convertirse Preterite Conjugation
convertirse — to become
Convertirse has an e>i stem change in the third person: se convirtió and se convirtieron.
convertirse Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a transformation that was completed at a specific moment in time, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly or a project becoming a reality.
Notes on convertirse in the Preterite
This is a 'slipper verb'. The e changes to i only in the él/ella/usted and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms. All other forms follow regular -ir endings.
Example Sentences
La oruga se convirtió en mariposa.
The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
él/ella/usted
Mis padres se convirtieron al budismo el año pasado.
My parents converted to Buddhism last year.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Me convertí en ciudadano después de cinco años.
I became a citizen after five years.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: se convertió
Correct: se convirtió
Why: The e changes to i in the third person preterite for -ir stem-changing verbs.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me convierto
Convertirse features an e>ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: me convertía
The imperfect of convertirse is regular: se convertía, se convertías, etc.
Future
yo: me convertiré
The future of convertirse is regular: se convertirá, se convertirán, etc.
Conditional
yo: me convertiría
The conditional is regular: se convertiría, se convertirías, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me convierta
Features an e>ie change, plus an e>i change in the nosotros/vosotros forms.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: me convirtiera
Uses the 'i' stem from the third-person preterite: se convirtiera, se convirtieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: conviértete
Commands for transformation: conviértete, conviértase, convirtámonos.
Negative Imperative
yo: no te conviertas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no te conviertas.