devolver Preterite Conjugation
devolver — to return
The preterite of devolver is regular: devolví, devolviste, devolvió, devolvimos, devolvisteis, devolvieron.
devolver Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for specific instances where you returned an item or gave something back at a definite point in time, like returning a book to the library yesterday.
Notes on devolver in the Preterite
While devolver has a stem change in the present, it is completely regular in the preterite. It follows the standard -er verb endings.
Example Sentences
Devolví el libro a la biblioteca ayer.
I returned the book to the library yesterday.
yo
¿Le devolviste el dinero a Juan?
Did you give the money back to Juan?
tú
Ellos nos devolvieron las llaves del coche.
They returned the car keys to us.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'devuelví' instead of 'devolví'.
Correct: devolví
Why: Learners often try to carry the 'o > ue' stem change from the present tense into the preterite, but it only happens in the present.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: devuelvo
Devolver is a stem-changing verb (o > ue) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: devolvía
The imperfect of devolver is regular: devolvía, devolvías, devolvía, devolvíamos, devolvíais, devolvían.
Future
yo: devolveré
The future of devolver is regular: devolveré, devolverás, devolverá, devolveremos, devolveréis, devolverán.
Conditional
yo: devolvería
The conditional of devolver is regular: devolvería, devolverías, devolvería, devolveríamos, devolveríais, devolverían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: devuelva
The present subjunctive of devolver maintains the o > ue stem change: devuelva, devuelvas, devuelva, devolvamos, devolváis, devuelvan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: devuelva
The imperfect subjunctive of devolver is regular: devolviera, devolvieras, devolviera, devolviéramos, devolvierais, devolvieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: devuelve
The imperative of devolver uses the stem change (o > ue) for most commands: devuelve, devuelva, devolved, devuelvan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no devuelvas
The negative imperative of devolver uses the present subjunctive: no devuelvas, no devuelva, no devolvamos, no devolváis, no devuelvan.