obtener Preterite Conjugation
obtener — to obtain
Obtener uses the irregular 'uv' stem in the preterite: obtuve, obtuviste, obtuvo, obtuvimos, obtuvisteis, obtuvieron.
obtener Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite when 'obtaining' something happened at a specific, completed moment in time, like getting a degree or winning a prize.
Notes on obtener in the Preterite
This verb follows the pattern of 'tener'. The stem changes to 'obtuv-' and it uses irregular endings (no accents on the 'yo' or 'él/ella' forms).
Example Sentences
Obtuve mi pasaporte la semana pasada.
I obtained my passport last week.
yo
Ella obtuvo el primer lugar en la competencia.
She got first place in the competition.
él/ella/usted
Obtuvimos muy buenos resultados en el examen.
We obtained very good results on the exam.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: obtení
Correct: obtuve
Why: Learners often try to conjugate it as a regular -er verb, but it must follow the 'tener' irregular stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: obtengo
Obtener is a 'yo-go' verb with an e-ie stem change: obtengo, obtienes, obtiene, obtenemos, obtenéis, obtienen.
Imperfect
yo: obtenía
Obtener is completely regular in the imperfect: obtenía, obtenías, obtenía, obteníamos, obteníais, obtenían.
Future
yo: obtendré
Obtener uses the irregular stem 'obtendr-': obtendré, obtendrás, obtendrá, obtendremos, obtendréis, obtendrán.
Conditional
yo: obtendría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'obtendr-': obtendría, obtendrías, obtendría, obtendríamos, obtendríais, obtendrían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: obtenga
The present subjunctive is built from the 'yo' form: obtenga, obtengas, obtenga, obtengamos, obtengáis, obtengan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: obtuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'obtuv-' stem: obtuviera, obtuvieras, obtuviera, obtuviéramos, obtuvierais, obtuvieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: obtén
The imperative uses the short form 'obtén' for tú: obtén, obtenga, obtengamos, obtened, obtengan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no obtengas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive: no obtengas, no obtenga, no obtengamos, no obtengáis, no obtengan.