desembocar Preterite Conjugation
desembocar — to flow into
The preterite has a spelling change in the 'yo' form: desemboqué, but is otherwise regular.
desembocar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe the specific moment a river reached the sea or when a situation finally resulted in a specific outcome.
Notes on desembocar in the Preterite
There is a 'c' to 'qu' spelling change in the 'yo' form (desemboqué) to maintain the hard 'k' sound. All other forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Caminé por horas y finalmente desemboqué en una playa virgen.
I walked for hours and finally came out onto a pristine beach.
yo
La crisis desembocó en una huelga general.
The crisis resulted in a general strike.
él/ella/usted
Los arroyos desembocaron en el lago después de la tormenta.
The streams flowed into the lake after the storm.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'desembocé' for the yo form.
Correct: The correct spelling is 'desemboqué'.
Why: In Spanish, 'cé' would be pronounced like an 's' or 'th'. We use 'qué' to keep the hard 'k' sound from the infinitive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: desemboco
The present tense of desembocar is regular: desemboco, desembocas, desemboca, desembocamos, desembocáis, desembocan.
Imperfect
yo: desembocaba
The imperfect of desembocar is regular: desembocaba, desembocabas, desembocaba, desembocábamos, desembocabais, desembocaban.
Future
yo: desembocaré
The future tense is regular: desembocaré, desembocarás, desembocará, desembocaremos, desembocaréis, desembocarán.
Conditional
yo: desembocaría
The conditional tense is regular: desembocaría, desembocarías, desembocaría, desembocaríamos, desembocaríais, desembocarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desemboque
The present subjunctive uses a 'qu' spelling change in all forms: desemboque, desemboques, desemboque, desemboquemos, desemboquéis, desemboquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desembocara
The imperfect subjunctive is regular based on the preterite stem: desembocara, desembocaras, desembocara, desembocáramos, desembocarais, desembocaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desemboca
Commands vary by person: desemboca (tú), desembocad (vosotros), desemboque (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no desemboques
All negative commands use the 'qu' spelling change: no desemboques, no desemboque, no desemboquemos, no desemboquéis, no desemboquen.