Introduction

Solemnizar means “to solemnise”, and this page covers exactly one thing: solemnizar 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 solemnizar, 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 solemnizar in the present. Solemnizar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo solemnizo la boda” — "I solemnise the wedding". Everything on this page uses the forms of solemnizar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Solemnizar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo solemnizo
tú solemnizas
él/ella/Ud. solemniza
nosotros/as solemnizamos
vosotros/as solemnizáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. solemnizan

Gerund: solemnizando · Past participle: solemnizado

The gerund is solemnizando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy solemnizando” means the action of solemnizar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is solemnizado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he solemnizado” 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 solemnizar is used.

How the present of solemnizar is formed

Solemnizar is a spelling-changing -ar (z → c before e) verb in the present. Take the stem solemniz and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving solemnizo, solemnizas, solemniza, solemnizamos, solemnizáis, solemnizan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, solemnizáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of solemnizar is regular in its endings, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form solemnizáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form solemnizo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of solemnizar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use solemnizar 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, solemnizar goes in the present. Example: “Yo solemnizo el acto” — "I solemnise the ceremony".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about solemnizar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él solemniza con una misa” — "He solemnises with a mass".

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 solemnizo can mean both "I solemnise" and "I am solemnising". Example: “Yo solemnizo la boda” — "I solemnise the wedding".

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 solemnizamos el acto” — "We solemnise the ceremony".

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 solemnizar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él solemniza con una misa” — "He solemnises with a mass".

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 solemnizo la boda” — "I solemnise the wedding".

  • Preterite: “Yo solemnicé la boda” — "I solemnised the wedding".

  • 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 solemniza el acto” — "He solemnises the ceremony".

  • Preterite: “Él solemnizó el acto” — "He solemnised the ceremony".

  • 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 solemnizamos con una misa” — "We solemnise with a mass".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros solemnizamos con una misa” — "We solemnised with a mass".

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

Example sentences: solemnizar 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 solemnizo el acto” — "I solemnise the ceremony"

  2. “Tú solemnizas con una misa” — "You solemnise with a mass"

  3. “Él solemniza la boda” — "He solemnises the wedding"

  4. “Nosotros solemnizamos el acto” — "We solemnise the ceremony"

  5. “Vosotros solemnizáis con una misa” — "You solemnise with a mass"

  6. “Ellos solemnizan la boda” — "They solemnise the wedding"

  7. “Yo solemnizo el acto” — "I solemnise the ceremony"

  8. “Él solemniza con una misa” — "He solemnises with a mass"

Common mistakes with solemnizar 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 solemniza la boda” Right: “Ellos solemnizan la boda” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form solemnizan. The singular solemniza belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

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

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

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

Quiz: solemnizar 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 ___ con una misa.” (yo form)

A. solemnizo B. solemniza C. solemnizan D. solemnizas

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

A. solemnizáis B. solemnizamos C. solemniza D. solemnizas

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

A. solemnizáis B. solemniza C. solemnizamos D. solemnizas

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

A. solemnizáis B. solemnizan C. solemniza D. solemnizamos

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

A. solemnizáis B. solemnizan C. solemnizamos D. solemniza

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

A. solemniza B. solemnizan C. solemnizo D. solemnizas

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 solemnizo B. Todos los días, yo solemnicé

Answer key

  1. solemnizo — The yo present of solemnizar is solemnizo.
  2. solemnizas — The tú present of solemnizar is solemnizas.
  3. solemniza — The él/ella/Ud. present of solemnizar is solemniza.
  4. solemnizamos — The nosotros/as present of solemnizar is solemnizamos.
  5. solemnizáis — The vosotros/as present of solemnizar is solemnizáis.
  6. solemnizan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of solemnizar is solemnizan.
  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 solemnizo — 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 solemnizar?

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

How is the present of solemnizar formed?

Take the stem solemniz- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving solemnizo, solemnizas, solemniza, solemnizamos, solemnizáis, solemnizan.

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

The present (solemnizo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (solemnicé) 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 solemnizar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — solemnizo, solemnizas, solemniza, solemnizamos, solemnizáis, solemnizan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the solemnizar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of solemnizar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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