dividir Preterite Conjugation
dividir — to divide
The preterite of dividir is regular: dividí, dividiste, dividió, dividimos, dividisteis, dividieron.
dividir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about dividing something that was a completed action in the past, like splitting a bill at a restaurant.
Notes on dividir in the Preterite
Dividir is regular in the preterite. The nosotros form 'dividimos' is identical to the present tense; context clarifies which is meant.
Example Sentences
Yo dividí el pago en tres cuotas.
I divided the payment into three installments.
yo
¿Tú dividiste la tarea con Ana?
Did you divide the task with Ana?
tú
Él dividió el pastel entre sus amigos.
He divided the cake among his friends.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros dividimos la cuenta del almuerzo.
We divided the lunch bill.
nosotros
Ustedes dividieron el proyecto en fases.
You all divided the project into phases.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'dividía' instead of the preterite 'dividí' for a single, completed division.
Correct: For a specific instance of dividing, use 'dividí', not 'dividía'.
Why: The preterite marks a finished action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Confusing the nosotros preterite 'dividimos' with the present tense 'dividimos'.
Correct: Context usually makes it clear whether 'dividimos' refers to a past completed action or a present habitual one.
Why: This is a common feature of regular -ir verbs in the preterite; rely on time markers or context.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'dividir' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: divido
The present tense of dividir is regular: divido, divides, divide, dividimos, dividís, dividen.
Imperfect
yo: dividía
The imperfect of dividir is regular: dividía, dividías, dividía, dividíamos, dividíais, dividían.
Future
yo: dividiré
The future tense of dividir is regular: dividiré, dividirás, dividirá, dividiremos, dividiréis, dividirán.
Conditional
yo: dividiría
The conditional of dividir is regular: dividiría, dividirías, dividiría, dividiríamos, dividiríais, dividirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: divida
The present subjunctive of dividir is: divida, dividas, dividamos, dividáis, dividan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: dividiera
The imperfect subjunctive of dividir has two forms, e.g., dividiera/dividiera and dividiese/dividiese.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: divide
The imperative of dividir uses the regular -ir command forms: divide, divida, dividamos, dividid, dividan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no dividas
Negative commands for dividir use the present subjunctive: no dividas, no divida, no dividamos, no dividáis, no dividan.