volver Preterite Conjugation
volver — to return
The preterite of volver is regular in its endings, describing a completed return: volví, volviste, volvió.
volver Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a return that happened at a specific, completed point in time. It's perfect for saying someone 'came back' from a trip or 'returned' an item to a store.
Notes on volver in the Preterite
Unlike the present tense, volver is completely regular in the preterite. There is no stem change (o to ue) here.
Example Sentences
Volví de mis vacaciones ayer por la tarde.
I returned from my vacation yesterday afternoon.
yo
¿A qué hora volviste a casa anoche?
What time did you get back home last night?
tú
Ellos volvieron al trabajo después del almuerzo.
They returned to work after lunch.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'vuelví' instead of 'volví'.
Correct: volví
Why: Learners often try to carry the 'ue' stem change from the present tense into the preterite, but volver is regular in this tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: vuelvo
Volver is an o:ue stem-changing verb in the present: vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven.
Imperfect
yo: volvía
The imperfect of volver is regular: volvía, volvías, volvía, volvíamos, volvíais, volvían.
Future
yo: volveré
The future of volver is regular: volveré, volverás, volverá, volveremos, volveréis, volverán.
Conditional
yo: volvería
The conditional of volver is regular: volvería, volverías, volvería, volveríamos, volveríais, volverían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: vuelva
Volver maintains its o:ue stem change in the subjunctive: vuelva, vuelvas, vuelva, volvamos, volváis, vuelvan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: volviera
The imperfect subjunctive is based on the preterite 'volvieron': volviera, volvieras, volviera, volviéramos, volvierais, volvieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: vuelve
The imperative uses 'vuelve' for informal commands and 'vuelva' for formal ones.
Negative Imperative
yo: no vuelvas
Negative commands for volver use the present subjunctive: no vuelvas, no vuelva, no volvamos, no volváis, no vuelvan.