simular Preterite Conjugation
simular — to pretend
The preterite of simular is regular: simulé, simulaste, simuló, simulamos, simulasteis, simularon.
simular Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions of pretending in the past. For example, 'Él simuló estar dormido' (He pretended to be asleep) – the pretending is a finished event.
Notes on simular in the Preterite
Simular is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the preterite tense.
Example Sentences
Simulé que no había oído nada.
I pretended I hadn't heard anything.
yo
¿Simulaste interés en la película?
Did you pretend to be interested in the movie?
tú
Ella simuló una tos para llamar la atención.
She feigned a cough to get attention.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros simulamos no verlos.
We pretended not to see them.
nosotros
Ellos simularon un ataque al corazón.
They faked a heart attack.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a single, completed act of pretending.
Correct: Use 'simuló' for a completed action, not 'simulaba'.
Why: The preterite marks a specific, finished moment or action, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'simuló' (él/ella/usted form).
Correct: The accent is on the 'o': simuló.
Why: The accent distinguishes this form from the nosotros present indicative 'simulamos' and marks the stress.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: simulo
The present indicative of simular is regular: simulo, simulas, simula, simulamos, simuláis, simulan.
Imperfect
yo: simulaba
The imperfect of simular is regular: simulaba, simulabas, simulaba, simulábamos, simulabais, simulaban.
Future
yo: simularé
The future of simular is regular: simularé, simularás, simulará, simularemos, simularéis, simularán.
Conditional
yo: simularía
The conditional of simular is regular: simularía, simularías, simularía, simularíamos, simularíais, simularían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: simule
The present subjunctive of simular (simule, simules, simule, simulemos, simuléis, simulen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: simulara
The imperfect subjunctive of simular (simulara/simularas/simulara/simuláramos/simularais/simularan) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: simula
The imperative of simular uses 'simula' (tú), 'simule' (usted), 'simulemos' (nosotros), 'simulad' (vosotros), 'simulen' (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no simules
Negative commands for simular use 'no' + present subjunctive: no simules (tú), no simule (usted), no simulemos (nosotros), no simuléis (vosotros), no simulen (ustedes).