aplaudir Preterite Conjugation
aplaudir — to clap
The preterite of aplaudir is regular: aplaudí, aplaudiste, aplaudió, aplaudimos, aplaudisteis, aplaudieron.
aplaudir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe completed actions in the past. If someone clapped at a specific moment or for a specific duration that has now ended, you'd use this tense. For example, 'Ayer aplaudimos mucho' (Yesterday we applauded a lot).
Notes on aplaudir in the Preterite
Aplaudir is fully regular in the preterite. Note that the 'nosotros' form 'aplaudimos' is identical to the present tense; context will clarify which tense is meant.
Example Sentences
Aplaudí cuando el artista salió al escenario.
I applauded when the artist came on stage.
yo
¿Tú aplaudiste al final de la película?
Did you applaud at the end of the movie?
tú
Ella aplaudió el discurso con sinceridad.
She applauded the speech sincerely.
él/ella/usted
Aplaudimos durante cinco minutos.
We applauded for five minutes.
nosotros
Los invitados aplaudieron la actuación.
The guests applauded the performance.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single, completed clap: 'Ayer aplaudía'.
Correct: For a specific, completed action, use the preterite: 'Ayer aplaudí'.
Why: The preterite marks a finished event, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms: 'aplaudi'.
Correct: The correct forms are 'aplaudí' (yo) and 'aplaudió' (él/ella/usted).
Why: The accent marks the stress on the final syllable, distinguishing these forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aplaudo
The present tense (aplaudo, aplaudes) describes current actions, habits, and general truths.
Imperfect
yo: aplaudía
The imperfect (aplaudía, aplaudías) describes ongoing or habitual past actions and descriptions.
Future
yo: aplaudiré
The future tense (aplaudiré, aplaudirás) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: aplaudiría
The conditional (aplaudiría, aplaudirías) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aplauda
The present subjunctive (aplauda, aplaudas) expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aplaudiera
The imperfect subjunctive (aplaudiera/aplaudiese) is for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aplaude
Use 'aplaude' (tú), 'aplauda' (usted), 'aplaudamos' (nosotros), 'aplaudan' (ustedes), 'aplaudid' (vosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no aplaudas
Commands with 'no' use the present subjunctive: 'no aplaudas' (tú), 'no aplauda' (usted), etc.