entablar Preterite Conjugation
entablar — to start
The preterite of entablar is regular: entablé, entablaste, entabló, entablamos, entablasteis, entablaron.
entablar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for actions that started and finished at a specific point in the past. Think of 'I started a conversation' or 'They established a company' – completed events.
Notes on entablar in the Preterite
Entablar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the preterite. The nosotros form 'entablamos' is identical to the present indicative, so context is key.
Example Sentences
Ayer entablé una conversación con mi vecino.
Yesterday I started a conversation with my neighbor.
yo
¿Entablaste algún contacto nuevo en la conferencia?
Did you make any new contacts at the conference?
tú
La empresa entabló relaciones comerciales con China.
The company established business relations with China.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros entablamos el diálogo en ese momento.
We started the dialogue at that moment.
nosotros
Ellos entablaron un debate interesante.
They started an interesting debate.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing the preterite 'entablamos' with the present indicative 'entablamos'.
Correct: The form is the same, but context tells you if it's a past completed action ('We started...') or a present habitual one ('We start...').
Why: This is a common ambiguity for the 'nosotros' form in regular -ar verbs.
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a completed action.
Correct: For a specific, finished action like 'starting a conversation yesterday', use the preterite: 'entablé'. The imperfect ('entablaba') suggests duration or habit.
Why: The core difference between preterite and imperfect is completed action vs. ongoing/habitual action.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'entablar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: entablo
The present tense of entablar is regular: entablo, entablas, entabla, entablamos, entabláis, entablan.
Imperfect
yo: entablaba
The imperfect of entablar is regular: entablaba, entablabas, entablaba, entablábamos, entablabais, entablaban.
Future
yo: entablaré
The future tense of entablar is regular: entablaré, entablarás, entablará, entablaremos, entablaréis, entablarán.
Conditional
yo: entablaría
The conditional of entablar is regular: entablaría, entablarías, entablaría, entablaríamos, entablaríais, entablarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: entable
The present subjunctive of entablar ('entable', 'entables', etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or influence.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: entablara
The imperfect subjunctive of entablar ('entablara', 'entablaras', etc.) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or politeness.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: entabla
Use 'entabla', 'entable', 'entablemos', 'entablad', 'entablen' for direct commands with entablar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no entables
Use 'no entables', 'no entable', 'no entablemos', 'no entabléis', 'no entablen' for negative commands.