reconstruir Preterite Conjugation
reconstruir — to rebuild
The preterite features a 'y' in the third-person forms and accents on almost all endings: reconstruí, reconstruyó, reconstruyeron.
reconstruir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a rebuilding project that was completed at a specific point in the past or to mark the moment the process finished.
Notes on reconstruir in the Preterite
The 'i' changes to 'y' in the third-person singular (reconstruyó) and plural (reconstruyeron). Also, note the written accent on the 'í' in the tú and nosotros forms to prevent a diphthong.
Example Sentences
El equipo reconstruyó el motor en dos días.
The team rebuilt the engine in two days.
él/ella/usted
Reconstruí mi vida en una ciudad nueva.
I rebuilt my life in a new city.
yo
Ellos reconstruyeron el puente el año pasado.
They rebuilt the bridge last year.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: reconstruio
Correct: reconstruyó
Why: In the preterite, the unstressed 'i' between two vowels must change to a 'y'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: reconstruyo
Reconstruir adds a 'y' before endings in all forms except nosotros and vosotros: reconstruyo, reconstruyes, reconstruye, reconstruyen.
Imperfect
yo: reconstruía
Reconstruir is regular in the imperfect: reconstruía, reconstruías, reconstruía, reconstruíamos, reconstruíais, reconstruían.
Future
yo: reconstruiré
The future tense is regular: add the endings to the full infinitive (reconstruiré, reconstruirás, etc.).
Conditional
yo: reconstruiría
The conditional is regular: add -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive.
Present Subjunctive
yo: reconstruya
The present subjunctive uses the 'y' stem from the 'yo' form: reconstruya, reconstruyas, reconstruya...
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: reconstruyera
The imperfect subjunctive is based on the preterite 'ellos' form: reconstruyera, reconstruyeras, reconstruyera...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: reconstruye
Use 'reconstruye' (tú) or 'reconstruya' (usted) to give direct orders to fix or restore something.
Negative Imperative
yo: no reconstruyas
Negative commands always use the present subjunctive forms: no reconstruyas, no reconstruya.