temblar Preterite Conjugation
temblar — to shiver
Temblar is completely regular in the preterite: temblé, temblaste, tembló, temblamos, temblasteis, temblaron.
temblar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a specific instance of shaking or shivering that started and ended at a definite time, like a brief earthquake or a sudden chill.
Notes on temblar in the Preterite
Unlike the present tense, there is no stem change in the preterite. It follows the standard -ar verb endings.
Example Sentences
La tierra tembló por unos segundos.
The ground shook for a few seconds.
él/ella/usted
Temblé de emoción al verla.
I trembled with emotion when I saw her.
yo
Ellos temblaron de frío toda la noche.
They shivered from the cold all night.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'tiembló' instead of 'tembló'.
Correct: tembló
Why: The e > ie stem change only happens in the present tense, not the preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: tiemblo
Temblar has an e to ie stem change in the 'boot' forms: tiemblo, tiemblas, tiembla, temblamos, tembláis, tiemblan.
Imperfect
yo: temblaba
The imperfect of temblar is regular: temblaba, temblabas, temblaba, temblábamos, temblabais, temblaban.
Future
yo: temblaré
The future tense of temblar is regular: temblaré, temblarás, temblará, temblaremos, temblaréis, temblarán.
Conditional
yo: temblaría
The conditional is regular: temblaría, temblarías, temblaría, temblaríamos, temblaríais, temblarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: tiemble
Temblar undergoes an e to ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros: tiemble, tiembles, tiemble, temblemos, tembléis, tiemblen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: temblara
The imperfect subjunctive of temblar is built from the third-person plural preterite: temblara, temblaras, temblara, tembláramos, temblarais, temblaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tiembla
The affirmative imperative uses the stem change for 'tú' and 'usted(es)': tiembla, temblad, tiemble, tiemblen.
Negative Imperative
yo: no tiembles
Negative commands use the present subjunctive forms: no tiembles, no tiemble, no temblemos, no tembléis, no tiemblen.