apuñalar Preterite Conjugation
apuñalar — to stab
The preterite of apuñalar is regular: apuñalé, apuñalaste, apuñaló, apuñalamos, apuñalasteis, apuñalaron.
apuñalar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe a completed action of stabbing that happened at a specific point in the past. For example, 'He stabbed the dummy yesterday.'
Notes on apuñalar in the Preterite
Apuñalar is fully regular in the preterite. The nosotros form 'apuñalamos' is identical to the present indicative; context will clarify which tense is meant.
Example Sentences
Apuñalé la piñata con todas mis fuerzas.
I stabbed the piñata with all my might.
yo
¿Apuñalaste el saco de arena?
Did you stab the sandbag?
tú
El actor apuñaló al otro en la obra de teatro.
The actor stabbed the other one in the play.
él/ella/usted
Apuñalaron la tela para hacer confeti.
They stabbed the fabric to make confetti.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single, completed stabbing.
Correct: For a specific, finished act of stabbing, use the preterite: 'Apuñaló...' not 'Apuñalaba...'.
Why: The preterite marks completed actions, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'apuñalé' (yo form).
Correct: The 'yo' form requires an accent: 'apuñalé'.
Why: The accent on the final 'é' indicates the stress and distinguishes it from other forms or tenses.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: apuñalo
The present tense of apuñalar describes habitual actions or things happening now: apuñalo, apuñalas, apuñala, apuñalamos, apuñaláis, apuñalan.
Imperfect
yo: apuñalaba
The imperfect of apuñalar describes ongoing or habitual past actions: apuñalaba, apuñalabas, apuñalaba, apuñalábamos, apuñalabais, apuñalaban.
Future
yo: apuñalaré
The future tense of apuñalar indicates future actions: apuñalaré, apuñalarás, apuñalará, apuñalaremos, apuñaréis, apuñalarán.
Conditional
yo: apuñalaría
The conditional of apuñalar expresses hypotheticals ('would stab'): apuñalaría, apuñalarías, apuñalaría, apuñalaríamos, apuñalaríais, apuñalarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: apuñale
Present subjunctive for apuñalar expresses wishes, doubts, or emotions: apuñale (yo/él/ella/usted), apuñales (tú), apuñalemos (nosotros), apuñalen (ellos/ellas/ustedes).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: apuñalara
The imperfect subjunctive of apuñalar expresses past hypotheticals or wishes: apuñalara, apuñalaras, apuñaláramos, apuñalaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: apuñala
Commands in the imperative for apuñalar: apuñala (tú), apuñale (usted), apuñalemos (nosotros), apuñalen (ustedes), apuñala (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no apuñales
Negative commands for apuñalar use the present subjunctive: no apuñales (tú), no apuñale (usted), no apuñalemos (nosotros), no apuñalen (ustedes), no apuñales (vosotros).