tropezar Preterite Conjugation
tropezar — to trip
The preterite of tropezar is regular except for the yo form, which changes to 'tropecé' to keep the sound right.
tropezar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe the specific moment you tripped or a one-time encounter where you 'ran into' (tropezar con) someone unexpectedly.
Notes on tropezar in the Preterite
The verb is regular except for a spelling change in the first person (yo). The 'z' changes to 'c' before an 'e' (tropecé) to maintain the soft 's/z' sound.
Example Sentences
Tropecé con un escalón en la entrada.
I tripped over a step at the entrance.
yo
Ayer tropezaste con la misma piedra.
Yesterday you tripped over the same stone.
tú
El niño tropezó y se cayó al suelo.
The boy tripped and fell to the ground.
él/ella/usted
Tropezamos con Juan en el centro comercial.
We ran into Juan at the mall.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'tropezé' with a z.
Correct: tropecé
Why: In Spanish, 'z' usually changes to 'c' before the letter 'e'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: tropiezo
The present of tropezar has an e-to-ie stem change (tropiezo) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect
yo: tropezaba
Tropezar is completely regular in the imperfect tense: tropezaba, tropezabas, tropezaba...
Future
yo: tropezaré
The future tense is fully regular: tropezaré, tropezarás, tropezará...
Conditional
yo: tropezaría
The conditional is fully regular: tropezaría, tropezarías, tropezaría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: tropiece
The present subjunctive follows the e-to-ie stem change and the z-to-c spelling change (tropiece).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tropezara
The imperfect subjunctive is regular based on the preterite stem: tropezara, tropezaras...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tropieza
The imperative uses 'tropieza' for 'tú' and 'tropiece' for 'usted'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no tropieces
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no tropieces, no tropiece...