Realizar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb realizar means to carry out, to realise, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Realizar means to carry out or to realise, and it covers carrying out a project, carrying out a survey, making a payment and realising a childhood dream. It is a more formal synonym of hacer, and it is a spelling-change verb: the z becomes c before e. Like every Spanish verb, realizar 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 realizo un sueño de la infancia, and in the preterite you say realicé una encuesta entre los alumnos. 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: realizar
- English: to carry out, to realise
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: realizando
- Past participle: realizado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + realizado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for realizar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is realicé and the subjunctive is realice. Realizar un sueño is to make a dream come true.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for realizar. 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 | realizo |
| tú | realizas |
| él/ella/Ud. | realiza |
| nosotros/as | realizamos |
| vosotros/as | realizáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realizan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | realicé |
| tú | realizaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | realizó |
| nosotros/as | realizamos |
| vosotros/as | realizasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realizaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | realizaba |
| tú | realizabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | realizaba |
| nosotros/as | realizábamos |
| vosotros/as | realizabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realizaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | realizaré |
| tú | realizarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | realizará |
| nosotros/as | realizaremos |
| vosotros/as | realizaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realizarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | realizaría |
| tú | realizarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | realizaría |
| nosotros/as | realizaríamos |
| vosotros/as | realizaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realizarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he realizado |
| tú | has realizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha realizado |
| nosotros/as | hemos realizado |
| vosotros/as | habéis realizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han realizado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había realizado |
| tú | habías realizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había realizado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos realizado |
| vosotros/as | habíais realizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían realizado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré realizado |
| tú | habrás realizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá realizado |
| nosotros/as | habremos realizado |
| vosotros/as | habréis realizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán realizado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría realizado |
| tú | habrías realizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría realizado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos realizado |
| vosotros/as | habríais realizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían realizado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | realice |
| tú | realices |
| él/ella/Ud. | realice |
| nosotros/as | realicemos |
| vosotros/as | realicéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realicen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | realizara |
| tú | realizaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | realizara |
| nosotros/as | realizáramos |
| vosotros/as | realizarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realizaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | realiza |
| él/ella/Ud. | realice |
| nosotros/as | realicemos |
| vosotros/as | realizad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realicen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | realices |
| él/ella/Ud. | realice |
| nosotros/as | realicemos |
| vosotros/as | realicéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | realicen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | realizando | with estar for the progressive: estoy realizando |
| Past participle | realizado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he realizado |
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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For realizar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Realizo un sueño de la infancia. 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: z becomes c before e, so the preterite first person is realicé. For realizar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, realicé el proyecto en tres meses. 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 realizar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, realizaba una encuesta entre los alumnos. 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 realizar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, realizaré el pago por internet. 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 realizar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Realizaría un sueño de la infancia 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 realizar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he realizado el proyecto en tres meses. 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 realizar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había realizado una encuesta entre los alumnos 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 realizar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré realizado el pago por internet. 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 realizar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría realizado un sueño de la infancia 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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For realizar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él realice el proyecto en tres meses. 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 realizar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él realizara una encuesta entre los alumnos, 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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For realizar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Realiza el pago por internet! 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: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For realizar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No realices un sueño de la infancia. 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 realizar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Realizo un sueño de la infancia. — I carry out a childhood dream.
- Realiza el proyecto en tres meses. — He/she carries out the project in three months.
- Ayer, realicé una encuesta entre los alumnos. — Yesterday, I carried out a survey among the students.
- Antes, nosotros realizábamos el pago por internet. — Before, we used to carry out the payment online.
- Mañana, tú realizarás un sueño de la infancia. — Tomorrow, you will carry out a childhood dream.
- Yo realizaría el proyecto en tres meses si tuviera más tiempo. — I would carry out the project in three months if I had more time.
- Él ha realizado una encuesta entre los alumnos. — He has carried out a survey among the students.
- Espero que él realice el pago por internet. — I hope he carries out the payment online.
- Yo ya había realizado un sueño de la infancia antes de salir. — I had already carried out a childhood dream before leaving.
- Ellos realizaban el proyecto en tres meses cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to carry out the project in three months when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo realiza un sueño de la infancia. — Right: Yo realizo un sueño de la infancia. — The person matters: realiza is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is realizo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo realizé el proyecto en tres meses. — Right: Yo realicé el proyecto en tres meses. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is realicé, not realizé. realizar is a spelling-change verb: z becomes c before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating realizar and hacer as identical in every context. — Right: Realizar means to carry out, to realise, while hacer means to do or make, the general verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: realizar fits sentences such as Realizo un sueño de la infancia, while hacer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy realizado el proyecto en tres meses. — Right: Yo he realizado el proyecto en tres meses. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he realizado, has realizado, ha realizado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo realicé una encuesta entre los alumnos todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo realizaba una encuesta entre los alumnos todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (realizaba), not the preterite. The preterite (realicé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on realizar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un sueño de la infancia. (present tense) A. realizo B. realizas C. realiza D. realizamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el proyecto en tres meses. (preterite) A. realicé B. realizaste C. realizaron D. realizó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una encuesta entre los alumnos. (imperfect) A. realizabas B. realizaban C. realizábamos D. realizaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el pago por internet. (future) A. realizaremos B. realizarás C. realizaré D. realizará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un sueño de la infancia si pudiera. (conditional) A. realizaría B. realizarías C. realizarían D. realizo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el proyecto en tres meses. (present subjunctive) A. realices B. realicemos C. realizo D. realice
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una encuesta entre los alumnos, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. realizáramos B. realizo C. realizara D. realizaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el pago por internet. (present perfect) A. han realizado B. hemos realizado C. he realizado D. has realizado
Complete the command: ¡___ un sueño de la infancia! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. realiza B. realice C. realicemos D. realizad
Which is the gerund of realizar, used with estar for the progressive? A. realizado B. realizo C. realicé D. realizando
Answer key
- realizo — The first-person present of realizar is realizo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- realizó — The third-person preterite of realizar is realizó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- realizábamos — The nosotros imperfect of realizar is realizábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- realizarás — The second-person future of realizar is realizarás.
- realizaría — The first-person conditional of realizar is realizaría, the form for what would happen.
- realice — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of realizar is realice.
- realizara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of realizar is realizara.
- hemos realizado — The nosotros present perfect of realizar is hemos realizado: hemos + realizado.
- realiza — The affirmative tú imperative of realizar is realiza.
- realizando — The gerund of realizar is realizando: estoy realizando. The participle realizado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does realizar mean in English?
Realizar means to carry out, to realise. It is used in everyday situations such as Realizo un sueño de la infancia. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is realizar regular or irregular?
Realizar 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 realizo in the present and realicé in the preterite.
What is the difference between realizar and hacer?
Realizar means to carry out, to realise, while hacer means to do or make, the general verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use realizar when you mean to carry out, to realise, as in Realizo un sueño de la infancia, and use hacer for to do or make, the general verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I carry out” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo realicé el proyecto en tres meses. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo realizaba una encuesta entre los alumnos. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he realizado el proyecto en tres meses.
How do I practise realizar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the realizar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Realizar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for realizar.
- Realizar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for realizar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Organizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with realizar.
- Utilizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with realizar.
- Abrazar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with realizar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.