flotar Preterite Conjugation
flotar — to float
The preterite of flotar (floté, flotaste, etc.) describes completed actions of floating in the past.
flotar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to talk about a specific instance when something floated or someone floated, and it was a completed action. For example, 'El pato flotó en el estanque ayer' (The duck floated on the pond yesterday) or 'Floté en el mar por una hora' (I floated in the sea for an hour).
Notes on flotar in the Preterite
Flotar is regular in the preterite tense. All the verb endings follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Ayer floté en la piscina durante horas.
Yesterday I floated in the pool for hours.
yo
El tronco flotó río abajo.
The log floated down the river.
él/ella/usted
¿Tú flotaste en el mar?
Did you float in the sea?
tú
Ellos flotaron en balsas seguras.
They floated on safe rafts.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single, completed action.
Correct: For a specific completed float, use preterite: 'El corcho flotó' (The cork floated).
Why: The preterite marks the beginning or end of an action, or a single completed event.
Mistake: Missing the accent on the 'yo' form.
Correct: The 'yo' form requires an accent: 'floté'.
Why: The accent on the 'é' indicates the stress falls on the ending and distinguishes it from other forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: floto
The present tense of flotar (floto, flotas, etc.) describes current actions or general truths about floating.
Imperfect
yo: flotaba
The imperfect of flotar (flotaba, flotabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual floating in the past.
Future
yo: flotaré
The future tense of flotar (flotaré, flotarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: flotaría
The conditional of flotar (flotaría, flotarías, etc.) is used for hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: flote
The present subjunctive of flotar (flote, flotes, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: flotara
The imperfect subjunctive of flotar (flotara/flotase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: flota
Use the imperative of flotar for direct commands like 'flota' (tú) or 'floten' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no flotes
Use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands, like 'no flotes' (tú) or 'no floten' (ustedes).