empeorar Preterite Conjugation
empeorar — to get worse
Use preterite forms like 'empeoré' and 'empeoró' for completed past actions of worsening.
empeorar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
The preterite is used for actions that started and finished in the past. With empeorar, it describes a specific instance where something became worse.
Notes on empeorar in the Preterite
Empeorar is a regular -ar verb in the preterite. All forms follow the standard conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Empeoré mi resfriado por no descansar.
I made my cold worse by not resting.
yo
¿Empeoraste la situación con tu comentario?
Did you make the situation worse with your comment?
tú
El tiempo empeoró de repente.
The weather suddenly got worse.
él/ella/usted
Ellos empeoraron el motor intentando arreglarlo.
They made the engine worse by trying to fix it.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing preterite with imperfect.
Correct: Use the preterite ('empeoró') for a specific, completed event of worsening, not ongoing past states ('empeoraba').
Why: The preterite marks a defined start and end to the action.
Mistake: Missing accents on tú and yo forms.
Correct: The yo form is 'empeoré' and the tú form is 'empeoraste'.
Why: Accents are crucial for pronunciation and distinguishing forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: empeoro
Use present forms like 'empeoro' and 'empeora' for current or habitual worsening.
Imperfect
yo: empeoraba
Use imperfect forms like 'empeoraba' for ongoing or habitual past worsening.
Future
yo: empeoraré
Use future forms like 'empeoraré' and 'empeorará' to talk about things that will get worse.
Conditional
yo: empeoraría
Use conditional forms like 'empeoraría' for hypothetical situations ('would get worse').
Present Subjunctive
yo: empeore
Use present subjunctive forms like 'empeore' for wishes, doubts, and emotions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: empeorara
Use imperfect subjunctive forms like 'empeorara' or 'empeorase' for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: empeora
Use imperative forms like 'empeora' (tú) and 'empeore' (usted) for direct commands with 'empeorar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no empeores
Negative commands like 'no empeores' (tú) use the present subjunctive.