estallar Preterite Conjugation
estallar — to explode
The preterite of estallar is regular: estallé, estallaste, estalló, estallamos, estallasteis, estallaron.
estallar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of estallar to talk about an explosion or bursting that happened and finished at a specific point in the past. For instance, 'La bomba estalló a medianoche' (The bomb exploded at midnight) or 'El globo estalló de repente' (The balloon burst suddenly).
Notes on estallar in the Preterite
Estallar is regular in the preterite. Note that the 'nosotros' form 'estallamos' is identical to the present indicative; context will clarify which tense is meant.
Example Sentences
La caldera estalló por la sobrepresión.
The boiler exploded due to overpressure.
él/ella/usted
Estallé en risas cuando escuché el chiste.
I burst out laughing when I heard the joke.
yo
Estallaron fuegos artificiales para celebrar.
Fireworks exploded to celebrate.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Estallaste de alegría cuando te dieron la noticia?
Did you burst with joy when they gave you the news?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'estallaba' instead of the preterite 'estalló' for a single, completed event.
Correct: Use 'estalló' for a specific moment of explosion, like 'El petardo estalló'.
Why: The preterite marks a finished action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'yo' form 'estallé'.
Correct: It should be 'estallé' with an accent on the final 'é'.
Why: The accent distinguishes the preterite 'yo' form and indicates the stressed syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: estallo
The present tense of estallar is regular: estallo, estallas, estalla, estallamos, estalláis, estallan.
Imperfect
yo: estallaba
The imperfect of estallar is regular: estallaba, estallabas, estallaba, estallábamos, estallabais, estallaban.
Future
yo: estallaré
The future of estallar is regular: estallaré, estallarás, estallará, estallaremos, estallaréis, estallarán.
Conditional
yo: estallaría
The conditional of estallar is regular: estallaría, estallarías, estallaría, estallaríamos, estallaríais, estallarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: estalle
The present subjunctive of estallar is regular: estalle, estalles, estalle, estallemos, estalléis, estallen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estallara
The imperfect subjunctive of estallar is regular: estallara, estallaras, estallara, estalláramos, estallarais, estallaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: estalla
The imperative of estallar is: estalla (tú), estalle (usted), estallemos (nosotros), estallad (vosotros), estallen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no estalles
The negative imperative of estallar uses the present subjunctive: no estalles (tú), no estalle (usted), no estallemos (nosotros), no estalléis (vosotros), no estallen (ustedes).