigía |
| tú | exigías |
| él/ella/Ud. | exigía |
| nosotros/as | exigíamos |
| vosotros/as | exigíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exigían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exigiré |
| tú | exigirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | exigirá |
| nosotros/as | exigiremos |
| vosotros/as | exigiréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exigirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exigiría |
| tú | exigirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | exigiría |
| nosotros/as | exigiríamos |
| vosotros/as | exigiríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exigirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he exigido |
| tú | has exigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha exigido |
| nosotros/as | hemos exigido |
| vosotros/as | habéis exigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han exigido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había exigido |
| tú | habías exigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había exigido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos exigido |
| vosotros/as | habíais exigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían exigido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré exigido |
| tú | habrás exigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá exigido |
| nosotros/as | habremos exigido |
| vosotros/as | habréis exigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán exigido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría exigido |
| tú | habrías exigido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría exigido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos exigido |
| vosotros/as | habríais exigido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían exigido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exija |
| tú | exijas |
| él/ella/Ud. | exija |
| nosotros/as | exijamos |
| vosotros/as | exigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exijan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | exigiera |
| tú | exigieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | exigiera |
| nosotros/as | exigiéramos |
| vosotros/as | exigierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exigieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | exige |
| él/ella/Ud. | exija |
| nosotros/as | exijamos |
| vosotros/as | exigid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exijan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | exijas |
| él/ella/Ud. | exija |
| nosotros/as | exijamos |
| vosotros/as | exigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | exijan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | exigiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy exigiendo |
| Past participle | exigido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he exigido |
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: g becomes j before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For exigir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Exijo una respuesta inmediata. 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 exigir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, exigí el pago antes del viernes. 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 exigir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, exigía respeto en el trabajo. 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 exigir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, exigiré demasiado a sus alumnos. 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 exigir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Exigiría una respuesta inmediata 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 exigir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he exigido el pago antes del viernes. 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 exigir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había exigido respeto en el trabajo 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 exigir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré exigido demasiado a sus alumnos. 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 exigir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría exigido una respuesta inmediata 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: g becomes j before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For exigir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él exija el pago antes del viernes. 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 exigir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él exigiera respeto en el trabajo, 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: g becomes j before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For exigir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Exige demasiado a sus alumnos! 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: g becomes j before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For exigir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No exijas una respuesta inmediata. 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 exigir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Exijo una respuesta inmediata. — I demand an immediate answer.
- Exige el pago antes del viernes. — He/she demands payment before Friday.
- Ayer, exigí respeto en el trabajo. — Yesterday, I demanded respect at work.
- Antes, nosotros exigíamos demasiado a sus alumnos. — Before, we used to demand too much of her students.
- Mañana, tú exigirás una respuesta inmediata. — Tomorrow, you will demand an immediate answer.
- Yo exigiría el pago antes del viernes si tuviera más tiempo. — I would demand payment before Friday if I had more time.
- Él ha exigido respeto en el trabajo. — He has demanded respect at work.
- Espero que él exija demasiado a sus alumnos. — I hope he demands too much of her students.
- Yo ya había exigido una respuesta inmediata antes de salir. — I had already demanded an immediate answer before leaving.
- Ellos exigían el pago antes del viernes cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to demand payment before Friday when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo exige una respuesta inmediata. — Right: Yo exijo una respuesta inmediata. — The person matters: exige is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is exijo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo exigo el pago antes del viernes. — Right: Yo exijo el pago antes del viernes. — In the present, the correct first-person form is exijo, not exigo. exigir is a spelling-change verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating exigir and pedir as identical in every context. — Right: Exigir means to demand, while pedir means to ask for, the lighter verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: exigir fits sentences such as Exijo una respuesta inmediata, while pedir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy exigido el pago antes del viernes. — Right: Yo he exigido el pago antes del viernes. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he exigido, has exigido, ha exigido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo exigí respeto en el trabajo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo exigía respeto en el trabajo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (exigía), not the preterite. The preterite (exigí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on exigir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una respuesta inmediata. (present tense) A. exijo B. exiges C. exige D. exigimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el pago antes del viernes. (preterite) A. exigí B. exigiste C. exigieron D. exigió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ respeto en el trabajo. (imperfect) A. exigías B. exigían C. exigíamos D. exigía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ demasiado a sus alumnos. (future) A. exigiremos B. exigirás C. exigiré D. exigirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ una respuesta inmediata si pudiera. (conditional) A. exigiría B. exigirías C. exigirían D. exijo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el pago antes del viernes. (present subjunctive) A. exijas B. exijamos C. exijo D. exija
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ respeto en el trabajo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. exigiéramos B. exijo C. exigiera D. exigieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ demasiado a sus alumnos. (present perfect) A. han exigido B. hemos exigido C. he exigido D. has exigido
Complete the command: ¡___ una respuesta inmediata! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. exige B. exija C. exijamos D. exigid
Which is the gerund of exigir, used with estar for the progressive? A. exigido B. exijo C. exigí D. exigiendo
Answer key
- exijo — The first-person present of exigir is exijo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- exigió — The third-person preterite of exigir is exigió, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- exigíamos — The nosotros imperfect of exigir is exigíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- exigirás — The second-person future of exigir is exigirás.
- exigiría — The first-person conditional of exigir is exigiría, the form for what would happen.
- exija — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of exigir is exija.
- exigiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of exigir is exigiera.
- hemos exigido — The nosotros present perfect of exigir is hemos exigido: hemos + exigido.
- exige — The affirmative tú imperative of exigir is exige.
- exigiendo — The gerund of exigir is exigiendo: estoy exigiendo. The participle exigido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does exigir mean in English?
Exigir means to demand. It is used in everyday situations such as Exijo una respuesta inmediata. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is exigir regular or irregular?
Exigir is a fully regular -ir 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 exijo in the present and exigí in the preterite.
What is the difference between exigir and pedir?
Exigir means to demand, while pedir means to ask for, the lighter verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use exigir when you mean to demand, as in Exijo una respuesta inmediata, and use pedir for to ask for, the lighter verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I demand” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo exigí el pago antes del viernes. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo exigía respeto en el trabajo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he exigido el pago antes del viernes.
How do I practise exigir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the exigir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Exigir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for exigir.
- Exigir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for exigir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Sugerir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with exigir.
- Admitir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with exigir.
- Advertir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with exigir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.