Giving reasons for a decision

The idea

Use justificar with a decision or action and give reasons, often with con.

Examples

• La directora justifica el cambio con datos.The director justifies the change with data.
• El retraso no justifica esa decisión.The delay does not justify that decision.
• Justificamos el gasto ante el consejo.We justify the expense to the board.
• ¿Cómo justificas tu ausencia?How do you justify your absence?
• La lluvia justificó el cierre del parque.The rain justified closing the park.
• Necesito justificar mi propuesta por escrito.I need to justify my proposal in writing.

Watch out

Do not confuse justifico (“I justify”) with justificó (“he or she justified”): the accent changes the person and tense.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form: Yo ___ la propuesta. (justifico / justifican)

   Show answer or example answer

   justifico

   justifico agrees with the speaker.

2. Choose the correct form: Ayer la comisión ___ el gasto. (justificó / justifico)

   Show answer or example answer

   justificó

   justificó marks a completed past action.

3. Choose the correct form: Debemos ___ la demora con razones. (justificar / ocultar)

   Show answer or example answer

   justificar

   justificar fits because the sentence asks for reasons for the delay.

Use it today

Explain a decision and give one reason.