Explicar preterite conjugation
Explicar in the preterite: expliqué, explicaste, explicó, explicamos, explicasteis, explicaron.
- to explain
- spelling change (c→qu)
- Participle: explicado
- Gerund: explicando
Preterite pretérito
| yo | expliqué |
|---|---|
| tú | explicaste |
| él/ella/usted | explicó |
| nosotros | explicamos |
| vosotros | explicasteis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | explicaron |
How to use explicar in the preterite
The preterite has one spelling change: yo expliqué, with qu before the é. The other forms are regular: explicaste, explicó, explicamos, explicaron. Use the preterite for a completed explanation at a specific moment, such as what you explained in yesterday's meeting or in a particular email. If you are describing what someone used to explain regularly, switch to the imperfect.
Examples
Ayer expliqué el nuevo procedimiento a todo el equipo.
Yesterday I explained the new procedure to the whole team.
¿Le explicaste al proveedor que necesitamos la factura hoy?
Did you explain to the supplier that we need the invoice today?
El técnico nos explicó cómo cambiar la contraseña.
The technician explained to us how to change the password.
Quick check: explicar in the preterite
More explicar tenses
- All explicar tenses
- Explicar present
- Explicar imperfect
- Explicar future
- Explicar conditional
- Explicar present subjunctive
- Explicar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the preterite
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