coleccionar Preterite Conjugation
coleccionar — to collect
Completed action: 'Yo coleccioné' (I collected), 'Ellos coleccionaron' (They collected).
coleccionar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about actions of collecting that started and finished at a specific point in the past. It emphasizes the completion of the act.
Notes on coleccionar in the Preterite
Coleccionar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the preterite tense for all persons.
Example Sentences
Yo coleccioné sellos cuando era joven.
I collected stamps when I was young.
yo
¿Tú coleccionaste todas las tarjetas?
Did you collect all the cards?
tú
Ella coleccionó muñecas hasta los veinte años.
She collected dolls until she was twenty.
él/ella/usted
Mis abuelos coleccionaron monedas antiguas.
My grandparents collected old coins.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single, completed collection event.
Correct: For a completed action, use the preterite: 'Coleccioné las figuras el año pasado'.
Why: The preterite marks a specific, finished action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
Mistake: Forgetting accents on 'yo' and 'tú' forms.
Correct: Remember the accents: 'yo coleccioné', 'tú coleccionaste'.
Why: The accent on 'coleccioné' distinguishes it from other similar forms and indicates the stressed syllable. 'Coleccionaste' also requires an accent.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: colecciono
Current actions/habits: 'Yo colecciono' (I collect), 'Ellos coleccionan' (They collect).
Imperfect
yo: coleccionaba
Past ongoing/habitual actions: 'Yo coleccionaba' (I used to collect), 'Ellos coleccionaban' (They used to collect).
Future
yo: coleccionaré
Future actions: 'Yo coleccionaré' (I will collect), 'Ellos coleccionarán' (They will collect).
Conditional
yo: coleccionaría
Hypothetical/polite: 'Yo coleccionaría' (I would collect), 'Ellos coleccionarían' (They would collect).
Present Subjunctive
yo: coleccione
Present subjunctive: 'Espero que colecciones...' (I hope you collect...).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: coleccionara
Past subjunctive: 'Si coleccionara...' (If I were to collect...).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: colecciona
Commands like '¡Colecciona!' or '¡Coleccionad!' for 'collect'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no colecciones
Negative commands: '¡No colecciones!' or '¡No coleccionen!' for 'don't collect'.