Rechazar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb rechazar means to reject, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Rechazar means to reject, and it is used for rejecting a job offer, declining an invitation, refusing a gift and rejecting a proposal. It is the opposite of aceptar, and it is a spelling-change verb: the z becomes c before e, so the preterite is rechacé. Like every Spanish verb, rechazar 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 rechazo la oferta por el sueldo, and in the preterite you say rechacé el regalo sin abrirlo. 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: rechazar
- English: to reject
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: rechazando
- Past participle: rechazado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + rechazado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for rechazar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is rechacé and the subjunctive is rechace, never rechazé or rechaze.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for rechazar. 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 | rechazo |
| tú | rechazas |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechaza |
| nosotros/as | rechazamos |
| vosotros/as | rechazáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechazan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | rechacé |
| tú | rechazaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechazó |
| nosotros/as | rechazamos |
| vosotros/as | rechazasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechazaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | rechazaba |
| tú | rechazabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechazaba |
| nosotros/as | rechazábamos |
| vosotros/as | rechazabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechazaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | rechazaré |
| tú | rechazarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechazará |
| nosotros/as | rechazaremos |
| vosotros/as | rechazaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechazarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | rechazaría |
| tú | rechazarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechazaría |
| nosotros/as | rechazaríamos |
| vosotros/as | rechazaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechazarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he rechazado |
| tú | has rechazado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha rechazado |
| nosotros/as | hemos rechazado |
| vosotros/as | habéis rechazado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han rechazado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había rechazado |
| tú | habías rechazado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había rechazado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos rechazado |
| vosotros/as | habíais rechazado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían rechazado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré rechazado |
| tú | habrás rechazado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá rechazado |
| nosotros/as | habremos rechazado |
| vosotros/as | habréis rechazado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán rechazado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría rechazado |
| tú | habrías rechazado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría rechazado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos rechazado |
| vosotros/as | habríais rechazado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían rechazado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | rechace |
| tú | rechaces |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechace |
| nosotros/as | rechacemos |
| vosotros/as | rechacéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechacen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | rechazara |
| tú | rechazaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechazara |
| nosotros/as | rechazáramos |
| vosotros/as | rechazarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechazaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | rechaza |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechace |
| nosotros/as | rechacemos |
| vosotros/as | rechazad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechacen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | rechaces |
| él/ella/Ud. | rechace |
| nosotros/as | rechacemos |
| vosotros/as | rechacéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | rechacen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | rechazando | with estar for the progressive: estoy rechazando |
| Past participle | rechazado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he rechazado |
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 rechazar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Rechazo la oferta por el sueldo. 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 rechacé. For rechazar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, rechacé la invitación con educación. 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 rechazar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, rechazaba el regalo sin abrirlo. 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 rechazar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, rechazaré la propuesta del comité. 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 rechazar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Rechazaría la oferta por el sueldo 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 rechazar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he rechazado la invitación con educación. 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 rechazar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había rechazado el regalo sin abrirlo 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 rechazar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré rechazado la propuesta del comité. 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 rechazar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría rechazado la oferta por el sueldo 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 rechazar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él rechace la invitación con educación. 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 rechazar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él rechazara el regalo sin abrirlo, 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 rechazar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Rechaza la propuesta del comité! 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 rechazar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No rechaces la oferta por el sueldo. 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 rechazar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Rechazo la oferta por el sueldo. — I reject the offer because of the salary.
- Rechaza la invitación con educación. — He/she rejects the invitation politely.
- Ayer, rechacé el regalo sin abrirlo. — Yesterday, I rejected the gift without opening it.
- Antes, nosotros rechazábamos la propuesta del comité. — Before, we used to reject the committee's proposal.
- Mañana, tú rechazarás la oferta por el sueldo. — Tomorrow, you will reject the offer because of the salary.
- Yo rechazaría la invitación con educación si tuviera más tiempo. — I would reject the invitation politely if I had more time.
- Él ha rechazado el regalo sin abrirlo. — He has rejected the gift without opening it.
- Espero que él rechace la propuesta del comité. — I hope he rejects the committee's proposal.
- Yo ya había rechazado la oferta por el sueldo antes de salir. — I had already rejected the offer because of the salary before leaving.
- Ellos rechazaban la invitación con educación cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to reject the invitation politely when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo rechaza la oferta por el sueldo. — Right: Yo rechazo la oferta por el sueldo. — The person matters: rechaza is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is rechazo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo rechazé la invitación con educación. — Right: Yo rechacé la invitación con educación. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is rechacé, not rechazé. rechazar 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 rechazar and aceptar as identical in every context. — Right: Rechazar means to reject, while aceptar means to accept, its opposite. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: rechazar fits sentences such as Rechazo la oferta por el sueldo, while aceptar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy rechazado la invitación con educación. — Right: Yo he rechazado la invitación con educación. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he rechazado, has rechazado, ha rechazado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo rechacé el regalo sin abrirlo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo rechazaba el regalo sin abrirlo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (rechazaba), not the preterite. The preterite (rechacé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on rechazar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la oferta por el sueldo. (present tense) A. rechazo B. rechazas C. rechaza D. rechazamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la invitación con educación. (preterite) A. rechacé B. rechazaste C. rechazaron D. rechazó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ el regalo sin abrirlo. (imperfect) A. rechazabas B. rechazaban C. rechazábamos D. rechazaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la propuesta del comité. (future) A. rechazaremos B. rechazarás C. rechazaré D. rechazará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la oferta por el sueldo si pudiera. (conditional) A. rechazaría B. rechazarías C. rechazarían D. rechazo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la invitación con educación. (present subjunctive) A. rechaces B. rechacemos C. rechazo D. rechace
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ el regalo sin abrirlo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. rechazáramos B. rechazo C. rechazara D. rechazaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la propuesta del comité. (present perfect) A. han rechazado B. hemos rechazado C. he rechazado D. has rechazado
Complete the command: ¡___ la oferta por el sueldo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. rechaza B. rechace C. rechacemos D. rechazad
Which is the gerund of rechazar, used with estar for the progressive? A. rechazado B. rechazo C. rechacé D. rechazando
Answer key
- rechazo — The first-person present of rechazar is rechazo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- rechazó — The third-person preterite of rechazar is rechazó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- rechazábamos — The nosotros imperfect of rechazar is rechazábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- rechazarás — The second-person future of rechazar is rechazarás.
- rechazaría — The first-person conditional of rechazar is rechazaría, the form for what would happen.
- rechace — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of rechazar is rechace.
- rechazara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of rechazar is rechazara.
- hemos rechazado — The nosotros present perfect of rechazar is hemos rechazado: hemos + rechazado.
- rechaza — The affirmative tú imperative of rechazar is rechaza.
- rechazando — The gerund of rechazar is rechazando: estoy rechazando. The participle rechazado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does rechazar mean in English?
Rechazar means to reject. It is used in everyday situations such as Rechazo la oferta por el sueldo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is rechazar regular or irregular?
Rechazar 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 rechazo in the present and rechacé in the preterite.
What is the difference between rechazar and aceptar?
Rechazar means to reject, while aceptar means to accept, its opposite. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use rechazar when you mean to reject, as in Rechazo la oferta por el sueldo, and use aceptar for to accept, its opposite. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I reject” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo rechacé la invitación con educación. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo rechazaba el regalo sin abrirlo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he rechazado la invitación con educación.
How do I practise rechazar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the rechazar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Rechazar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for rechazar.
- Rechazar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for rechazar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Aceptar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with rechazar.
- Negar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with rechazar.
- Suplicar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with rechazar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.