cultivar Preterite Conjugation
cultivar — to grow
Use 'cultivé' (yo) and 'cultivó' (él/ella/usted) for completed past actions of growing.
cultivar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
The preterite is for actions that started and finished in the past. Think of completing a planting, harvesting a specific crop, or successfully growing a particular plant.
Notes on cultivar in the Preterite
Cultivar is a regular -ar verb in the preterite. The endings are standard: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron.
Example Sentences
Cultivé mis propias verduras el verano pasado.
I grew my own vegetables last summer.
yo
¿Tú cultivaste bonsáis?
Did you grow bonsai trees?
tú
Ella cultivó un pequeño huerto en su balcón.
She grew a small garden on her balcony.
él/ella/usted
Ellos cultivaron café en Colombia.
They grew coffee in Colombia.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of preterite for a specific completed action: 'Cultivaba un jardín cada año'.
Correct: If it was a single completed event, use preterite: 'Cultivé un jardín'. If it was habitual, use imperfect: 'Cultivaba un jardín cada año'.
Why: Preterite is for completed events; imperfect is for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Missing the accent on 'cultivó' (él/ella/usted) or 'cultivé' (yo).
Correct: Remember the accent: 'él cultivó', 'yo cultivé'.
Why: The accent is crucial for pronunciation and meaning, distinguishing these forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cultivo
Use 'cultivo' (yo) and 'cultivan' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for what you grow now or habitually.
Imperfect
yo: cultivaba
Use 'cultivaba' (yo) and 'cultivaban' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for ongoing or habitual past growing.
Future
yo: cultivaré
Use 'cultivaré' (yo) and 'cultivarán' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cultivaría
Use 'cultivaría' (yo) and 'cultivarían' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for hypothetical 'would' scenarios.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cultive
Use 'cultive' (él/ella/usted) and 'cultiven' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) after wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cultivara
Use 'cultivara' or 'cultivase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cultiva
Use 'cultiva' (tú) and 'cultiven' (ustedes) for direct commands to grow things.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cultives
Use 'no cultives' (tú) and 'no cultiven' (ustedes) for negative commands.