elaborar Preterite Conjugation
elaborar — to make
The preterite of 'elaborar' is regular: elaboré, elaboraste, elaboró, elaboramos, elaborasteis, elaboraron.
elaborar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of 'elaborar' to talk about a specific instance or a series of completed actions in the past. For example, 'Ayer elaboré un informe' refers to finishing that specific report yesterday. 'La semana pasada elaboramos tres prototipos' means you completed making three prototypes.
Notes on elaborar in the Preterite
Elaborar is a regular -ar verb, and its preterite conjugation follows the standard pattern perfectly. No stem changes or special endings to worry about here.
Example Sentences
Yo elaboré la propuesta la semana pasada.
I made the proposal last week.
yo
¿Tú elaboraste el pastel para su cumpleaños?
Did you make the cake for his birthday?
tú
Él elaboró un plan de contingencia.
He made a contingency plan.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros elaboramos el menú para el evento.
We made the menu for the event.
nosotros
Ellos elaboraron un nuevo software.
They made a new software.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'elaboraba' instead of the preterite 'elaboré' for a single completed action.
Correct: Use 'Elaboré el informe ayer' (preterite) for a specific completed action.
Why: The preterite marks a finished event, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'elaboró' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: The third-person singular preterite form is 'elaboró', with an accent on the 'ó'.
Why: The accent distinguishes it from the present tense 'elabora' and marks the stress.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: elaboro
The present tense of 'elaborar' is regular: elaboro, elaboras, elabora, elaboramos, elaboráis, elaboran.
Imperfect
yo: elaboraba
The imperfect of 'elaborar' is regular: elaboraba, elaborabas, elaboraba, elaborábamos, elaborabais, elaboraban.
Future
yo: elaboraré
The future tense of 'elaborar' is regular: elaboraré, elaborarás, elaborará, elaboraremos, elaboraréis, elaborarán.
Conditional
yo: elaboraría
The conditional of 'elaborar' is regular: elaboraría, elaborarías, elaboraría, elaboraríamos, elaboraríais, elaborarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: elabore
Use 'elabore', 'elaboremos', 'elaboren' for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty with 'elaborar'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: elaborara
Use 'elaborara' or 'elaborase' for past hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts related to 'elaborar'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: elabora
Use 'elabora', 'elabore', 'elaboremos', 'elaboren', 'elaborad' for direct commands with 'elaborar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no elabores
Use 'no elabores', 'no elabore', 'no elaboremos', 'no elaboren', 'no elaboreis' for negative commands with 'elaborar'.