Obligar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb obligar means to oblige, to force, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Obligar means to oblige or to force, and it is used for obliging students to study, a driver to stop and a company to pay a fine. It takes a plus the infinitive for the forced action, and it is a spelling-change verb: the g becomes gu before e. Like every Spanish verb, obligar 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 obligo a los alumnos a estudiar, and in the preterite you say obligué a su hijo a comer verduras. 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: obligar
- English: to oblige, to force
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: obligando
- Past participle: obligado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + obligado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for obligar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite is obligué and the subjunctive is obligue. Obligar a alguien a + infinitive is to force them to do it.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for obligar. 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 | obligo |
| tú | obligas |
| él/ella/Ud. | obliga |
| nosotros/as | obligamos |
| vosotros/as | obligáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obligan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | obligué |
| tú | obligaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligó |
| nosotros/as | obligamos |
| vosotros/as | obligasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obligaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | obligaba |
| tú | obligabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligaba |
| nosotros/as | obligábamos |
| vosotros/as | obligabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obligaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | obligaré |
| tú | obligarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligará |
| nosotros/as | obligaremos |
| vosotros/as | obligaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obligarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | obligaría |
| tú | obligarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligaría |
| nosotros/as | obligaríamos |
| vosotros/as | obligaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obligarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he obligado |
| tú | has obligado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha obligado |
| nosotros/as | hemos obligado |
| vosotros/as | habéis obligado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han obligado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había obligado |
| tú | habías obligado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había obligado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos obligado |
| vosotros/as | habíais obligado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían obligado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré obligado |
| tú | habrás obligado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá obligado |
| nosotros/as | habremos obligado |
| vosotros/as | habréis obligado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán obligado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría obligado |
| tú | habrías obligado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría obligado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos obligado |
| vosotros/as | habríais obligado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían obligado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | obligue |
| tú | obligues |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligue |
| nosotros/as | obliguemos |
| vosotros/as | obliguéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obliguen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | obligara |
| tú | obligaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligara |
| nosotros/as | obligáramos |
| vosotros/as | obligarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obligaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | obliga |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligue |
| nosotros/as | obliguemos |
| vosotros/as | obligad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obliguen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | obligues |
| él/ella/Ud. | obligue |
| nosotros/as | obliguemos |
| vosotros/as | obliguéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | obliguen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | obligando | with estar for the progressive: estoy obligando |
| Past participle | obligado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he obligado |
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 gu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For obligar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Obligo a los alumnos a estudiar. 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: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is obligué. For obligar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, obligué al conductor a parar. 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 obligar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, obligaba a su hijo a comer verduras. 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 obligar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, obligaré a la empresa a pagar la multa. 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 obligar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Obligaría a los alumnos a estudiar 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 obligar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he obligado al conductor a parar. 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 obligar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había obligado a su hijo a comer verduras 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 obligar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré obligado a la empresa a pagar la multa. 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 obligar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría obligado a los alumnos a estudiar 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 gu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For obligar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él obligue al conductor a parar. 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 obligar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él obligara a su hijo a comer verduras, 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 gu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For obligar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Obliga a la empresa a pagar la multa! 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 gu before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For obligar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No obligues a los alumnos a estudiar. 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 obligar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Obligo a los alumnos a estudiar. — I oblige the students to study.
- Obliga al conductor a parar. — He/she obliges the driver to stop.
- Ayer, obligué a su hijo a comer verduras. — Yesterday, I obliged her son to eat vegetables.
- Antes, nosotros obligábamos a la empresa a pagar la multa. — Before, we used to oblige the company to pay the fine.
- Mañana, tú obligarás a los alumnos a estudiar. — Tomorrow, you will oblige the students to study.
- Yo obligaría al conductor a parar si tuviera más tiempo. — I would oblige the driver to stop if I had more time.
- Él ha obligado a su hijo a comer verduras. — He has obliged her son to eat vegetables.
- Espero que él obligue a la empresa a pagar la multa. — I hope he obliges the company to pay the fine.
- Yo ya había obligado a los alumnos a estudiar antes de salir. — I had already obliged the students to study before leaving.
- Ellos obligaban al conductor a parar cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to oblige the driver to stop when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo obliga a los alumnos a estudiar. — Right: Yo obligo a los alumnos a estudiar. — The person matters: obliga is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is obligo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo obligé al conductor a parar. — Right: Yo obligué al conductor a parar. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is obligué, not obligé. obligar is a spelling-change verb: g becomes gu before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating obligar and forzar as identical in every context. — Right: Obligar means to oblige, to force, while forzar means to force, the stronger verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: obligar fits sentences such as Obligo a los alumnos a estudiar, while forzar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy obligado al conductor a parar. — Right: Yo he obligado al conductor a parar. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he obligado, has obligado, ha obligado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo obligué a su hijo a comer verduras todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo obligaba a su hijo a comer verduras todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (obligaba), not the preterite. The preterite (obligué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on obligar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los alumnos a estudiar. (present tense) A. obligo B. obligas C. obliga D. obligamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al conductor a parar. (preterite) A. obligué B. obligaste C. obligaron D. obligó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a su hijo a comer verduras. (imperfect) A. obligabas B. obligaban C. obligábamos D. obligaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a la empresa a pagar la multa. (future) A. obligaremos B. obligarás C. obligaré D. obligará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los alumnos a estudiar si pudiera. (conditional) A. obligaría B. obligarías C. obligarían D. obligo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al conductor a parar. (present subjunctive) A. obligues B. obliguemos C. obligo D. obligue
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a su hijo a comer verduras, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. obligáramos B. obligo C. obligara D. obligaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a la empresa a pagar la multa. (present perfect) A. han obligado B. hemos obligado C. he obligado D. has obligado
Complete the command: ¡___ a los alumnos a estudiar! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. obliga B. obligue C. obliguemos D. obligad
Which is the gerund of obligar, used with estar for the progressive? A. obligado B. obligo C. obligué D. obligando
Answer key
- obligo — The first-person present of obligar is obligo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- obligó — The third-person preterite of obligar is obligó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- obligábamos — The nosotros imperfect of obligar is obligábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- obligarás — The second-person future of obligar is obligarás.
- obligaría — The first-person conditional of obligar is obligaría, the form for what would happen.
- obligue — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of obligar is obligue.
- obligara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of obligar is obligara.
- hemos obligado — The nosotros present perfect of obligar is hemos obligado: hemos + obligado.
- obliga — The affirmative tú imperative of obligar is obliga.
- obligando — The gerund of obligar is obligando: estoy obligando. The participle obligado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does obligar mean in English?
Obligar means to oblige, to force. It is used in everyday situations such as Obligo a los alumnos a estudiar. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is obligar regular or irregular?
Obligar 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 obligo in the present and obligué in the preterite.
What is the difference between obligar and forzar?
Obligar means to oblige, to force, while forzar means to force, the stronger verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use obligar when you mean to oblige, to force, as in Obligo a los alumnos a estudiar, and use forzar for to force, the stronger verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I oblige” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo obligué al conductor a parar. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo obligaba a su hijo a comer verduras. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he obligado al conductor a parar.
How do I practise obligar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the obligar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Obligar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for obligar.
- Obligar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for obligar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Agregar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with obligar.
- Juzgar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with obligar.
- Arriesgar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with obligar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.