Modificar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb modificar means to modify, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Modificar means to modify, and it is used for modifying a plan after a meeting, a document before sending it and a design or a timetable. It is a more precise synonym of cambiar, and it is a spelling-change verb: the c becomes qu before e. Like every Spanish verb, modificar 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 modifico el plan después de la reunión, and in the preterite you say modifiqué el diseño del cartel. 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: modificar
- English: to modify
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: modificando
- Past participle: modificado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + modificado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for modificar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite is modifiqué and the subjunctive is modifique.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for modificar. 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 | modifico |
| tú | modificas |
| él/ella/Ud. | modifica |
| nosotros/as | modificamos |
| vosotros/as | modificáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modifican |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | modifiqué |
| tú | modificaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | modificó |
| nosotros/as | modificamos |
| vosotros/as | modificasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modificaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | modificaba |
| tú | modificabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | modificaba |
| nosotros/as | modificábamos |
| vosotros/as | modificabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modificaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | modificaré |
| tú | modificarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | modificará |
| nosotros/as | modificaremos |
| vosotros/as | modificaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modificarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | modificaría |
| tú | modificarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | modificaría |
| nosotros/as | modificaríamos |
| vosotros/as | modificaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modificarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he modificado |
| tú | has modificado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha modificado |
| nosotros/as | hemos modificado |
| vosotros/as | habéis modificado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han modificado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había modificado |
| tú | habías modificado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había modificado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos modificado |
| vosotros/as | habíais modificado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían modificado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré modificado |
| tú | habrás modificado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá modificado |
| nosotros/as | habremos modificado |
| vosotros/as | habréis modificado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán modificado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría modificado |
| tú | habrías modificado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría modificado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos modificado |
| vosotros/as | habríais modificado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían modificado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | modifique |
| tú | modifiques |
| él/ella/Ud. | modifique |
| nosotros/as | modifiquemos |
| vosotros/as | modifiquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modifiquen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | modificara |
| tú | modificaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | modificara |
| nosotros/as | modificáramos |
| vosotros/as | modificarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modificaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | modifica |
| él/ella/Ud. | modifique |
| nosotros/as | modifiquemos |
| vosotros/as | modificad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modifiquen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | modifiques |
| él/ella/Ud. | modifique |
| nosotros/as | modifiquemos |
| vosotros/as | modifiquéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | modifiquen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | modificando | with estar for the progressive: estoy modificando |
| Past participle | modificado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he modificado |
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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For modificar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Modifico el plan después de la reunión. 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 in the first person: c becomes qu before e, so the preterite first person is modifiqué. For modificar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, modifiqué el documento antes de enviarlo. 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 modificar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, modificaba el diseño del cartel. 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 modificar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, modificaré el horario para el verano. 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 modificar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Modificaría el plan después de la reunión 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 modificar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he modificado el documento antes de enviarlo. 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 modificar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había modificado el diseño del cartel 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 modificar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré modificado el horario para el verano. 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 modificar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría modificado el plan después de la reunión 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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For modificar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él modifique el documento antes de enviarlo. 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 modificar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él modificara el diseño del cartel, 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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For modificar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Modifica el horario para el verano! 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: c becomes qu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For modificar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No modifiques el plan después de la reunión. 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 modificar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Modifico el plan después de la reunión. — I modify the plan after the meeting.
- Modifica el documento antes de enviarlo. — He/she modifies the document before sending it.
- Ayer, modifiqué el diseño del cartel. — Yesterday, I modified the poster design.
- Antes, nosotros modificábamos el horario para el verano. — Before, we used to modify the timetable for the summer.
- Mañana, tú modificarás el plan después de la reunión. — Tomorrow, you will modify the plan after the meeting.
- Yo modificaría el documento antes de enviarlo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would modify the document before sending it if I had more time.
- Él ha modificado el diseño del cartel. — He has modified the poster design.
- Espero que él modifique el horario para el verano. — I hope he modifies the timetable for the summer.
- Yo ya había modificado el plan después de la reunión antes de salir. — I had already modified the plan after the meeting before leaving.
- Ellos modificaban el documento antes de enviarlo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to modify the document before sending it when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo modifica el plan después de la reunión. — Right: Yo modifico el plan después de la reunión. — The person matters: modifica is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is modifico. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo modificé el documento antes de enviarlo. — Right: Yo modifiqué el documento antes de enviarlo. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is modifiqué, not modificé. modificar is a spelling-change verb: c becomes qu before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating modificar and cambiar as identical in every context. — Right: Modificar means to modify, while cambiar means to change, the general verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: modificar fits sentences such as Modifico el plan después de la reunión, while cambiar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy modificado el documento antes de enviarlo. — Right: Yo he modificado el documento antes de enviarlo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he modificado, has modificado, ha modificado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo modifiqué el diseño del cartel todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo modificaba el diseño del cartel todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (modificaba), not the preterite. The preterite (modifiqué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on modificar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el plan después de la reunión. (present tense) A. modifico B. modificas C. modifica D. modificamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el documento antes de enviarlo. (preterite) A. modifiqué B. modificaste C. modificaron D. modificó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el diseño del cartel. (imperfect) A. modificabas B. modificaban C. modificábamos D. modificaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el horario para el verano. (future) A. modificaremos B. modificarás C. modificaré D. modificará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el plan después de la reunión si pudiera. (conditional) A. modificaría B. modificarías C. modificarían D. modifico
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el documento antes de enviarlo. (present subjunctive) A. modifiques B. modifiquemos C. modifico D. modifique
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el diseño del cartel, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. modificáramos B. modifico C. modificara D. modificaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el horario para el verano. (present perfect) A. han modificado B. hemos modificado C. he modificado D. has modificado
Complete the command: ¡___ el plan después de la reunión! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. modifica B. modifique C. modifiquemos D. modificad
Which is the gerund of modificar, used with estar for the progressive? A. modificado B. modifico C. modifiqué D. modificando
Answer key
- modifico — The first-person present of modificar is modifico. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- modificó — The third-person preterite of modificar is modificó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- modificábamos — The nosotros imperfect of modificar is modificábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- modificarás — The second-person future of modificar is modificarás.
- modificaría — The first-person conditional of modificar is modificaría, the form for what would happen.
- modifique — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of modificar is modifique.
- modificara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of modificar is modificara.
- hemos modificado — The nosotros present perfect of modificar is hemos modificado: hemos + modificado.
- modifica — The affirmative tú imperative of modificar is modifica.
- modificando — The gerund of modificar is modificando: estoy modificando. The participle modificado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does modificar mean in English?
Modificar means to modify. It is used in everyday situations such as Modifico el plan después de la reunión. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is modificar regular or irregular?
Modificar 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 modifico in the present and modifiqué in the preterite.
What is the difference between modificar and cambiar?
Modificar means to modify, while cambiar means to change, the general verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use modificar when you mean to modify, as in Modifico el plan después de la reunión, and use cambiar for to change, the general verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I modify” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo modifiqué el documento antes de enviarlo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo modificaba el diseño del cartel. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he modificado el documento antes de enviarlo.
How do I practise modificar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the modificar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Modificar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for modificar.
- Modificar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for modificar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Calificar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with modificar.
- Notificar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with modificar.
- Especificar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with modificar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.