convertir Preterite Conjugation
convertir — to convert
Convertir has a third-person stem change (e > i) in the preterite: convirtió and convirtieron.
convertir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe a completed transformation or a specific moment when something changed into something else, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
Notes on convertir in the Preterite
While mostly regular, this -ir verb has a 'slipper' stem change where the 'e' becomes 'i' in the third-person singular and plural.
Example Sentences
El mago convirtió el pañuelo en un conejo.
The magician turned the handkerchief into a rabbit.
él/ella/usted
Ellos convirtieron el sótano en un gimnasio el año pasado.
They converted the basement into a gym last year.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Convertí todos mis ahorros a pesos ayer.
I converted all my savings to pesos yesterday.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: convertió
Correct: convirtió
Why: Learners forget the e > i stem change that occurs in the third-person preterite for this verb.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: convierto
Convertir follows an e > ie stem change in all present forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: convertía
The imperfect of convertir is completely regular: convertía, convertías, convertía, etc.
Future
yo: convertiré
The future of convertir is regular: add endings to the infinitive (convertiré, convertirás).
Conditional
yo: convertiría
The conditional of convertir is regular: convertiría, convertirías, convertiría, convertiríamos.
Present Subjunctive
yo: convierta
The present subjunctive of convertir features e > ie changes, except nosotros/vosotros which use e > i.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: convirtiera
The imperfect subjunctive of convertir uses the 'i' stem in all forms: convirtiera, convirtieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: convierte
The imperative of convertir uses the 'ie' stem change for most commands (convierte, convierta).
Negative Imperative
yo: no conviertas
The negative imperative of convertir uses the present subjunctive forms: no conviertas, no convirtamos.