interrumpir Preterite Conjugation
interrumpir — to interrupt
The preterite tense of interrumpir (interrumpí, interrumpiste, interrumpió, etc.) describes completed actions in the past.
interrumpir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite tense to talk about a specific instance when someone interrupted something, and that action is now finished. For example, 'He interrupted the movie' (and it's over).
Notes on interrumpir in the Preterite
Interrumpir is regular in the preterite tense. All forms are created by adding the standard preterite endings (-í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron) to the infinitive stem 'interrump-'.
Example Sentences
Yo interrumpí la conversación para preguntar algo.
I interrupted the conversation to ask something.
yo
¿Tú interrumpiste la clase?
Did you interrupt the class?
tú
El ruido interrumpió la grabación.
The noise interrupted the recording.
él/ella/usted
Los niños interrumpieron la película varias veces.
The children interrupted the movie several times.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Vosotros interrumpisteis el discurso del director.
You all (Spain, informal) interrupted the director's speech.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single completed interruption.
Correct: For a specific, finished act of interrupting, use the preterite: 'Él interrumpió'.
Why: The preterite focuses on the completion of the action, while the imperfect describes it as ongoing or habitual in the past.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'yo' form.
Correct: The 'yo' form requires an accent: 'interrumpí'.
Why: The accent on the final 'í' distinguishes the preterite 'yo' form and indicates the stressed syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: interrumpo
The present indicative of interrumpir (interrumpo, interrumpes, interrumpe, etc.) describes habits, current actions, or general truths.
Imperfect
yo: interrumpía
The imperfect tense of interrumpir (interrumpía, interrumpías, interrumpía, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: interrumpiré
The future tense of interrumpir (interrumpiré, interrumpirás, interrumpirá, etc.) expresses actions that will happen or probability.
Conditional
yo: interrumpiría
The conditional tense of interrumpir (interrumpiría, interrumpirías, interrumpiría, etc.) expresses hypotheticals ('would interrupt') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: interrumpa
The present subjunctive of interrumpir (interrumpa, interrumpas, interrumpamos, interrumpan, interrumpáis) follows expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: interrumpiera
The imperfect subjunctive of interrumpir (interrumpiera/interrumpiese) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: interrumpe
Use the imperative of interrumpir for direct commands: ¡interrumpe!, ¡interrumpa!, ¡interrumpamos!, ¡interrumpan!, ¡interrumpid!
Negative Imperative
yo: no interrumpas
Form negative commands for interrumpir using 'no' + present subjunctive: ¡no interrumpas!, ¡no interrumpa!, ¡no interrumpamos!, ¡no interrumpan!, ¡no interrumpáis!