obligó
oh-blee-GO
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
La ley lo obligó a pagar la multa inmediatamente.
A2The law forced him to pay the fine immediately.
Mi jefe me obligó a trabajar hasta tarde anoche.
B1My boss made me work late last night.
¿Quién te obligó a firmar ese contrato?
B1Who required you (formal, Usted) to sign that contract?
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite Tense: Finished Action
This form, 'obligó', is used to talk about a single action that started and finished completely in the past, like a specific moment when someone was forced to do something.
The Structure: Obligar A
When you use 'obligar' to force someone to do something, you must include the preposition 'a': 'obligar a alguien a hacer algo.' (e.g., 'me obligó a salir' — he forced me to leave).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forcing vs. Allowing
Mistake: "Using 'obligaba' instead of 'obligó' when talking about a specific past event."
Correction: 'Obligó' is for a completed action (He forced them once). 'Obligaba' is for habitual or ongoing actions in the past (He used to force them constantly).
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Accent
The accent mark on the 'ó' is essential! It tells you this is the past tense (preterite) and distinguishes it from the present tense 'obliga' (he/she/it obligates).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: obligó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'obligó'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'obligó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'ó' is necessary because it tells us the stress falls on the last syllable, which is typical for the 'él/ella/usted' form in the simple past tense (preterite). It helps you pronounce the word correctly and distinguish it from other forms.