
extraer Preterite Conjugation
extraer — to extract
Extraer is highly irregular in the preterite, using a 'j' stem: extraje, extrajiste, extrajo.
extraer Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use this for completed past actions, like when a scientist extracted a sample yesterday or you pulled a splinter out.
Notes on extraer in the Preterite
The stem changes from 'extra-' to 'extraj-'. Also, the 'ellos' ending is -eron (not -ieron), which is common for 'j' stem verbs.
Example Sentences
Extraje toda la información que necesitaba.
I extracted all the information I needed.
yo
El cirujano extrajo el tumor con éxito.
The surgeon extracted the tumor successfully.
él/ella/usted
Ellos extrajeron conclusiones muy interesantes.
They extracted (drew) very interesting conclusions.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Ellos extrajieron
Correct: Ellos extrajeron
Why: After a 'j' stem in the preterite, the 'i' in the -ieron ending is dropped.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'extraer' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: extraigo
Extraer is irregular in the first person (extraigo), but follows regular -er patterns for the rest.
Imperfect
yo: extraía
Extraer is regular in the imperfect: extraía, extraías, extraía...
Future
yo: extraeré
Extraer is regular in the future: extraeré, extraerás, extraerá.
Conditional
yo: extraería
Extraer is regular in the conditional: extraería, extraerías, extraería.
Present Subjunctive
yo: extraiga
The present subjunctive uses the irregular 'extraig-' stem for all persons.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: extrajera
This tense uses the 'j' stem from the preterite: extrajera, extrajeras, extrajera.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: extrae
Use extrae (tú) or extraiga (usted) to give direct orders to extract something.
Negative Imperative
yo: no extraigas
All negative commands for extraer use the 'extraig-' stem.