desviar Present Conjugation
desviar — to divert
Use present forms like desvío (yo) or desvían (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for actions happening now or habitual actions of diverting.
desviar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
The present tense is for actions happening right now, habitual actions, or general truths. You might say you always divert calls, or that a certain road diverts traffic.
Notes on desviar in the Present
Desviar is regular in the present tense, but it does have a stem change from 'e' to 'ie' in most forms (except nosotros and vosotros). So, 'desvío', 'desvías', 'desvía', 'desvían' show this change.
Example Sentences
Yo desvío las llamadas importantes a mi oficina.
I divert the important calls to my office.
yo
¿Tú desvías el tráfico por aquí?
Do you divert the traffic around here?
tú
Este camino desvía el agua de la ciudad.
This path diverts the water away from the city.
él/ella/usted
Ellos desvían la atención con chistes.
They divert attention with jokes.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the stem change: 'desvio' instead of 'desvío' (yo).
Correct: The 'yo' form has the stem change: 'desvío'.
Why: The 'e' to 'ie' stem change is a characteristic of this verb in the present tense for most persons.
Mistake: Using the present subjunctive instead of the present indicative: 'Cuando desvíe el tráfico...' when it's a certainty.
Correct: For certain or habitual actions, use the present indicative: 'Cuando desvío el tráfico...'.
Why: The indicative is for facts and certainties, while the subjunctive is for doubt, desire, or emotion.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: desvié
Use preterite forms like desvié (yo) or desviaron (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for completed past actions of diverting.
Imperfect
yo: desviaba
Use imperfect forms like desviaba (yo) or desviaban (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for ongoing or habitual past actions of diverting.
Future
yo: desviaré
Use future forms like desviaré (yo) or desviarán (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for actions that will happen in the future.
Conditional
yo: desviaría
Use conditional forms like desviaría (yo) or desviarían (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for hypothetical situations ('would divert') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: desvíe
Use present subjunctive forms like desvíe (yo/él/ella/usted) or desvíen (ustedes) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desviara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like desviara or desviase for past hypothetical situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desvía
Use imperative forms like desvía (tú) or desvíen (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desvíes
Use 'no' + present subjunctive forms like no desvíes (tú) or no desvíen (ustedes) for negative commands.