descartar Preterite Conjugation
descartar — to discard
Use preterite forms like 'descarté' (I discarded) for completed actions in the past.
descartar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
The preterite of 'descartar' is used for actions that were completed at a specific point in the past. Think of it as 'throwing something away' decisively. For instance, 'Descarté la comida podrida' (I discarded the rotten food) or 'Él descartó la idea rápidamente' (He discarded the idea quickly).
Notes on descartar in the Preterite
'Descartar' is a regular -ar verb, and its preterite conjugation follows the standard pattern. All forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Ayer descarté todos los papeles que no necesitaba.
Yesterday I discarded all the papers I didn't need.
yo
¿Descartaste el correo electrónico que te envié?
Did you discard the email I sent you?
tú
Ella descartó la posibilidad de irse.
She discarded the possibility of leaving.
él/ella/usted
Los jueces descartaron esa evidencia.
The judges discarded that evidence.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single, completed action, e.g., 'Yo descartaba la basura ayer'.
Correct: Use the preterite for a completed action: 'Yo descarté la basura ayer'.
Why: The preterite marks a specific, finished event, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'yo' form, writing 'descarte' instead of 'descarté'.
Correct: The 'yo' form in the preterite needs an accent: 'descarté'.
Why: The accent on the 'é' is crucial to distinguish the 'yo' preterite form from the present subjunctive 'descarte'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: descarto
Use present forms like 'descarto' (I discard) for current or habitual actions.
Imperfect
yo: descartaba
Use imperfect forms like 'descartaba' for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: descartaré
Use future forms like 'descartaré' (I will discard) for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: descartaría
Use conditional forms like 'descartaría' (I would discard) for hypotheticals or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: descarte
Use present subjunctive forms like 'descarte' for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: descartara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'descartara' or 'descartase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: descarta
Use imperative forms like 'descarta' (tú) and 'descarte' (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no descartes
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no descartes' (tú).