derramar Preterite Conjugation
derramar — to spill
The preterite of derramar indicates completed actions like 'I spilled' (derramé) or 'they spilled' (derramaron).
derramar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about actions that started and finished at a specific point in the past. Think of it as a snapshot of a completed event, like spilling a drink once.
Notes on derramar in the Preterite
Derramar is a regular -ar verb in the preterite. The endings are standard: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron.
Example Sentences
Yo derramé el jugo en la mesa.
I spilled the juice on the table.
yo
¿Tú derramaste la pintura?
Did you spill the paint?
tú
Él derramó agua sobre las plantas.
He spilled water on the plants.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros derramamos la sal sin querer.
We spilled the salt by accident.
nosotros
Ellos derramaron lágrimas de alegría.
They shed tears of joy.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect tense instead of preterite for a single, completed spill.
Correct: Use the preterite: 'Derramé el café' (I spilled the coffee - completed action).
Why: The preterite is for specific, finished events, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'derramó' (él/ella/usted) and 'derramé' (yo).
Correct: Add the accent: 'derramó' and 'derramé'.
Why: The accent marks the stressed syllable and distinguishes these forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: derramo
The present tense of derramar means 'to spill' (derramo, derramas, derrama...) and is used for current or habitual actions.
Imperfect
yo: derramaba
The imperfect of derramar describes ongoing or habitual past actions like 'used to spill' (derramaba) or 'was spilling' (derramaba).
Future
yo: derramaré
The future tense of derramar predicts future actions ('will spill' - derramaré, derramarás...).
Conditional
yo: derramaría
The conditional of derramar expresses hypothetical actions ('would spill' - derramaría) or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: derrame
The present subjunctive of derramar (derrame, derrames, etc.) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: derramara
The imperfect subjunctive of derramar (derramara/derramase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: derrama
Use the imperative of derramar for direct commands: ¡derrama!, ¡derrame!, ¡derramemos!, ¡derramad!, ¡derramen!.
Negative Imperative
yo: no derrames
Use negative commands with 'no' plus the present subjunctive: ¡no derrames!, ¡no derrame!, ¡no derramemos!, ¡no derraméis!, ¡no derramen!.