investigar Preterite Conjugation
investigar — to investigate
Investigar has a spelling change in the 'yo' form (investigué) to keep the hard 'g' sound.
investigar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a completed investigation or a specific moment when you looked something up. It's for actions that are finished and done.
Notes on investigar in the Preterite
The verb is a 'gar' verb. In the 'yo' form, the 'g' becomes 'gu' before the 'é' to maintain the hard 'g' sound (investigué). All other forms are regular.
Example Sentences
Investigué el tema en la biblioteca ayer.
I researched the topic in the library yesterday.
yo
Los científicos investigaron la cura por años.
The scientists investigated the cure for years.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Investigaste el precio de los vuelos?
Did you look up the price of the flights?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: investigé
Correct: investigué
Why: Without the 'u', the 'g' would sound like an 'h' (in-ves-ti-hé). The 'u' keeps the 'g' hard.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: investigo
Investigar is a regular -ar verb in the present indicative: investigo, investigas, investiga...
Imperfect
yo: investigaba
Investigar is regular in the imperfect: investigaba, investigabas, investigaba...
Future
yo: investigaré
The future tense uses the full infinitive 'investigar' plus endings: investigaré, investigarás...
Conditional
yo: investigaría
The conditional adds endings to the infinitive: investigaría, investigarías, investigaría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: investigue
The present subjunctive uses a 'gu' spelling change: investigue, investigues, investigue...
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: investigara
Formed from the 'ellos' preterite: investigara, investigaras, investigara...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: investiga
Give commands: investiga (tú), investigue (usted), investiguemos (nosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no investigues
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: no investigues, no investigue...