apresar Preterite Conjugation
apresar — to capture
The preterite of 'apresar' is regular: 'apresé', 'apresaste', 'apresó', 'apresamos', 'apresasteis', 'apresaron'.
apresar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions in the past related to capturing something. For example, 'The police captured the thief last night' or 'I captured the moment in a photo'. It emphasizes the action as finished.
Notes on apresar in the Preterite
Apresar is fully regular in the preterite. All the forms follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs, ending in -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron.
Example Sentences
Apresé al sospechoso ayer por la noche.
I captured the suspect last night.
yo
¿Apresaste a los ladrones?
Did you capture the thieves?
tú
El cazador apresó al animal.
The hunter captured the animal.
él/ella/usted
Apresamos la oportunidad de ganar.
We seized the opportunity to win.
nosotros
Ellos apresaron la información crucial.
They captured the crucial information.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'apresaba' instead of the preterite 'apresó' for a single, completed capture.
Correct: Use 'apresó' for a specific, finished act of capturing, like 'La policía lo apresó.'
Why: The preterite marks a completed action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'apresó' (él/ella/usted) and 'apresé' (yo).
Correct: Remember the accents: 'apresó' and 'apresé'.
Why: These accents are crucial to distinguish these forms and indicate stress.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: apreso
The present tense of 'apresar' is regular: 'apreso', 'apresas', 'apresa', 'apresamos', 'apresáis', 'apresan'.
Imperfect
yo: apresaba
The imperfect of 'apresar' is regular: 'apresaba', 'apresabas', 'apresaba', 'apresábamos', 'apresabais', 'apresaban'.
Future
yo: apresaré
The future tense of 'apresar' is regular: 'apresaré', 'apresarás', 'apresará', 'apresaremos', 'apresaréis', 'apresarán'.
Conditional
yo: apresaría
The conditional of 'apresar' is regular: 'apresaría', 'apresarías', 'apresaría', 'apresaríamos', 'apresaríais', 'apresarían'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aprese
Use the present subjunctive (aprese, apreses, apresemos, etc.) after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: apresara
The imperfect subjunctive (apresara/apresarais/apresaran) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or conditions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: apresa
Use imperative forms like 'apresa' (tú) and 'apresen' (ustedes) for direct commands with 'apresar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no apreses
Negative commands with 'apresar' use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no apreses' (tú) or 'no apresen' (ustedes).