
apretar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
apretar — to press
The present subjunctive follows the e-ie stem change: apriete, aprietes, apriete, apretemos, apretéis, aprieten.
apretar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use after expressions of desire, doubt, or necessity, like 'I want you to press...' or 'It's important that you tighten...'
Notes on apretar in the Present Subjunctive
It follows the same stem-change pattern as the present indicative (e-ie), except for nosotros and vosotros.
Example Sentences
Espero que no te aprieten los zapatos.
I hope the shoes don't squeeze you (aren't too tight).
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Es necesario que apretemos bien la tapa.
It is necessary that we tighten the lid well.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: aprete
Correct: apriete
Why: Forgetting the 'ie' change in the singular forms.
Mistake: aprietemos
Correct: apretemos
Why: Adding the stem change to the nosotros form where it is not used.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aprieto
Apretar is a stem-changing verb where the 'e' becomes 'ie' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: apreté
Apretar is completely regular in the preterite: apreté, apretaste, apretó, apretamos, apretasteis, apretaron.
Imperfect
yo: apretaba
The imperfect of apretar is regular and uses the -aba endings: apretaba, apretabas, apretaba...
Future
yo: apretaré
The future is regular: add -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the full infinitive 'apretar'.
Conditional
yo: apretaría
The conditional uses the infinitive plus -ía endings: apretaría, apretarías, apretaría...
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: apretara
Formed from the preterite 'ellos' form: apretara, apretaras, apretara, apretáramos, apretarais, apretaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aprieta
Direct commands: aprieta (tú), apriete (usted), apretemos (nosotros), apretad (vosotros), aprieten (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no aprietes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: no aprietes, no apriete, no apretemos, no apretéis, no aprieten.