cuestionar Preterite Conjugation
cuestionar — to challenge
The preterite of cuestionar is regular: cuestioné, cuestionaste, cuestionó, cuestionamos, cuestionasteis, cuestionaron.
cuestionar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of 'cuestionar' for a specific instance where someone challenged something at a definite point in the past. For example, 'He questioned the decision yesterday' or 'I challenged the referee once'.
Notes on cuestionar in the Preterite
Cuestionar is completely regular in the preterite tense. All forms follow the standard -ar verb pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo cuestioné la respuesta del profesor.
I questioned the teacher's answer.
yo
¿Tú cuestionaste la propuesta?
Did you question the proposal?
tú
Ella cuestionó el resultado del examen.
She questioned the exam result.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros cuestionamos la política de la empresa.
We questioned the company's policy.
nosotros
Ellos cuestionaron la autoridad del gerente.
They questioned the manager's authority.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'cuestionaba' instead of the preterite 'cuestionó' for a single completed action.
Correct: For a specific instance, use 'Él cuestionó la decisión', not 'Él cuestionaba la decisión'.
Why: The preterite marks a completed action in the past, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'cuestionó' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: The correct form is 'cuestionó' with an accent on the 'ó'.
Why: The accent indicates the stress falls on the final syllable, distinguishing it from other forms and the infinitive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cuestiono
The present indicative of cuestionar is regular: cuestiono, cuestionas, cuestiona, cuestionamos, cuestionáis, cuestionan.
Imperfect
yo: cuestionaba
The imperfect of cuestionar is regular: cuestionaba, cuestionabas, cuestionaba, cuestionábamos, cuestionabais, cuestionaban.
Future
yo: cuestionaré
The future tense of cuestionar is regular: cuestionaré, cuestionarás, cuestionará, cuestionaremos, cuestionaréis, cuestionarán.
Conditional
yo: cuestionaría
The conditional of cuestionar is regular: cuestionaría, cuestionarías, cuestionaría, cuestionaríamos, cuestionaríais, cuestionarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cuestione
Use present subjunctive forms like 'cuestione' (yo/él/ella/usted) and 'cuestionen' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) after expressions of doubt or desire.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cuestionara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'cuestionara' or 'cuestionase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cuestiona
Use imperative forms like 'cuestiona' (tú) and 'cuestionen' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cuestiones
Use 'no cuestiones' (tú) and 'no cuestionen' (ustedes) for negative commands.