enfatizar Preterite Conjugation
enfatizar — to emphasize
Enfatizar is regular except for the 'yo' form, which changes to 'enfaticé' to preserve the sound.
enfatizar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about a specific moment in the past when someone emphasized a point or made a highlight during a speech or meeting.
Notes on enfatizar in the Preterite
Only the 'yo' form is irregular (enfaticé). The other forms (enfatizaste, enfatizó, etc.) are regular and keep the 'z'.
Example Sentences
Enfaticé la necesidad de trabajar en equipo.
I emphasized the need to work as a team.
yo
El profesor enfatizó los temas del examen.
The teacher emphasized the exam topics.
él/ella/usted
Ayer enfatizamos los puntos clave del contrato.
Yesterday we emphasized the key points of the contract.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: enfatizé
Correct: enfaticé
Why: The 'z' must change to 'c' before 'é' in the first-person preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: enfatizo
Enfatizar is completely regular in the present indicative: enfatizo, enfatizas, enfatiza, enfatizamos, enfatizáis, enfatizan.
Imperfect
yo: enfatizaba
The imperfect of enfatizar is regular: enfatizaba, enfatizabas, enfatizaba, enfatizábamos, enfatizabais, enfatizaban.
Future
yo: enfatizaré
The future of enfatizar is regular: enfatizaré, enfatizarás, enfatizará, enfatizaremos, enfatizaréis, enfatizarán.
Conditional
yo: enfatizaría
The conditional of enfatizar is regular: enfatizaría, enfatizarías, enfatizaría, enfatizaríamos, enfatizaríais, enfatizarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: enfatice
Enfatizar undergoes a spelling change from 'z' to 'c' in all persons: enfatice, enfatices, enfatice, enfaticemos, enfaticéis, enfaticen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: enfatizara
The imperfect subjunctive of enfatizar is regular, using the -ra or -se endings: enfatizara, enfatizaras, enfatizara, etc.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: enfatiza
The affirmative imperative uses 'enfatiza' (tú) and 'enfaticen' (ustedes), with the z-to-c change in formal forms.
Negative Imperative
yo: no enfatices
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no enfatices, no enfatice, no enfaticen.