continuar Preterite Conjugation
continuar — to continue
The preterite of continuar is regular: continué, continuaste, continuó, continuamos, continuasteis, continuaron.
continuar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a completed action of continuing or resuming something at a specific point in the past.
Notes on continuar in the Preterite
Continuar is regular in the preterite. Unlike the present tense, there is no extra accent on the 'u' because the natural stress falls on the endings.
Example Sentences
Continué el camino después de descansar.
I continued the path after resting.
yo
Él continuó la presentación sin problemas.
He continued the presentation without problems.
él/ella/usted
Continuamos la reunión por dos horas más.
We continued the meeting for two more hours.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Adding an accent to the 'u' (e.g., continuúo).
Correct: continuó
Why: In the preterite, the stress is on the vowel of the ending, so the 'u' doesn't need an accent to stand alone.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: continúo
The present of continuar uses a written accent on the 'u' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros: continúo, continúas, continúa, etc.
Imperfect
yo: continuaba
The imperfect of continuar is regular: continuaba, continuabas, continuaba, continuábamos, continuabais, continuaban.
Future
yo: continuaré
The future of continuar is regular: continuaré, continuarás, continuará, continuaremos, continuaréis, continuarán.
Conditional
yo: continuaría
The conditional of continuar is regular: continuaría, continuarías, continuaría, continuaríamos, continuaríais, continuarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: continúe
The present subjunctive of continuar requires an accent on the 'u' in most forms: continúe, continúes, continúe, continuemos, continuéis, continúen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: continuara
The imperfect subjunctive of continuar is regular: continuara, continuaras, continuara, continuáramos, continuarais, continuaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: continúa
The affirmative imperative gives direct orders: continúa (tú), continúe (usted), continuad (vosotros), continúen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no continúes
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no continúes, no continúe, no continuemos, no continuéis, no continúen.