retomar Preterite Conjugation
retomar — to resume
The preterite of 'retomar' is regular: retomé, retomaste, retomó, retomamos, retomasteis, retomaron.
retomar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for actions of resuming something that were completed at a specific point in the past. For example, 'Retomé el trabajo ayer' (I resumed work yesterday) or 'Retomaron la película en la mitad' (They resumed the movie halfway through).
Notes on retomar in the Preterite
Retomar is fully regular in the preterite tense. All endings are standard for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Retomé mis estudios después de un año.
I resumed my studies after a year.
yo
¿Retomaste el contacto con tus amigos?
Did you resume contact with your friends?
tú
Ella retomó la conversación donde la habíamos dejado.
She resumed the conversation where we had left it.
él/ella/usted
Los músicos retomaron la canción.
The musicians resumed the song.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of preterite for a single completed action (e.g., 'Retomaba el trabajo ayer').
Correct: Use the preterite: 'Retomé el trabajo ayer'.
Why: The preterite is for completed actions with a clear end, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'retomó' (él/ella/usted form).
Correct: The correct form is 'retomó' with an accent on the 'o'.
Why: The accent on the final syllable distinguishes the preterite él/ella/usted form from the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: retomo
The present tense 'retomo' describes habitual actions or things happening now.
Imperfect
yo: retomaba
The imperfect 'retomaba' describes past habits or ongoing actions of resuming.
Future
yo: retomaré
The future tense 'retomaré' indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: retomaría
The conditional 'retomaría' expresses hypothetical actions ('would resume').
Present Subjunctive
yo: retome
The present subjunctive 'retome' is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions about resuming something.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: retomara
The imperfect subjunctive 'retomara' or 'retomase' is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: retoma
Use imperative forms like 'retoma' (tú) and 'retome' (usted) for direct commands with 'retomar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no retomes
Negative commands with 'retomar' use the present subjunctive, like 'no retomes' (tú) and 'no retome' (usted).