aplicar Preterite Conjugation
aplicar — to apply
The preterite has a spelling change in the 'yo' form (apliqué) to keep the 'k' sound.
aplicar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions, such as when you applied a patch to a program or applied for a visa yesterday.
Notes on aplicar in the Preterite
It is a 'car' verb. The 'c' changes to 'qu' only in the 'yo' form (apliqué) to preserve the hard 'c' sound. All other forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Ayer apliqué la primera capa de pintura.
Yesterday I applied the first coat of paint.
yo
¿Aplicaste el código de promoción?
Did you apply the promo code?
tú
Ellos aplicaron el protocolo de seguridad.
They applied the security protocol.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'aplicé' for the yo form.
Correct: apliqué
Why: In Spanish, 'ce' sounds like 'se'. To keep the hard 'k' sound of the infinitive 'aplicar', we must use 'qu'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aplico
The present tense of aplicar is regular: aplico, aplicas, aplica, aplicamos, aplicáis, aplican.
Imperfect
yo: aplicaba
The imperfect of aplicar is regular: aplicaba, aplicabas, aplicaba, aplicábamos, aplicabais, aplicaban.
Future
yo: aplicaré
The future of aplicar is regular: aplicaré, aplicarás, aplicará, aplicaremos, aplicaréis, aplicarán.
Conditional
yo: aplicaría
The conditional of aplicar is regular: aplicaría, aplicarías, aplicaría, aplicaríamos, aplicaríais, aplicarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aplique
All forms of the present subjunctive change 'c' to 'qu': aplique, apliques, aplique, apliquemos, apliquéis, apliquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aplicara
The imperfect subjunctive is regular: aplicara, aplicaras, aplicara, aplicáramos, aplicarais, aplicaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aplica
Give commands using 'aplica' (tú) or 'aplique' (usted/formal).
Negative Imperative
yo: no apliques
Negative commands always use 'qu': no apliques, no aplique, no apliquemos, no apliquéis, no apliquen.