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How to conjugate Acercar in Spanish

acercar to bring closer Irregular Verb

At a glance: Acercar (to bring closer) is a widely used irregular verbs in Spanish. In the present tense: acerco, acercas, acerca, acercamos, acercáis, acercan. The present tense is regular. In the preterite: yo changes c to qu (acerqué); the other forms are regular. It is also irregular in the present subjunctive (acerque).

Past participle
acercado brought closer
Gerund
acercando bringing closer
Similar
aproximar

Acercar conjugation tables as a PDF

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Indicative tenses of Acercar

Acercar in the Indicative Present

The Indicative Present of acercar is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, “acerco”, meaning “I bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacercoI bring closer
Túacercasyou bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercas/he brings closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercamoswe bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercáisyou (plural) bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercanthey bring closer

How it’s built: Regular: stem acerc- plus the -ar endings.

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Acercar in the Indicative Preterite

The Indicative Preterite of acercar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, “acerqué”, meaning “I brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacerquéI brought closer
Túacercasteyou brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercós/he brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercamoswe brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercasteisyou (plural) brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercaronthey brought closer

How it’s built: Yo changes c to qu (acerqué); the other forms are regular.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Acercar in the Indicative Imperfect

The Indicative Imperfect of acercar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, “acercaba”, meaning “I used to bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacercabaI used to bring closer
Túacercabasyou used to bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercabas/he used to bring closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercábamoswe used to bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercabaisyou (plural) used to bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercabanthey used to bring closer

How it’s built: Regular: stem acerc- plus the -ar endings.

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Acercar in the Indicative Present Continuous

The Indicative Present Continuous of acercar is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, “estoy acercando”, meaning “I am bringing closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yoestoy acercandoI am bringing closer
Túestás acercandoyou are bringing closer
Ella / Él / Ustedestá acercandos/he is bringing closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosestamos acercandowe are bringing closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosestáis acercandoyou (plural) are bringing closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesestán acercandothey are bringing closer

How it’s built: Estar in the present (estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están) plus the gerund acercando.

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Acercar in the Indicative Informal Future

The Indicative Informal Future of acercar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, “voy a acercar”, meaning “I am going to bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yovoy a acercarI am going to bring closer
Túvas a acercaryou are going to bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedva a acercars/he is going to bring closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosvamos a acercarwe are going to bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosvais a acercaryou (plural) are going to bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvan a acercarthey are going to bring closer

How it’s built: Ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van), then a, then the infinitive acercar.

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Acercar in the Indicative Future

The Indicative Future of acercar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, “acercaré”, meaning “I will bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacercaréI will bring closer
Túacercarásyou will bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercarás/he will bring closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercaremoswe will bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercaréisyou (plural) will bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercaránthey will bring closer

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive acercar plus the future endings.

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Acercar in the Indicative Conditional

The Indicative Conditional of acercar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, “acercaría”, meaning “I would bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacercaríaI would bring closer
Túacercaríasyou would bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercarías/he would bring closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercaríamoswe would bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercaríaisyou (plural) would bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercaríanthey would bring closer

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive acercar plus the conditional endings.

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Acercar in the Indicative Present Perfect

The Indicative Present Perfect of acercar is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, “he acercado”, meaning “I have brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohe acercadoI have brought closer
Túhas acercadoyou have brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedha acercados/he has brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshemos acercadowe have brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshabéis acercadoyou (plural) have brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshan acercadothey have brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the present (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) plus the past participle acercado.

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Acercar in the Indicative Past Perfect

The Indicative Past Perfect of acercar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, “había acercado”, meaning “I had brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabía acercadoI had brought closer
Túhabías acercadoyou had brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedhabía acercados/he had brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshabíamos acercadowe had brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshabíais acercadoyou (plural) had brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabían acercadothey had brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the imperfect (había, habías, había, habíamos, habíais, habían) plus the past participle acercado.

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Acercar in the Indicative Future Perfect

The Indicative Future Perfect of acercar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, “habré acercado”, meaning “I will have brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabré acercadoI will have brought closer
Túhabrás acercadoyou will have brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedhabrá acercados/he will have brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshabremos acercadowe will have brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshabréis acercadoyou (plural) will have brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrán acercadothey will have brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the future (habré, habrás, habrá, habremos, habréis, habrán) plus the past participle acercado.

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Acercar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect

The Indicative Conditional Perfect of acercar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, “habría acercado”, meaning “I would have brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabría acercadoI would have brought closer
Túhabrías acercadoyou would have brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedhabría acercados/he would have brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshabríamos acercadowe would have brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshabríais acercadoyou (plural) would have brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrían acercadothey would have brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the conditional (habría, habrías, habría, habríamos, habríais, habrían) plus the past participle acercado.

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Subjunctive tenses of Acercar

Acercar in the Subjunctive Present

The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, “acerque”, meaning “I bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacerqueI bring closer
Túacerquesyou bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacerques/he brings closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacerquemoswe bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacerquéisyou (plural) bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacerquenthey bring closer

How it’s built: Every form changes c to qu (acerque, acerques, acerque, acerquemos, acerquéis, acerquen).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Acercar in the Subjunctive Imperfect

The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, “acercara”, meaning “I brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacercaraI brought closer
Túacercarasyou brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercaras/he brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercáramoswe brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercaraisyou (plural) brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercaranthey brought closer

How it’s built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, acercaron, without -ron, plus the -ra endings; nosotros adds an accent (acercáramos).

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Acercar in the Subjunctive Future

The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, “acercare”, meaning “I will bring closer”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YoacercareI will bring closer
Túacercaresyou will bring closer
Ella / Él / Ustedacercares/he will bring closer
Nosotras / Nosotrosacercáremoswe will bring closer
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercareisyou (plural) will bring closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacercarenthey will bring closer

How it’s built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, acercaron, without -ron, plus the -re endings; nosotros adds an accent (acercáremos).

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Acercar in the Subjunctive Present Perfect

The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, “haya acercado”, meaning “I have brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohaya acercadoI have brought closer
Túhayas acercadoyou have brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedhaya acercados/he has brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshayamos acercadowe have brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshayáis acercadoyou (plural) have brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshayan acercadothey have brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive present (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan) plus the past participle acercado.

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Acercar in the Subjunctive Past Perfect

The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, “hubiera acercado”, meaning “I had brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiera acercadoI had brought closer
Túhubieras acercadoyou had brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiera acercados/he had brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéramos acercadowe had brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshubierais acercadoyou (plural) had brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieran acercadothey had brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive imperfect (hubiera, hubieras, hubiera, hubiéramos, hubierais, hubieran) plus the past participle acercado.

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Acercar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect

The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, “hubiere acercado”, meaning “I will have brought closer”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiere acercadoI will have brought closer
Túhubieres acercadoyou will have brought closer
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiere acercados/he will have brought closer
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéremos acercadowe will have brought closer
Vosotras / Vosotroshubiereis acercadoyou (plural) will have brought closer
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieren acercadothey will have brought closer

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive future (hubiere, hubieres, hubiere, hubiéremos, hubiereis, hubieren) plus the past participle acercado.

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Imperative tenses of Acercar

Acercar in the Imperative Affirmative

The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, “acerque”, meaning “(to you formal) bring closer!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túacerca(to you) bring closer!
Ella / Él / Ustedacerque(to you formal) bring closer!
Nosotras / Nosotrosacerquemoslet's bring closer!
Vosotras / Vosotrosacercad(to you plural) bring closer!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesacerquen(to you plural formal) bring closer!

How it’s built: Tú takes the ella/él present (acerca); usted, nosotros and ustedes take the subjunctive present (acerque, acerquemos, acerquen); vosotros swaps the final r of the infinitive for a d (acercad).

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Acercar in the Imperative Negative

The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, “no acerque”, meaning “(to you formal) don't bring closer!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túno acerques(to you) don't bring closer!
Ella / Él / Ustedno acerque(to you formal) don't bring closer!
Nosotras / Nosotrosno acerquemoslet's not bring closer!
Vosotras / Vosotrosno acerquéis(to you plural) don't bring closer!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesno acerquen(to you plural formal) don't bring closer!

How it’s built: No plus the subjunctive present: no acerques, no acerque, no acerquemos, no acerquéis, no acerquen.

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Frequently asked questions about Acercar

Is acercar a regular or irregular verb?

Acercar is an irregular Spanish verb. The present tense is regular. In the preterite: yo changes c to qu (acerqué); the other forms are regular. It is also irregular in the present subjunctive (acerque).

How do you conjugate acercar in the present tense (presente)?

In the present tense (presente), acercar is conjugated as: yo acerco, tú acercas, él/ella/usted acerca, nosotros acercamos, vosotros acercáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes acercan. The present tense is used To talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths.

How do you conjugate acercar in the preterite (pretérito indefinido)?

In the preterite (pretérito indefinido), acercar is conjugated as: yo acerqué, tú acercaste, él/ella/usted acercó, nosotros acercamos, vosotros acercasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes acercaron. The preterite is used To talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time.

How do you conjugate acercar in the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)?

In the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto), acercar is conjugated as: yo acercaba, tú acercabas, él/ella/usted acercaba, nosotros acercábamos, vosotros acercabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes acercaban. The imperfect is used To describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do.

How do you conjugate acercar in the future tense (futuro simple)?

In the future tense (futuro simple), acercar is conjugated as: yo acercaré, tú acercarás, él/ella/usted acercará, nosotros acercaremos, vosotros acercaréis, ellos/ellas/ustedes acercarán. The future tense is used To talk about something that will happen in the future.

How do you conjugate acercar in the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente)?

In the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente), acercar is conjugated as: yo acerque, tú acerques, él/ella/usted acerque, nosotros acerquemos, vosotros acerquéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes acerquen. The present subjunctive is used To talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about.

What’s the difference between acercar and acercarse?

Acercar means ‘to bring closer’ and acercarse means ‘to approach (oneself)’. Acercarse is the reflexive form of acercar, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun – me, te, se, nos, os or se – that matches the subject. The verb itself is conjugated the same way: in the present tense, yo acerco becomes me acerco. In the affirmative tú imperative the pronoun attaches to the end of the verb, so acerca becomes acércate.


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Want to explore other verb conjugations?

Why not check out Acercarse – to approach (oneself) or see the complete list of verbs here.


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