Inklingo
A wooden knife spreading a thick layer of creamy yellow butter onto a piece of toasted bread.

untar Preterite Conjugation

untarto spread

A2regular -ar★★★★
Quick answer:

Use 'unté', 'untaste', 'untó' for completed actions of spreading in the past.

untar Preterite Forms

younté
untaste
él/ella/usteduntó
nosotrosuntamos
vosotrosuntasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesuntaron

When to Use the Preterite

The preterite 'untó' is for specific, completed actions of spreading in the past. Think of it as 'finished spreading' at a certain point.

Notes on untar in the Preterite

Untar is regular in the preterite.

Example Sentences

  • Ayer unté mermelada en mi tostada.

    Yesterday I spread jam on my toast.

    yo

  • ¿Untaste el aceite en la sartén?

    Did you spread the oil in the pan?

  • Ella untó el protector solar en sus brazos.

    She spread the sunscreen on her arms.

    él/ella/usted

  • Untaron el pegamento en el papel.

    They spread the glue on the paper.

    ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: Using the imperfect 'untaba' for a single, finished act of spreading.

    Correct: For a specific, completed action like spreading jam once, use the preterite: 'unté'.

    Why: The preterite marks finished actions, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual past actions.

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Related Tenses