vencer Preterite Conjugation
vencer — defeat
The preterite of vencer is regular and marks a definitive victory or the exact moment something expired.
vencer Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe a specific time you won a game, defeated an opponent, or when a contract reached its expiration date.
Notes on vencer in the Preterite
Vencer is regular in the preterite. Unlike the present tense, it keeps the 'c' in all forms because the endings begin with 'í' or 'e', which maintain the 's' sound naturally.
Example Sentences
Ayer vencí a mi hermano al ajedrez.
Yesterday I beat my brother at chess.
yo
El equipo local venció en el último minuto.
The local team won in the last minute.
él/ella/usted
Vencimos nuestros miedos y saltamos.
We overcame our fears and jumped.
nosotros
Las entradas vencieron el mes pasado.
The tickets expired last month.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'venzi' or 'venzo' for the past tense.
Correct: Use 'vencí'.
Why: Learners often over-apply the 'z' spelling change from the present tense to the preterite, but it isn't needed here.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: venzo
Vencer is regular except for a spelling change in the 'yo' form: venzo.
Imperfect
yo: vencía
The imperfect is regular (vencía) and describes ongoing victories or states of expiration in the past.
Future
yo: venceré
The future of vencer is fully regular: venceré, vencerás, vencerá...
Conditional
yo: vencería
The conditional uses the full infinitive: vencería, vencerías, vencería...
Present Subjunctive
yo: venza
The present subjunctive uses a 'z' in all forms: venza, venzas, venza...
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: venciera
The imperfect subjunctive is regular: venciera, vencieras, venciera...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: vence
Use the imperative to command someone to win or overcome something.
Negative Imperative
yo: no venzas
Negative commands always use the 'z' spelling: no venzas, no venza...