descalificar Preterite Conjugation
descalificar — to disqualify
Descalificar has a spelling change only in the 'yo' form (descalifiqué).
descalificar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a completed event in the past, like a referee making a specific ruling to disqualify a player.
Notes on descalificar in the Preterite
Only the 'yo' form is irregular (descalifiqué) to preserve the hard 'k' sound. All other forms follow regular -ar patterns.
Example Sentences
Yo descalifiqué al corredor por hacer trampa.
I disqualified the runner for cheating.
yo
¿Por qué descalificaste a mi equipo?
Why did you disqualify my team?
tú
El comité nos descalificó ayer.
The committee disqualified us yesterday.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: descalificé
Correct: descalifiqué
Why: In the 'yo' form, the 'c' must change to 'qu' to maintain the pronunciation of the root.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: descalifico
Descalificar is completely regular in the present indicative.
Imperfect
yo: descalificaba
Descalificar is regular in the imperfect: descalificaba, descalificabas...
Future
yo: descalificaré
The future of descalificar is regular: just add endings to the infinitive.
Conditional
yo: descalificaría
The conditional uses the full infinitive: descalificaría, descalificarías...
Present Subjunctive
yo: descalifique
Descalificar requires a 'c' to 'qu' spelling change in all forms to keep the hard 'k' sound.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: descalificara
Forms like descalificara are used for past doubts or hypothetical situations involving disqualification.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: descalifica
Use descalifica (tú) or descalifiquen (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no descalifiques
Negative commands always use the 'qu' spelling change (no descalifiques).