diferir Preterite Conjugation
diferir — to differ
Diferir has a third-person stem change (e-i): difirió and difirieron.
diferir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe a specific instance in the past when two things differed or when someone postponed (deferred) an action.
Notes on diferir in the Preterite
This is a 'slipper verb'. While most forms are regular, the 3rd person singular and plural change the 'e' to 'i' (difirió, difirieron).
Example Sentences
El resultado difirió de lo que esperábamos.
The result differed from what we expected.
él/ella/usted
Ayer diferimos la reunión para la próxima semana.
Yesterday we deferred the meeting until next week.
nosotros
Sus versiones difirieron ante el juez.
Their versions differed before the judge.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: diferieron
Correct: difirieron
Why: In the preterite, the stem change for -ir verbs in the third person is e-i, not e-ie.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: difiero
Diferir follows an e-ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: difería
Diferir is completely regular in the imperfect: difería, diferías, difería...
Future
yo: diferiré
Diferir is regular in the future: use the full infinitive plus endings (diferiré).
Conditional
yo: diferiría
Diferir is regular in the conditional: diferiría, diferirías, diferiría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: difiera
Diferir has stem changes in all forms: e-ie in most, and e-i in nosotros/vosotros.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: difiriera
All forms use the 'difir-' stem derived from the preterite 3rd person.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: difiere
Commands use 'difiere' (tú) and 'difiera' (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no difieras
Negative commands use the present subjunctive forms: no difieras, no difiera.