
descomponer Preterite Conjugation
descomponer — to break down
The preterite of descomponer is highly irregular, using the 'pus-' stem: descompuse, descompusiste, descompuso.
descomponer Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to report a specific event where something broke down or was dismantled at a specific point in time.
Notes on descomponer in the Preterite
It uses the irregular stem 'descompus-' and takes the special preterite endings (e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron) without any accents.
Example Sentences
Ayer se descompuso mi coche en la carretera.
Yesterday my car broke down on the highway.
él/ella/usted
Yo descompuse el juguete sin querer.
I broke the toy by accident.
yo
Nosotros descompusimos la vieja estufa para repararla.
We took apart the old stove to repair it.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'descomponí' or 'descompuso' with an accent on the 'o'.
Correct: The correct forms are 'descompuse' and 'descompuso' (no accent).
Why: Irregular preterite stems like 'pus-' do not take accents on the endings.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: descompongo
The present of descomponer is irregular in the 'yo' form (descompongo), following the pattern of poner.
Imperfect
yo: descomponía
The imperfect of descomponer is regular: descomponía, descomponías, descomponía.
Future
yo: descompondré
The future of descomponer uses the irregular stem 'descompondr-': descompondré, descompondrás.
Conditional
yo: descompondría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'descompondr-': descompondría, descompondrías.
Present Subjunctive
yo: descomponga
The present subjunctive uses the 'descompong-' stem: descomponga, descompongas.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: descompusiera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'descompusie-' stem: descompusiera, descompusieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: descompón
The affirmative imperative has a short 'tú' form: descompón.
Negative Imperative
yo: no descompongas
The negative imperative uses the 'no' + present subjunctive: no descompongas.