ahorrar Preterite Conjugation
ahorrar — to save (money)
Use 'ahorré', 'ahorraste', 'ahorró', 'ahorramos', 'ahorrasteis', 'ahorraron' for completed past savings.
ahorrar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
The preterite is for talking about specific instances when you saved money in the past. Think of it as a completed action: 'Ahorré cien euros la semana pasada' (I saved a hundred euros last week) or 'Ellos ahorraron para el coche el año pasado' (They saved for the car last year).
Notes on ahorrar in the Preterite
Ahorrar is regular in the preterite. All the endings are standard for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Yo ahorré mucho dinero para mi viaje.
I saved a lot of money for my trip.
yo
¿Ahorraste algo de tu bono?
Did you save any of your bonus?
tú
Ella ahorró para comprarse un vestido.
She saved to buy herself a dress.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros ahorramos para la entrada de la casa.
We saved for the down payment on the house.
nosotros
Ellos ahorraron durante cinco años.
They saved for five years.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'ahorrabas' instead of the preterite 'ahorraste'.
Correct: Use 'ahorraste' for a specific past action, like 'Ahorraste para el concierto' (You saved for the concert).
Why: The preterite marks a completed action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'ahorró' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: The accent is on the final 'ó' in 'ahorró'.
Why: The accent indicates the stressed syllable in this form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: ahorro
Use 'ahorro', 'ahorras', 'ahorra', 'ahorramos', 'ahorráis', 'ahorran' for saving now or habitually.
Imperfect
yo: ahorraba
Use 'ahorraba', 'ahorrabas', 'ahorraba', 'ahorrábamos', 'ahorrabais', 'ahorraban' for past habits or ongoing savings.
Future
yo: ahorraré
Use 'ahorraré', 'ahorrarás', 'ahorrará', 'ahorraremos', 'ahorraréis', 'ahorrarán' for future savings.
Conditional
yo: ahorraría
Use 'ahorraría', 'ahorrarías', 'ahorraría', 'ahorraríamos', 'ahorraríais', 'ahorrarían' for hypothetical savings or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: ahorre
Use 'ahorre', 'ahorres', 'ahorre', 'ahorremos', 'ahorréis', 'ahorren' after wishes, doubts, emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: ahorrara
Use 'ahorrara' or 'ahorrase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ahorra
Use 'ahorra', 'ahorre', 'ahorremos', 'ahorrad', 'ahorren' for direct commands with ahorrar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no ahorres
Use 'no ahorres', 'no ahorre', 'no ahorremos', 'no ahorréis', 'no ahorren' for negative commands.