modificar Preterite Conjugation
modificar — to modify
Modificar is regular except for the 'yo' form, which changes 'c' to 'qu': modifiqué.
modificar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about a specific change that was completed at a specific point in time, like 'I modified the file yesterday.'
Notes on modificar in the Preterite
Only the 'yo' form is irregular (modifiqué) to preserve the hard 'k' sound. All other forms are regular -ar endings.
Example Sentences
Modifiqué el código anoche.
I modified the code last night.
yo
Él modificó la configuración por error.
He modified the settings by mistake.
él/ella/usted
Modificamos los términos del acuerdo.
We modified the terms of the agreement.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'modificé' for the yo form.
Correct: modifiqué
Why: In Spanish, 'cé' would be pronounced like 'sé'. The 'qu' is required to keep the 'k' sound from the root.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: modifico
Modificar is a completely regular -ar verb in the present tense: modifico, modificas, modifica, modificamos, modificáis, modifican.
Imperfect
yo: modificaba
The imperfect of modificar is regular: modificaba, modificabas, modificaba, modificábamos, modificabais, modificaban.
Future
yo: modificaré
The future of modificar is regular: take the infinitive and add -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án.
Conditional
yo: modificaría
The conditional of modificar is regular: modificaría, modificarías, modificaría, modificaríamos, modificaríais, modificarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: modifique
Modificar undergoes a spelling change from 'c' to 'qu' in all forms: modifique, modifiques, modifique, modifiquemos, modifiquéis, modifiquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: modificara
The imperfect subjunctive of modificar follows the regular -ra pattern: modificara, modificaras, modificara, modificáramos, modificarais, modificaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: modifica
Direct commands to modify: modifica (tú), modifique (usted), modificad (vosotros), modifiquen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no modifiques
Negative commands all use the 'qu' spelling change: no modifiques, no modifique, no modifiquemos, no modifiquéis, no modifiquen.