intentar Preterite Conjugation
intentar — to try
The preterite of intentar is regular: intenté, intentaste, intentó, intentamos, intentasteis, intentaron.
intentar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a specific attempt in the past that is now finished. It usually implies a one-time effort to do something, regardless of whether you succeeded or failed.
Notes on intentar in the Preterite
Intentar is regular in the preterite. Note that 'intentamos' is the same for both present and preterite; context will tell you if it's 'we try' or 'we tried'.
Example Sentences
Intenté llamarte tres veces ayer.
I tried to call you three times yesterday.
yo
Ellos intentaron abrir la puerta, pero estaba cerrada.
They tried to open the door, but it was locked.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Usted intentó ayudarnos mucho.
You tried to help us a lot.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on intenté or intentó.
Correct: intenté / intentó
Why: Without the accent, the word can be confused with other forms or lose its past-tense meaning.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: intento
Intentar is a regular -ar verb in the present: intento, intentas, intenta, intentamos, intentáis, intentan.
Imperfect
yo: intentaba
The imperfect of intentar follows the regular -ar pattern: intentaba, intentabas, intentaba, intentábamos, intentabais, intentaban.
Future
yo: intentaré
The future of intentar uses the infinitive plus endings: intentaré, intentarás, intentará, intentaremos, intentaréis, intentarán.
Conditional
yo: intentaría
The conditional of intentar is formed by adding -ía endings to the infinitive: intentaría, intentarías, intentaría, intentaríamos, intentaríais, intentarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: intente
The present subjunctive of intentar swaps the -a for -e: intente, intentes, intente, intentemos, intentéis, intenten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: intentara
The imperfect subjunctive of intentar uses the preterite stem: intentara, intentaras, intentara, intentáramos, intentarais, intentaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: intenta
The imperative of intentar gives commands: intenta (tú), intente (usted), intentad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no intentes
The negative imperative of intentar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no intentes, no intente, no intentemos, no intentéis, no intenten.