calificar Negative Imperative Conjugation
calificar — to grade
The negative imperative always uses the 'qu' spelling change: no califiques, no califique, no califiquemos, no califiquéis, no califiquen.
calificar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to grade or rate something yet, often used in instructions to students or judges.
Notes on calificar in the Negative Imperative
Because the negative imperative is based on the present subjunctive, every single person (tú, usted, etc.) requires the 'c' to 'qu' spelling change.
Example Sentences
No califiques mi dibujo todavía, no está terminado.
Don't rate my drawing yet; it's not finished.
tú
No califiquen los proyectos sin leer la rúbrica.
Don't grade the projects without reading the rubric.
No califiquemos el vino hasta probarlo bien.
Let's not rate the wine until we taste it properly.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no califica' for a negative command.
Correct: no califiques
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive forms, not the indicative 'tú' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: califico
The present tense of calificar is completely regular: califico, calificas, califica, calificamos, calificáis, califican.
Preterite
yo: califiqué
The preterite of calificar is regular except for the 'yo' form, which changes to 'califiqué' to maintain the hard 'k' sound.
Imperfect
yo: calificaba
The imperfect of calificar is regular: calificaba, calificabas, calificaba, calificábamos, calificabais, calificaban.
Future
yo: calificaré
The future tense of calificar is regular: calificaré, calificarás, calificará, calificaremos, calificaréis, calificarán.
Conditional
yo: calificaría
The conditional of calificar is regular: calificaría, calificarías, calificaría, calificaríamos, calificaríais, calificarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: califique
The present subjunctive of calificar requires a spelling change from 'c' to 'qu' in all forms: califique, califiques, califique, califiquemos, califiquéis, califiquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: calificara
The imperfect subjunctive of calificar is formed from the third-person plural preterite: calificara, calificaras, calificara, calificáramos, calificarais, calificaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: califica
The affirmative imperative uses califica (tú) and califique (usted), maintaining the 'qu' spelling change for formal commands.