quejarse Preterite Conjugation
quejarse — to complain
The preterite of quejarse is regular: me quejé, te quejaste, se quejó, nos quejamos, os quejasteis, se quejaron.
quejarse Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions of complaining in the past. It focuses on the act of complaining as a finished event.
Notes on quejarse in the Preterite
Quejarse is regular in the preterite. Remember that it's a reflexive verb, so the reflexive pronoun is always required.
Example Sentences
Ayer me quejé del mal tiempo.
Yesterday I complained about the bad weather.
yo
¿Te quejaste con el camarero por la comida?
Did you complain to the waiter about the food?
tú
Se quejó de que la música estaba muy alta.
He complained that the music was too loud.
él/ella/usted
Los clientes se quejaron del retraso.
The customers complained about the delay.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun.
Correct: Always include the reflexive pronoun: 'me quejé', 'te quejaste', 'se quejó', etc.
Why: 'Quejarse' is reflexive; the action reflects back on the subject.
Mistake: Confusing the preterite 'nos quejamos' with the present indicative 'nos quejamos'.
Correct: Context usually clarifies, but be mindful that the nosotros form is identical in both tenses.
Why: This is a common feature for many regular -ar verbs in the preterite and present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me quejo
The present tense of quejarse is regular: me quejo, te quejas, se queja, nos quejamos, os quejáis, se quejan.
Imperfect
yo: me quejaba
The imperfect of quejarse is regular: me quejaba, te quejabas, se quejaba, nos quejábamos, os quejabais, se quejaban.
Future
yo: me quejaré
The future tense of quejarse is regular: me quejaré, te quejarás, se quejará, nos quejaremos, os quejaréis, se quejarán.
Conditional
yo: me quejaría
The conditional of quejarse is regular: me quejaría, te quejarías, se quejaría, nos quejaríamos, os quejaríais, se quejarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me queje
Use me queje, te quejes, se queje, nos quejemos, os quejéis, se quejen after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion with quejarse.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: me quejara
Use me quejara/quejase, te quejaras/quejases, etc., for past hypothetical situations or wishes with quejarse.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: quéjate
Use quéjate, quéjese, quéjense, quejaos, quejémonos for direct commands with quejarse.
Negative Imperative
yo: no te quejes
Use no te quejes, no se queje, no se quejen, no os quejéis, no nos quejemos for negative commands with quejarse.