cansar Preterite Conjugation
cansar — to tire (someone) out
The preterite of cansarse (cansé, cansaste, cansó, etc.) describes completed past actions of tiring oneself out.
cansar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for specific instances when someone tired themselves out in the past and the action is finished. For example, 'Yesterday, I tired myself out running a marathon.'
Notes on cansar in the Preterite
Cansarse is regular in the preterite. The reflexive pronouns attach to the end of the verb in affirmative commands and are placed before the conjugated verb in other instances.
Example Sentences
Ayer me cansé mucho jugando al fútbol.
Yesterday I tired myself out a lot playing soccer.
yo
¿Te cansaste durante la caminata?
Did you tire yourself out during the hike?
tú
Se cansaron al final de la película.
They tired themselves out at the end of the movie.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite.
Correct: Use 'me cansé ayer', not 'me cansaba ayer'.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions at a specific time, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun.
Correct: Use 'Me cansé', not 'Cansé'.
Why: 'Cansarse' is a reflexive verb, so the pronoun is required to show the subject is performing the action on themselves.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: canso
The present tense of cansarse (canso, cansas, cansa, etc.) describes habitual or current actions of tiring oneself out.
Imperfect
yo: cansaba
The imperfect of cansarse (cansaba, cansabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of tiring oneself out.
Future
yo: cansaré
The future tense of cansarse (cansaré, cansarás, etc.) talks about the future action of tiring oneself out.
Conditional
yo: cansaría
The conditional of cansarse (cansaría, cansarías, etc.) expresses hypothetical situations or polite suggestions about tiring oneself out.
Present Subjunctive
yo: canse
The present subjunctive (cance, canses, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty about tiring oneself out.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cansara
The imperfect subjunctive (cansara, cansaras, etc.) expresses hypothetical or unreal situations in the past related to tiring oneself out.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cansa
Use the imperative of cansarse (cansate, cansate, cansémonos, cansaos, cáñense) for direct commands to get someone to tire themselves out.
Negative Imperative
yo: no canses
Use 'no + present subjunctive' (no te canses, no se canse, etc.) for negative commands telling someone not to tire themselves out.