lavar Preterite Conjugation
lavar — to wash
The preterite of lavar is regular: lavé, lavaste, lavó, lavamos, lavasteis, lavaron.
lavar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a completed washing task, like when you finished the laundry or washed your hands before dinner.
Notes on lavar in the Preterite
Lavar is fully regular in the preterite. Note that the 'nosotros' form is the same as the present tense.
Example Sentences
Ayer lavé toda mi ropa sucia.
Yesterday I washed all my dirty clothes.
yo
¿Lavaste los platos después de cenar?
Did you wash the dishes after dinner?
tú
Ella lavó el perro esta mañana.
She washed the dog this morning.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'lavo' (present) instead of 'lavó' (past).
Correct: lavó
Why: Without the accent, 'lavo' means 'I wash'. The accent on the 'ó' is essential for the third-person past tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: lavo
The present of lavar is regular: lavo, lavas, lava, lavamos, laváis, lavan.
Imperfect
yo: lavaba
The imperfect of lavar is regular: lavaba, lavabas, lavaba, lavábamos, lavabais, lavaban.
Future
yo: lavaré
The future of lavar is regular: lavaré, lavarás, lavará, lavaremos, lavaréis, lavarán.
Conditional
yo: lavaría
The conditional of lavar is regular: lavaría, lavarías, lavaría, lavaríamos, lavaríais, lavarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: lave
The present subjunctive of lavar is regular: lave, laves, lave, lavemos, lavéis, laven.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: lavara
The imperfect subjunctive of lavar is regular: lavara, lavaras, lavara, laváramos, lavarais, lavaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: lava
The affirmative imperative of lavar is: lava (tú), lave (usted), lavemos (nosotros), lavad (vosotros), laven (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no laves
The negative imperative of lavar uses the present subjunctive: no laves, no lave, no lavemos, no lavéis, no laven.