estropear Present Conjugation
estropear — to damage or break
Present estropeo, estropeas, etc. describes current actions or habits: 'Yo estropeo las plantas si no las riego' (I ruin the plants if I don't water them).
estropear Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense of 'estropear' for actions happening right now, habitual actions, or general truths. For example, 'Este niño estropea todo lo que toca' (This child breaks everything he touches) describes a habitual behavior.
Notes on estropear in the Present
Estropear is a regular -ar verb in the present indicative. The conjugations follow the standard pattern.
Example Sentences
Yo estropeo mis calcetines muy rápido.
I wear out my socks very quickly.
yo
¿Tú estropeas las flores cuando pasas?
Do you damage the flowers when you walk by?
tú
El tiempo a veces estropea los planes.
The weather sometimes spoils the plans.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros estropeamos la comida si la cocinamos demasiado.
We ruin the food if we cook it too much.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present tense for completed past actions.
Correct: Use the preterite 'estropeé' for a specific past event, not 'estropeo'.
Why: The present tense is for ongoing or habitual actions, not finished ones.
Mistake: Confusing 'estropeamos' (present) with 'estropeamos' (preterite nosotros).
Correct: Context usually clarifies, but be aware that the nosotros form is identical in both tenses.
Why: This is a common feature of regular -ar verbs in the preterite and present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: estropeé
The preterite of estropear is regular: estropeé, estropeaste, estropeó, estropeamos, estropeasteis, estropearon.
Imperfect
yo: estropeaba
Imperfect estropeaba, estropeabas describes ongoing or habitual past actions: 'Antes estropeaba mis juguetes' (I used to break my toys).
Future
yo: estropearé
Future estropearé, estropearás predicts or assumes something will break: 'El vaso se estropeará' (The glass will break).
Conditional
yo: estropearía
Conditional estropearía, estropearías expresses hypotheticals ('would break'): 'Si tuviera dinero, no estropearía el coche' (If I had money, I wouldn't break the car).
Present Subjunctive
yo: estropee
Use present subjunctive estropee, estropeen etc. for wishes, doubts, and emotions: 'Espero que no estropees nada' (I hope you don't break anything).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estropeara
Use imperfect subjunctive estropeara/estropéara for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'Si estropeara...' (If I were to break...)
Affirmative Imperative
yo: estropea
Use imperative estropea, estropee, etc. for direct commands, like '¡Estropea el vaso!' (Break the glass!).
Negative Imperative
yo: no estropees
Negative commands use 'no' plus present subjunctive: 'no estropees' (don't break).