sustentar Preterite Conjugation
sustentar — to support
The preterite of 'sustentar' is regular: sustenté, sustentaste, sustentó, sustentamos, sustentasteis, sustentaron.
sustentar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for completed actions in the past. If you supported something at a specific moment or for a defined period that has now ended, this is the tense. For example, supporting a candidate during an election.
Notes on sustentar in the Preterite
Sustentar is a regular -ar verb and follows the standard conjugation pattern in the preterite tense.
Example Sentences
Yo sustenté la idea en la reunión.
I supported the idea in the meeting.
yo
¿Tú sustentaste a tu hermano durante sus estudios?
Did you support your brother during his studies?
tú
El gobierno sustentó el proyecto con fondos.
The government supported the project with funds.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros sustentamos la tradición familiar.
We supported the family tradition.
nosotros
Ellos sustentaron al equipo hasta el final.
They supported the team until the end.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'sustentaba' instead of the preterite 'sustenté' for a single completed action.
Correct: For a specific, completed act of supporting, use 'sustenté'. 'Sustentaba' implies ongoing or habitual support in the past.
Why: The preterite marks completed past actions, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual ones.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'sustentó' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: The third-person singular preterite form is 'sustentó', with an accent on the 'ó'.
Why: The accent distinguishes it from other forms and marks the stressed syllable.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: sustento
The present tense of 'sustentar' is regular: sustento, sustentas, sustenta, sustentamos, sustentáis, sustentan.
Imperfect
yo: sustentaba
The imperfect of 'sustentar' is regular: sustentaba, sustentabas, sustentaba, sustentábamos, sustentabais, sustentaban.
Future
yo: sustentaré
The future tense of 'sustentar' is regular: sustentaré, sustentarás, sustentará, sustentaremos, sustentaréis, sustentarán.
Conditional
yo: sustentaría
The conditional of 'sustentar' is regular: sustentaría, sustentarías, sustentaría, sustentaríamos, sustentaríais, sustentarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sustente
Use 'sustente' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'sustentes' (tú), 'sustentemos' (nosotros), etc., after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: sustentara
Use 'sustentara' or 'sustentase' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'sustentaras'/'sustentases' (tú), 'sustentáramos'/'sustentásemos' (nosotros), etc., for past hypothetical situations or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: sustenta
Use 'sustenta' (tú), 'sustente' (usted), 'sustentemos' (nosotros), 'sustentad' (vosotros), 'sustenten' (ustedes) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no sustentes
Use 'no sustentes' (tú), 'no sustente' (usted), 'no sustentemos' (nosotros), 'no sustentéis' (vosotros), 'no sustenten' (ustedes) for negative commands.