acontecer Preterite Conjugation
acontecer — to happen
The preterite of acontecer describes a specific event that took place: acontecí, aconteciste, aconteció.
acontecer Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to narrate a specific event that happened at a definitive point in time. Since 'acontecer' is often used for events, the third-person forms (aconteció/acontecieron) are most common.
Notes on acontecer in the Preterite
Acontecer is regular in the preterite, following the standard -er verb endings.
Example Sentences
El accidente aconteció a las tres de la tarde.
The accident happened at three in the afternoon.
él/ella/usted
Muchos cambios acontecieron después de la guerra.
Many changes happened after the war.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Aconteció tal como lo habías planeado.
It happened exactly as you had planned.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: acontecio
Correct: aconteció
Why: The third-person singular preterite always requires an accent on the final 'o'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: acontezco
The present indicative features a 'c' to 'zc' change only in the 'yo' form: acontezco.
Imperfect
yo: acontecía
The imperfect of acontecer is regular: acontecía, acontecías, acontecía.
Future
yo: aconteceré
The future tense is regular: aconteceré, acontecerás, acontecerá.
Conditional
yo: acontecería
The conditional is regular: acontecería, acontecerías, acontecería.
Present Subjunctive
yo: acontezca
The present subjunctive of acontecer uses the stem acontezc- to handle the 'c' to 'zc' change.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aconteciera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the stem acontecie- followed by endings like -ra or -se.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: acontece
The imperative of acontecer is rarely used, but follows the 'c' to 'zc' change in formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no acontezcas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no acontezcas, no acontezca.