recortar Preterite Conjugation
recortar — to cut out
The preterite of recortar is regular: recorté, recortaste, recortó, recortamos, recortasteis, recortaron.
recortar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for actions of cutting out that were completed at a specific point in the past. Think of finishing cutting out a shape or a specific task.
Notes on recortar in the Preterite
Recortar is completely regular in the preterite tense. All forms follow the standard -ar conjugation pattern.
Example Sentences
Ayer recorté todas las fotos del álbum.
Yesterday I cut out all the photos from the album.
yo
¿Recortaste el patrón como te indiqué?
Did you cut out the pattern as I showed you?
tú
Ella recortó las estrellas para el móvil.
She cut out the stars for the mobile.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros recortamos las figuras geométricas.
We cut out the geometric shapes.
nosotros
Ellos recortaron el mapa en secciones.
They cut the map into sections.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing the preterite 'recortamos' with the present indicative 'recortamos'.
Correct: Context usually makes it clear. If referring to a specific completed action in the past, it's preterite; if it's habitual or happening now, it's present.
Why: These two forms are identical, so learners need to rely on time markers or context.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'yo' form: 'recorto' instead of 'recorté'.
Correct: The 'yo' form of the preterite is 'recorté', with an accent on the 'é'.
Why: The accent marks the stress on the final syllable, distinguishing it from other tenses and forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: recorto
The present tense of recortar is regular: recorto, recortas, recorta, recortamos, recortáis, recortan.
Imperfect
yo: recortaba
The imperfect of recortar is regular: recortaba, recortabas, recortaba, recortábamos, recortabais, recortaban.
Future
yo: recortaré
The future tense of recortar is regular: recortaré, recortarás, recortará, recortaremos, recortaréis, recortarán.
Conditional
yo: recortaría
The conditional of recortar is regular: recortaría, recortarías, recortaría, recortaríamos, recortaríais, recortarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: recorte
The present subjunctive of recortar (recorte, recortes, recortemos, recorten, recortéis) is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and after certain expressions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: recortara
The imperfect subjunctive of recortar (recortara/recortase) expresses hypothetical past actions or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: recorta
Imperative commands for recortar are: recorta (tú), recorte (usted), recortemos (nosotros), recorten (ustedes), recortad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no recortes
Negative commands for recortar use the present subjunctive: no recortes (tú), no recorte (usted), no recortemos (nosotros), no recorten (ustedes), no recortéis (vosotros).