reducir Preterite Conjugation
reducir — reduce
The preterite of reducir is irregular, using a 'j' stem: reduje, redujiste, redujo, redujimos, redujisteis, redujeron.
reducir Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use this tense to talk about a specific instance where something was decreased or cut down, like a one-time budget cut or a specific reduction in speed.
Notes on reducir in the Preterite
Reducir follows the -ducir pattern. The 'c' changes to 'j' throughout. Note that the third-person plural ends in -eron (redujeron), not -ieron.
Example Sentences
Reduje el consumo de azúcar el mes pasado.
I reduced my sugar consumption last month.
yo
El gobierno redujo los impuestos el año pasado.
The government reduced taxes last year.
él/ella/usted
Ellos redujeron los gastos de envío.
They reduced the shipping costs.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'redujeron' with an 'i' (redujieron).
Correct: The correct form is redujeron.
Why: Verbs with a 'j' stem in the preterite drop the 'i' in the third-person plural ending.
Mistake: Saying 'reducí' for the 'yo' form.
Correct: The correct form is reduje.
Why: Reducir is irregular in the preterite and does not follow the standard -ir endings.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: reduzco
Reducir is irregular only in the 'yo' form, which ends in -zco (reduzco).
Imperfect
yo: reducía
Reducir is regular in the imperfect: reducía, reducías, reducía, reducíamos, reducíais, reducían.
Future
yo: reduciré
Reducir is regular in the future tense: reduciré, reducirás, reducirá, reduciremos, reduciréis, reducirán.
Conditional
yo: reduciría
Reducir is regular in the conditional: reduciría, reducirías, reduciría, reduciríamos, reduciríais, reducirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: reduzca
The present subjunctive uses the 'zc' stem from the yo-form: reduzca, reduzcas, reduzca, reduzcamos, reduzcáis, reduzcan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: redujera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'j' stem from the preterite: redujera, redujeras, redujera, redujéramos, redujerais, redujeran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: reduce
The imperative uses 'reduce' for tú and 'reduzca' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no reduzcas
The negative imperative always uses the 'zc' stem: no reduzcas, no reduzca, no reduzcamos, no reduzcáis, no reduzcan.