Introduction

Rozar means “to brush against”, and this page covers exactly one thing: rozar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for rozar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about rozar in the present. Rozar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo rozo la pared” — "I brush against the wall". Everything on this page uses the forms of rozar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Rozar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo rozo
tú rozas
él/ella/Ud. roza
nosotros/as rozamos
vosotros/as rozáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rozan

Gerund: rozando · Past participle: rozado

The gerund is rozando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy rozando” means the action of rozar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is rozado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he rozado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how rozar is used.

How the present of rozar is formed

Rozar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb in the present. Take the stem roz and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving rozo, rozas, roza, rozamos, rozáis, rozan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, rozáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of rozar is regular in its endings, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form rozáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form rozo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of rozar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use rozar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, rozar goes in the present. Example: “Yo rozo su mano” — "I brush against his hand".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about rozar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él roza apenas” — "He brushes against barely".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so rozo can mean both "I brush against" and "I am brushing against". Example: “Yo rozo la pared” — "I brush against the wall".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros rozamos su mano” — "We brush against his hand".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with rozar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él roza apenas” — "He brushes against barely".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo rozo la pared” — "I brush against the wall".

  • Preterite: “Yo rocé la pared” — "I brushed against the wall".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él roza su mano” — "He brushes against his hand".

  • Preterite: “Él rozó su mano” — "He brushed against his hand".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros rozamos apenas” — "We brush against barely".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros rozamos apenas” — "We brushed against barely".

  • The two sentences look identical: rozamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: rozar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo rozo su mano” — "I brush against his hand"

  2. “Tú rozas apenas” — "You brush against barely"

  3. “Él roza la pared” — "He brushes against the wall"

  4. “Nosotros rozamos su mano” — "We brush against his hand"

  5. “Vosotros rozáis apenas” — "You brush against barely"

  6. “Ellos rozan la pared” — "They brush against the wall"

  7. “Yo rozo su mano” — "I brush against his hand"

  8. “Él roza apenas” — "He brushes against barely"

Common mistakes with rozar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos roza la pared” Right: “Ellos rozan la pared” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form rozan. The singular roza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo rocé” Right: “Todos los días, yo rozo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (rocé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo roza la pared.” Right: “Yo rozo la pared” Why: Yo needs the yo form rozo. The él form roza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo rozo” Right: “Ayer, yo rocé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to rocé.

Quiz: rozar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ apenas.” (yo form)

A. rozas B. rozo C. rozáis D. rozan

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ la pared.” (tú form)

A. rozo B. rozamos C. rozas D. rozan

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ su mano.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. rozas B. roza C. rozáis D. rozamos

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ apenas.” (nosotros/as form)

A. rozamos B. rozáis C. rozan D. rozo

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ la pared.” (vosotros/as form)

A. rozan B. roza C. rozas D. rozáis

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ su mano.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. rozáis B. rozo C. rozan D. rozas

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo rozo B. Todos los días, yo rocé

Answer key

  1. rozo — The yo present of rozar is rozo.
  2. rozas — The tú present of rozar is rozas.
  3. roza — The él/ella/Ud. present of rozar is roza.
  4. rozamos — The nosotros/as present of rozar is rozamos.
  5. rozáis — The vosotros/as present of rozar is rozáis.
  6. rozan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of rozar is rozan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo rozo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of rozar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo rozo la pared. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of rozar formed?

Take the stem roz- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving rozo, rozas, roza, rozamos, rozáis, rozan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for rozar?

The present (rozo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (rocé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise rozar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — rozo, rozas, roza, rozamos, rozáis, rozan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the rozar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of rozar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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