caracterizar Preterite Conjugation
caracterizar — to characterize
The preterite of caracterizar has a spelling change in the 'yo' form: caractericé.
caracterizar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about a specific moment in the past when something was defined or when an actor portrayed a specific role.
Notes on caracterizar in the Preterite
The 'yo' form changes 'z' to 'c' (caractericé) to keep the 's/th' sound before the letter 'e'. All other forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Yo caractericé al villano en la obra de teatro.
I played the villain in the play.
yo
Ese evento caracterizó el inicio de una nueva era.
That event characterized the start of a new era.
él/ella/usted
Sus palabras caracterizaron la reunión de ayer.
His words characterized yesterday's meeting.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'caracterizé' with a 'z'.
Correct: caractericé
Why: In Spanish, 'z' usually changes to 'c' before 'e' or 'i' to maintain the same consonant sound.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: caracterizo
The present of caracterizar is regular, but remember the 'z' sounds like 's' (or 'th' in Spain): caracterizo, caracterizas, caracteriza.
Imperfect
yo: caracterizaba
The imperfect of caracterizar is regular: caracterizaba, caracterizabas, caracterizaba.
Future
yo: caracterizaré
The future of caracterizar is regular: caracterizaré, caracterizarás, caracterizará.
Conditional
yo: caracterizaría
The conditional of caracterizar is regular: caracterizaría, caracterizarías, caracterizaría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: caracterice
The present subjunctive of caracterizar requires a 'z' to 'c' spelling change in all forms.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: caracterizara
The imperfect subjunctive is regular: caracterizara, caracterizaras, caracterizara.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: caracteriza
The imperative uses 'caracteriza' for tú and 'caracterice' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no caracterices
Negative commands all use the 'c' spelling change: no caracterices, no caracterice.