Intentar preterite conjugation
Intentar in the preterite: intenté, intentaste, intentó, intentamos, intentasteis, intentaron.
- to try; to attempt
- regular
- Participle: intentado
- Gerund: intentando
Preterite pretérito
| yo | intenté |
|---|---|
| tú | intentaste |
| él/ella/usted | intentó |
| nosotros | intentamos |
| vosotros | intentasteis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | intentaron |
How to use intentar in the preterite
The preterite is regular: intenté, intentaste, intentó, intentamos, intentaron. Use it for a completed attempt, often one that failed: Intenté llamarte. It is extremely common in explanations and apologies at work: Intenté enviar el archivo, pero era demasiado grande. Pair it with pero to show the result. Intenté is honest and neutral: it tells the listener you made the effort, even if things did not work out. Lo intenté, pero... is a natural way to begin that kind of explanation.
Examples
Intenté enviar el archivo, pero era demasiado grande.
I tried to send the file, but it was too big.
¿Intentaste reiniciar el ordenador?
Did you try restarting the computer?
Intentaron cerrar el trato, pero el cliente se echó atrás.
They tried to close the deal, but the client backed out.
Quick check: intentar in the preterite
More intentar tenses
- All intentar tenses
- Intentar present
- Intentar imperfect
- Intentar future
- Intentar conditional
- Intentar present subjunctive
- Intentar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the preterite
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