compensar Preterite Conjugation
compensar — to compensate
The preterite of compensar is regular: compensé, compensaste, compensó, compensamos, compensasteis, compensaron.
compensar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of 'compensar' to talk about a specific instance where someone or something made up for something else completely. For example, 'Compensó su error con una acción'.
Notes on compensar in the Preterite
Compensar is fully regular in the preterite tense. The nosotros form 'compensamos' is identical to the present indicative, so context is key to understanding which tense is being used.
Example Sentences
Yo compensé la espera con un descuento.
I compensated for the wait with a discount.
yo
¿Tú compensaste el retraso con horas extra?
Did you compensate for the delay with extra hours?
tú
La empresa compensó el daño causado.
The company compensated for the damage caused.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros compensamos la ausencia con una llamada.
We compensated for the absence with a call.
nosotros
Ellos compensaron el error del sistema con una actualización.
They compensated for the system error with an update.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single act of compensation.
Correct: Use the preterite for completed actions: 'Compensé el error'.
Why: The preterite marks a finished action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'compensó' (él/ella/usted form).
Correct: The accent is required: 'compensó'.
Why: The accent on the final 'o' distinguishes this form and marks the stress.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'compensar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: compenso
The present tense of compensar (compenso, compensas, etc.) is for actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths.
Imperfect
yo: compensaba
The imperfect of compensar (compensaba, compensabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions of compensating.
Future
yo: compensaré
The future tense of compensar (compensaré, compensarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: compensaría
The conditional of compensar (compensaría, compensarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: compense
The present subjunctive of compensar (compense, compenses, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, emotion, wishes, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: compensara
The imperfect subjunctive of compensar (e.g., compensara, compensase) is used for hypothetical situations or past wishes/doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: compensa
Commands in the imperative for compensar are: compensa (tú), compense (usted), compensemos (nosotros), compensad (vosotros), compensen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no compenses
Negative commands for compensar use the present subjunctive: no compenses (tú), no compense (usted), no compensemos (nosotros), no compenséis (vosotros), no compensen (ustedes).