frenar Preterite Conjugation
frenar — to brake
The preterite of frenar (to brake) is regular: frené, frenaste, frenó, frenamos, frenasteis, frenaron.
frenar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions in the past. For 'frenar', it means braking at a specific moment or for a specific duration that has finished, like 'I braked when I saw the cat'.
Notes on frenar in the Preterite
'Frenar' is a regular -ar verb and follows all standard conjugation patterns in the preterite. No stem changes or spelling alterations.
Example Sentences
Frené bruscamente para evitar el obstáculo.
I braked sharply to avoid the obstacle.
yo
¿Frenaste a tiempo?
Did you brake on time?
tú
El conductor frenó de repente.
The driver braked suddenly.
él/ella/usted
Frenamos al ver la señal de stop.
We braked upon seeing the stop sign.
nosotros
Los coches frenaron en la entrada.
The cars braked at the entrance.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'frenaba' instead of the preterite 'frenó' for a single, completed braking action.
Correct: Use 'frenó' for a specific, finished event: 'El coche frenó'.
Why: The preterite marks a completed action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' preterite 'frenamos' with the present indicative 'frenamos'.
Correct: Context usually clarifies, but technically they are identical. The imperfect 'frenábamos' or future 'frenaremos' would be distinct.
Why: This is a common pattern for regular -ar verbs where the preterite 'nosotros' form matches the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: freno
The present tense of frenar (to brake) is regular: freno, frenas, frena, frenamos, frenáis, frenan.
Imperfect
yo: frenaba
The imperfect of frenar (to brake) is regular: frenaba, frenabas, frenaba, frenábamos, frenabais, frenaban.
Future
yo: frenaré
The future tense of frenar (to brake) is regular: frenaré, frenarás, frenará, frenaremos, frenaréis, frenarán.
Conditional
yo: frenaría
The conditional of frenar (to brake) is regular: frenaría, frenarías, frenaría, frenaríamos, frenaríais, frenarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: frene
Frene, frenes, frene, frenemos, frenéis, frenen are the present subjunctive forms of 'frenar' (to brake).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: frenara
Frenara/frenase, frenaras/frenases, frenara/frenase, frenáramos/frenásemos, frenarais/frenaseis, frenaran/frenasen are imperfect subjunctive forms of 'frenar'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: frena
Frena, frene, frenemos, frenad, frenen are the imperative commands for 'frenar' (to brake).
Negative Imperative
yo: no frenes
No frenes, no frene, no frenemos, no frenéis, no frenen are the negative commands for 'frenar' (to brake).