dispersar Preterite Conjugation
dispersar — to scatter
The preterite of dispersar is regular: dispersé, dispersaste, dispersó, dispersamos, dispersasteis, dispersaron, used for completed past actions.
dispersar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of 'dispersar' to talk about actions of scattering that were completed at a specific point in the past. For example, scattering seeds at a particular time or dispersing a crowd that has now gone.
Notes on dispersar in the Preterite
Dispersar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern for the preterite tense. All forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Yo dispersé las semillas en el huerto ayer.
I scattered the seeds in the garden yesterday.
yo
¿Tú dispersaste la información confidencial?
Did you scatter the confidential information?
tú
El viento dispersó las hojas secas.
The wind scattered the dry leaves.
él/ella/usted
Los guardias dispersaron a los manifestantes pacíficamente.
The guards dispersed the protesters peacefully.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros dispersamos el humo para que se viera.
We scattered the smoke so it could be seen.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'dispersaba' instead of the preterite 'dispersé' for a single completed action.
Correct: Use 'dispersé' for a specific instance of scattering, like 'Ayer dispersé las flores'.
Why: The preterite marks a finished action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on forms like 'dispersó'.
Correct: Remember the accent mark: 'él/ella/usted' form is dispersó.
Why: The accent indicates the stressed syllable and distinguishes the preterite from other forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: disperso
The present tense of dispersar is regular: disperso, dispersas, dispersa, dispersamos, dispersáis, dispersan, used for current actions, habits, or general truths.
Imperfect
yo: dispersaba
The imperfect of dispersar is regular: dispersaba, dispersabas, dispersaba, dispersábamos, dispersabais, dispersaban, used for ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: dispersaré
The future tense of dispersar is regular: dispersaré, dispersarás, dispersará, dispersaremos, dispersaréis, dispersarán, used for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: dispersaría
The conditional of dispersar is regular: dispersaría, dispersarías, dispersaría, dispersaríamos, dispersaríais, dispersarían, used for hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: disperse
I hope they scatter! Present subjunctive forms like disperse (yo/él/ella/usted) or dispersen (ellos/ellas/ustedes) are used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: dispersara
If only they would scatter... Use imperfect subjunctive forms like dispersara (yo/él/ella/usted) or dispersaran (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: dispersa
Dispersa! Use imperative forms like dispersa (tú), disperse (usted), dispersad (vosotros), dispersen (ustedes), dispersemos (nosotros) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no disperses
Don't scatter! Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no disperses (tú), no disperse (usted), no disperséis (vosotros), no dispersen (ustedes), no dispersemos (nosotros).