distribuir Preterite Conjugation
distribuir — to distribute
In the preterite, distribuir changes 'i' to 'y' in the third-person forms (distribuyó, distribuyeron).
distribuir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a completed act of distribution, like when a shipment was sent out or a specific inheritance was divided.
Notes on distribuir in the Preterite
The third-person singular (él/ella) and plural (ellos/ellas) swap the 'i' for a 'y' to avoid three vowels in a row.
Example Sentences
Ayer distribuí todo el correo.
Yesterday I distributed all the mail.
yo
El jefe distribuyó el trabajo equitativamente.
The boss distributed the work fairly.
él/ella/usted
Ellos distribuyeron las mantas a los refugiados.
They distributed the blankets to the refugees.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: distribuió
Correct: distribuyó
Why: In Spanish, an unstressed 'i' between two vowels must change to a 'y'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: distribuyo
The present tense of distribuir adds a 'y' before the ending (distribuyo, distribuyes, distribuye, distribuyen), except for nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: distribuía
The imperfect of distribuir is completely regular: distribuía, distribuías, distribuía...
Future
yo: distribuiré
The future tense is regular: add the endings to the infinitive (distribuiré, distribuirás...).
Conditional
yo: distribuiría
The conditional is regular: add -ía, -ías, -ía to the infinitive (distribuiría).
Present Subjunctive
yo: distribuya
The present subjunctive follows the 'yo' form change, using 'y' throughout (distribuya, distribuyas...).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: distribuyera
The imperfect subjunctive is based on the 'ellos' preterite form: distribuyera, distribuyeras...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: distribuye
Use 'distribuye' for 'tú' and 'distribuya' for formal 'usted' commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no distribuyas
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive (no distribuyas, no distribuya).