dedica
/deh-DEE-kah/
dedicates
This image illustrates the formal act of someone who dedicates time or an object to a cause.
dedica(Verb)
dedicates
?3rd person present tense: He/She/You formal dedicates
,devotes
?3rd person present tense: He/She/You formal devotes time
dedicate!
?2nd person informal command (tú imperative)
,inscribes
?Dedicating a book or work of art
📝 In Action
Mi jefe dedica 10 horas al día a este proyecto.
A2My boss dedicates 10 hours a day to this project.
Ella dedica la mayor parte de su energía a cuidar a sus hijos.
B1She devotes most of her energy to raising her children.
¡Dedica todo tu esfuerzo al examen!
A2Dedicate all your effort to the exam!
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Function of 'Dedica'
'Dedica' is used in two ways: it means 'he/she/you formal dedicates' (telling what someone is doing now) OR 'dedicate!' (giving an informal command to a friend).
Using 'A' After Dedicar
When you dedicate time or effort, you must use the preposition 'a' (to) right after the verb: 'Dedica tiempo A la música.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Indirect Object Marker
Mistake: "Él dedica su libro su esposa."
Correction: Él dedica su libro A su esposa. (You need 'a' before the person receiving the dedication.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Tributes
This form is perfect for formal settings, like describing how an artist honors someone: 'El poeta dedica este poema a su ciudad natal.'
This image depicts a person who 'works as' a professional, such as an engineer or builder.
dedica(Verb)
works as
?Used with 'se': Se dedica a la ingeniería (He works as an engineer)
,is devoted to
?Used with 'se': Se dedica a la investigación (She is devoted to research)
specializes in
?Used with 'se'
📝 In Action
¿A qué se dedica su hermano?
B1What does your brother do for a living?
Mi madre se dedica a la jardinería después de jubilarse.
B1My mother is devoted to gardening after retiring.
El equipo se dedica solo a resolver ese problema.
B2The team is dedicated only to solving that problem.
💡 Grammar Points
The Essential 'Se'
To talk about someone's job, you MUST use the reflexive form 'se dedica' (meaning 'to dedicate oneself')—you cannot drop the 'se'.
Asking About Jobs
The most natural way to ask 'What do you do?' formally is: '¿A qué se dedica usted?'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Omitting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Él dedica a la medicina."
Correction: Él SE dedica a la medicina. (The 'se' is required when talking about one's profession.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Alternative to 'Ser'
While you can say 'Es médico' (He is a doctor), 'Se dedica a la medicina' (He works in medicine) sounds more descriptive and formal.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
subjunctive
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dedica
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'dedica' to talk about a job?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'dedica' and 'se dedica'?
'Dedica' (without the 'se') means someone is giving time, effort, or an object (like a book) to something else. 'Se dedica' (with the 'se') means someone is dedicated to an activity or works in a specific field, usually referring to their profession.
Does 'dedica' change spelling in the past tense?
Yes, its base verb 'dedicar' is a regular -AR verb, but it changes to 'dediqué' in the 'yo' form of the past tense to maintain the hard 'k' sound.