tornar Preterite Conjugation
tornar — to return
The preterite of 'tornar' is regular: torné, tornaste, tornó, tornamos, tornasteis, tornaron, used for completed past actions of returning.
tornar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of 'tornar' to talk about the action of returning as a completed event in the past. For example, when someone returned something specific or returned to a place at a specific time.
Notes on tornar in the Preterite
'Tornar' is regular in the preterite tense. All the endings follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Ayer torné el vestido a la tienda.
Yesterday I returned the dress to the store.
yo
¿Tornaste las llaves a tu hermano?
Did you return the keys to your brother?
tú
Él tornó a su pueblo natal después de muchos años.
He returned to his hometown after many years.
él/ella/usted
Ellos tornaron el coche que alquilaron.
They returned the car they rented.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Nosotros tornamos la llamada perdida.
We returned the missed call.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect 'tornaba' instead of the preterite 'tornó'.
Correct: Use 'tornó' for a single, completed act of returning, like 'Tornó el libro ayer.'
Why: The imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions, while the preterite focuses on the completion of the action.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'tornó' (él/ella/usted).
Correct: The form is 'tornó' with an accent on the 'o'.
Why: The accent is required to indicate the stressed syllable and distinguish it from other verb forms.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: torno
The present tense of 'tornar' is regular: torno, tornas, torna, tornamos, tornáis, tornan, used for current or habitual returning.
Imperfect
yo: tornaba
The imperfect of 'tornar' is regular: tornaba, tornabas, tornaba, tornábamos, tornabais, tornaban, for ongoing or habitual past returning.
Future
yo: tornaré
The future tense of 'tornar' is regular: tornaré, tornarás, tornará, tornaremos, tornaréis, tornarán, for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: tornaría
The conditional of 'tornar' is regular: tornaría, tornarías, tornaría, tornaríamos, tornaríais, tornarían, for hypothetical 'would' actions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: torne
The present subjunctive of 'tornar' (torne, tornes, tornemos, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tornara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'tornar' (tornara, tornaras, tornáramos, etc.) is used for past hypothetical situations or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: torna
Use the imperative of 'tornar' for direct commands: torna (tú), torne (usted), tornemos (nosotros), tornad (vosotros), tornen (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no tornes
Negative commands for 'tornar' use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no tornes (tú), no torne (usted), no tornemos (nosotros), no tornéis (vosotros), no tornen (ustedes).