reclamar Preterite Conjugation
reclamar — to claim
The preterite of reclamar is regular: reclamé, reclamaste, reclamó, reclamamos, reclamasteis, reclamaron.
reclamar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of 'reclamar' to talk about a specific, completed action of claiming something in the past. It emphasizes the action as a whole, finished event, like claiming a prize at a specific moment or making a complaint that was resolved.
Notes on reclamar in the Preterite
Reclamar is fully regular in the preterite tense. All forms follow the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Ayer reclamé el paquete que me enviaron.
Yesterday I claimed the package they sent me.
yo
¿Reclamaste tu equipaje en el aeropuerto?
Did you claim your luggage at the airport?
tú
Ella reclamó el error en la factura.
She claimed the error on the bill.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros reclamamos la devolución del dinero.
We claimed the refund of the money.
nosotros
Ellos reclamaron su derecho a voto.
They claimed their right to vote.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'reclamaba' instead of the preterite 'reclamé' for a single, completed claim.
Correct: Use 'reclamé' for a specific instance, like 'Reclamé el premio ayer'.
Why: The preterite marks completed actions, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting accents on forms like 'reclamó' or 'reclamé'.
Correct: Ensure accents are correctly placed: 'reclamó' (usted) and 'reclamé' (yo).
Why: Accents are crucial for pronunciation and distinguishing verb forms.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'reclamar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: reclamo
Use 'reclamo' and 'reclaman' for current actions, habits, or general truths about claiming.
Imperfect
yo: reclamaba
Use 'reclamaba' for past habits or ongoing actions of claiming.
Future
yo: reclamaré
The future of reclamar is regular: reclamaré, reclamarás, reclamará, etc.
Conditional
yo: reclamaría
Use 'reclamaría' for hypothetical claims ('would claim').
Present Subjunctive
yo: reclame
Use 'reclame' or 'reclames' after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: reclamara
Use 'reclamara' or 'reclamase' for past hypothetical situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: reclama
Use 'reclama' for tú commands and 'reclamen' for ustedes/ellos commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no reclames
Negative commands use 'no' + the present subjunctive (e.g., 'no reclames', 'no reclamen').