contentar Preterite Conjugation
contentar — to please
Use preterite forms like 'contenté' (yo) and 'contentó' (él/ella/usted) for completed actions of pleasing or becoming happy.
contentar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
The preterite of 'contentar' is used for actions that were completed in the past. This could be a specific instance of someone pleasing another person, or someone becoming happy at a defined moment.
Notes on contentar in the Preterite
'Contentar' is a regular -ar verb in the preterite. All forms (contenté, contentaste, contentó, contentamos, contentasteis, contentaron) are regular.
Example Sentences
Yo contenté a mi madre con buenas notas.
I pleased my mother with good grades.
yo
Él se contentó con el resultado.
He was satisfied with the result.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros contentamos a la audiencia con nuestro show.
We pleased the audience with our show.
nosotros
Ellos se contentaron rápidamente.
They quickly became satisfied.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect tense ('contentaba') instead of the preterite ('contentó') for a specific act of pleasing.
Correct: Use the preterite for completed actions: 'contentó' (he pleased). Use the imperfect for ongoing or habitual past actions: 'contentaba' (he used to please/was pleasing).
Why: The preterite marks a finished event, while the imperfect describes background or continuity.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'yo' form.
Correct: The 'yo' form is 'contenté' with an accent on the 'é'.
Why: The accent differentiates it from other similar-sounding forms and indicates the stressed syllable.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'contentar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: contento
Use present forms like 'contento' (yo) and 'contenta' (él/ella/usted) for current actions or general truths about pleasing.
Imperfect
yo: contentaba
Use imperfect forms like 'contentaba' (yo) and 'contentaba' (él/ella/usted) for ongoing or habitual past actions of pleasing.
Future
yo: contentaré
Use future forms like 'contentaré' (yo) and 'contentará' (él/ella/usted) for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: contentaría
Use conditional forms like 'contentaría' (yo) and 'contentaría' (él/ella/usted) for hypothetical situations ('would please') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: contente
Use present subjunctive forms like 'contente' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'contentes' (tú) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contentara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'contentara' or 'contentase' for past hypothetical situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contenta
Use imperative forms like 'contenta' (tú) and 'contente' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no contentes
Use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no contentes' (tú) and 'no contente' (usted), for negative commands.