apilar Preterite Conjugation
apilar — to stack
The preterite of apilar is regular: apilé, apilaste, apiló, apilamos, apilasteis, apilaron.
apilar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite tense for actions that were completed in the past. If you stacked something, and that action has a clear beginning and end, the preterite is the tense to use.
Notes on apilar in the Preterite
Apilar is a regular -ar verb, so all its preterite conjugations are predictable. The nosotros form 'apilamos' is identical to the present indicative 'we stack', so context is key to differentiate.
Example Sentences
Apilé todas las cajas en el garaje.
I stacked all the boxes in the garage.
yo
¿Apilaste los libros sobre la mesa?
Did you stack the books on the table?
tú
Ella apiló la ropa recién lavada en la cama.
She stacked the freshly washed clothes on the bed.
él/ella/usted
Los obreros apilaron los ladrillos con cuidado.
The workers stacked the bricks carefully.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'apilaba' instead of the preterite 'apilé' for a single, completed action.
Correct: Use 'apilé' for a specific instance of stacking that is finished.
Why: The preterite marks a finished action in the past, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'apilé', 'apiló', and 'apilaste'.
Correct: Remember the accents: apilé, apilaste, apiló.
Why: These accents are crucial for distinguishing the preterite forms (especially for yo and él/ella/usted) and indicating the stressed syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: apilo
The present tense of apilar is regular: apilo, apilas, apila, apilamos, apiláis, apilan.
Imperfect
yo: apilaba
The imperfect of apilar is regular: apilaba, apilabas, apilaba, apilábamos, apilabais, apilaban.
Future
yo: apilaré
The future tense of apilar is regular: apilaré, apilarás, apilará, apilaremos, apilaréis, apilarán.
Conditional
yo: apilaría
The conditional of apilar is regular: apilaría, apilarías, apilaría, apilaríamos, apilaríais, apilarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: apile
The present subjunctive is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty, like 'Espero que apiles bien'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: apilara
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra or -se form) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests, like 'si apilara' or 'si apilase'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: apila
Use 'apila' for tú commands, 'apile' for usted/ustedes, 'apilad' for vosotros, and 'apilemos' for nosotros.
Negative Imperative
yo: no apiles
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: 'no apiles' (tú), 'no apile' (usted/ustedes), 'no apiléis' (vosotros), 'no apilemos' (nosotros).