insinuar Preterite Conjugation
insinuar — to hint
The preterite of insinuar is regular: insinué, insinuaste, insinuó, insinuamos, insinuasteis, insinuaron.
insinuar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe a specific time someone made a suggestion or dropped a hint in the past.
Notes on insinuar in the Preterite
Insinuar is regular in the preterite. Note that the 'u' does NOT take an accent mark in this tense (except for the standard endings on 'yo' and 'él').
Example Sentences
Insinué que quería ir al cine.
I hinted that I wanted to go to the movies.
yo
Ayer ella insinuó que no vendría.
Yesterday she suggested that she wouldn't come.
él/ella/usted
Ellos insinuaron que el examen era difícil.
They hinted that the exam was difficult.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Adding an extra accent like 'insinuóaste'.
Correct: insinuaste
Why: Only the 'yo' and 'él/ella' forms have accents in the regular -ar preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: insinúo
The present of insinuar requires an accent on the 'u' (insinúo, insinúas) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: insinuaba
The imperfect of insinuar is regular: insinuaba, insinuabas, insinuaba, insinuábamos, insinuabais, insinuaban.
Future
yo: insinuaré
The future of insinuar is regular: insinuaré, insinuarás, insinuará, insinuaremos, insinuaréis, insinuarán.
Conditional
yo: insinuaría
The conditional of insinuar is regular: insinuaría, insinuarías, insinuaría, insinuaríamos, insinuaríais, insinuarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: insinúe
The present subjunctive of insinuar follows the 'u-to-ú' change: insinúe, insinúes, insinúe, insinuemos, insinuéis, insinúen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: insinuara
The imperfect subjunctive of insinuar is regular: insinuara, insinuaras, insinuara, insinuáramos, insinuarais, insinuaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: insinúa
Use insinúa (tú), insinúe (usted), and insinuad (vosotros) to tell someone to drop a hint.
Negative Imperative
yo: no insinúes
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no insinúes (tú), no insinúe (usted), no insinuéis (vosotros).