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SPANISH VERB

solicitar

to apply for (formal)

  • Regular -ar verb
  • Gerund: solicitando
  • Past participle: solicitado

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. yo I apply for
  2. tú you apply for
  3. usted, él, ella he/she applies for
  4. nosotros we apply for
  5. vosotros Spain you all apply for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they apply for

Past

Pretérito indefinido · finished actions

  1. yo I applied for
  2. tú you applied for
  3. usted, él, ella he/she applied for
  4. nosotros we applied for
  5. vosotros Spain you all applied for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they applied for

Imperfect

Pretérito imperfecto · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. yo I used to apply for
  2. tú you used to apply for
  3. usted, él, ella he/she used to apply for
  4. nosotros we used to apply for
  5. vosotros Spain you all used to apply for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they used to apply for

Future

Futuro · plans and promises; in speech, “voy a hablar” is just as common

  1. yo I will apply for
  2. tú you will apply for
  3. usted, él, ella he/she will apply for
  4. nosotros we will apply for
  5. vosotros Spain you all will apply for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they will apply for

Conditional

Condicional · “would”

  1. yo I would apply for
  2. tú you would apply for
  3. usted, él, ella he/she would apply for
  4. nosotros we would apply for
  5. vosotros Spain you all would apply for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they would apply for

Present subjunctive

Presente de subjuntivo · wishes, doubts, “que …”

  1. yo (that) I apply for
  2. tú (that) you apply for
  3. usted, él, ella (that) he/she apply for
  4. nosotros (that) we apply for
  5. vosotros Spain (that) you all apply for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas (that) they apply for

Past subjunctive

Imperfecto de subjuntivo · “if I were”, “si …”

  1. yo (if) I applied for
  2. tú (if) you applied for
  3. usted, él, ella (if) he/she applied for
  4. nosotros (if) we applied for
  5. vosotros Spain (if) you all applied for
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas (if) they applied for

Imperative

Imperativo · requests and orders; a negative one uses the subjunctive (no hables)

  1. tú apply for!
  2. usted apply for! (formal)
  3. nosotros apply for! (let’s)
  4. vosotros Spain apply for! (all of you)
  5. ustedes apply for! (all of you)

How to use solicitar

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Cada año muchas alumnas solicitan la beca de intercambio.

    Every year many students apply for the exchange scholarship.

  2. Past

    Solicité la visa en marzo y todavía no me contestan.

    I applied for the visa in March and they still haven't answered.

  3. Imperfect

    Antes se solicitaba el pasaporte en persona, con filas enormes.

    You used to apply for a passport in person, with huge lines.

  4. Future

    El lunes solicitaré el crédito en el banco.

    On Monday I'll apply for the loan at the bank.

  5. Conditional

    Yo solicitaría la plaza aunque pidan experiencia.

    I'd apply for the position even if they ask for experience.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Te recomiendo que solicites la cita por internet.

    I recommend you request the appointment online.

  7. Past subjunctive

    La directora pidió que solicitáramos el permiso por escrito.

    The principal asked us to apply for permission in writing.

  8. Imperative

    Solicite su turno en la ventanilla tres, por favor.

    Request your number at window three, please.

Good to know

  • "Solicitar" is the word on forms and in offices; among friends you "pides" a favor, you don't "solicitas" it.

Where you hear solicitar

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Spanish · Intermediate Level 3

  • Cada año, muchas alumnas solicitan el intercambio. Every year, many students apply for the exchange.
  • Solicité la beca en la primavera. I applied for the grant in the spring.
  • Mañana voy a solicitar la visa. Tomorrow I'm going to apply for the visa.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -ar verb.