derrocar Preterite Conjugation
derrocar — to overthrow
The preterite of derrocar is regular except for a spelling change in the 'yo' form: derroqué.
derrocar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe the specific historical moment or completed action when a leader was successfully overthrown.
Notes on derrocar in the Preterite
Only the 'yo' form is irregular (derroqué) to maintain the hard 'k' sound. All other forms follow the standard -ar pattern (derrocaste, derrocó, etc.).
Example Sentences
Yo derroqué al campeón de ajedrez ayer.
I toppled the chess champion yesterday.
yo
El golpe de estado derrocó al gobierno en una noche.
The coup d'état overthrew the government in one night.
él/ella/usted
Los ciudadanos derrocaron la estatua del tirano.
The citizens toppled the statue of the tyrant.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'derrocé' instead of 'derroqué'.
Correct: derroqué
Why: The letter 'c' before 'e' changes its sound. The 'qu' is required to keep the pronunciation consistent with the verb root.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: derroco
The present tense of derrocar is fully regular: derroco, derrocas, derroca, derrocamos, derrocáis, derrocan.
Imperfect
yo: derrocaba
The imperfect of derrocar is regular: derrocaba, derrocabas, derrocaba, derrocábamos, derrocabais, derrocaban.
Future
yo: derrocaré
The future tense of derrocar is regular: derrocaré, derrocarás, derrocará, derrocaremos, derrocaréis, derrocarán.
Conditional
yo: derrocaría
The conditional of derrocar is regular: derrocaría, derrocarías, derrocaría, derrocaríamos, derrocaríais, derrocarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: derroque
The present subjunctive of derrocar follows a c-to-qu spelling change in all forms: derroque, derroques, derroque, derroquemos, derroquéis, derroquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: derrocara
The imperfect subjunctive of derrocar is regular: derrocara, derrocaras, derrocara, derrocáramos, derrocarais, derrocaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: derroca
The imperative of derrocar uses the spelling change 'qu' for formal commands: derroca (tú), derroque (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no derroques
The negative imperative of derrocar uses the 'qu' spelling change for all forms: no derroques, no derroque, no derroquemos, no derroquéis, no derroquen.