aproximar Preterite Conjugation
aproximar — to move closer
Completed actions with 'aproximar': aproximé, aproximaste, aproximó, aproximamos, aproximaron, aproximasteis.
aproximar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions of moving closer in the past. For example, 'I moved the chair closer' or 'They approached the city'.
Notes on aproximar in the Preterite
'Aproximar' is a regular -ar verb in the preterite. All conjugations follow the standard endings: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron.
Example Sentences
Aproximé la silla para estar más cerca.
I moved the chair closer to be nearer.
yo
¿Aproximaste el coche a la entrada?
Did you move the car closer to the entrance?
tú
El equipo aproximó el balón a la portería.
The team moved the ball closer to the goal.
él/ella/usted
Aproximamos nuestras ideas durante la reunión.
We brought our ideas closer together during the meeting.
nosotros
Los manifestantes aproximaron la marcha al palacio.
The protestors moved the march closer to the palace.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single completed action.
Correct: For 'I moved the chair closer *yesterday*', use 'Aproximé'. For 'I *used to* move the chair closer often', use 'Aproximaba'.
Why: The preterite is for specific, finished past events, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the yo form.
Correct: The 'yo' form is 'aproximé', with an accent on the final 'é'.
Why: The accent is crucial to distinguish the 'yo' preterite from other forms and indicates the stressed syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: aproximo
Present tense for 'aproximar': aproximo, aproximas, aproxima, aproximamos, aproximan, aproximáis.
Imperfect
yo: aproximaba
Ongoing/habitual past actions with 'aproximar': aproximaba, aproximabas, aproximábamos, aproximaban, aproximabais.
Future
yo: aproximaré
Future actions with 'aproximar': aproximaré, aproximarás, aproximará, aproximaremos, aproximarán, aproximaréis.
Conditional
yo: aproximaría
Hypothetical/polite 'would' with 'aproximar': aproximaría, aproximarías, aproximaría, aproximaríamos, aproximarían, aproximaríais.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aproxime
Present subjunctive for 'aproximar': aproxime, aproximes, aproximemos, aproximen, aproximéis.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aproximara
Past subjunctive for 'aproximar' (imperfect): aproximara, aproximaras, aproximáramos, aproximaran, aproximarais.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aproxima
Commands for 'aproximar': ¡aproxima! (tú), ¡aproxime! (usted), ¡aproximemos! (nosotros), ¡aproximad! (vosotros), ¡aproximen! (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no aproximes
Negative commands for 'aproximar' use the present subjunctive: no aproximemos, no aproximen, no aproximéis, no aproximes, no aproxime.