calificar

Calificar is a Spanish verb with several related meanings centered on evaluation, designation, or eligibility. The primary sense is to evaluate or grade something or someone, assigning a score or classification. It can also mean to describe or qualify something by attributing a particular quality, or to restrict or hedge a statement. In addition, calificar is used in the sense of determining eligibility, as in qualifying for a program or position.

Etymology and forms: Calificar comes from Latin calificare, via the Spanish suffix -ificar. It is a regular -ar verb. Conjugation in the present: califico, calificas, califica, calificamos, calificáis, califican. The preterite changes in the first person singular to califiqué. Other forms include participle calificado and gerund calificando; the imperfect and subjunctive moods follow standard -ar patterns (calificara/calificase, etc.).

Usage notes: In education, calificar is used to assign a grade or mark to an assignment or exam (por ejemplo, “La maestra calificó el examen con una nota de 9”). In personnel or program contexts, it means to evaluate and select or to determine eligibility (por ejemplo, “La empresa calificó a los candidatos para la entrevista”). The verb also appears in phrases like calificar una afirmación, meaning to qualify or add caveats to a statement.

Related terms: calificación (the noun for grade, rating, or qualifications) and calificatorio, used in some contexts as an adjective or noun form. Calificar is widely used across Spanish-speaking regiones, with nuances depending on educational or formal contexts.