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Conjugation Chart of “Funcionar” (to function/work) in the Preterite (Past) Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | funcioné |
| Tú | funcionaste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | funcionó |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | funcionamos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | funcionaron |
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Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Funcionar”
The preterite of funcionar is used to express a specific instance of functioning or working in the past, for example El nuevo sistema funcionó perfectamente (The new system worked perfectly). This tense emphasizes the completed action of functioning at a particular moment.
This is a regular -ar verb that follows the standard preterite conjugation pattern. Its straightforward conjugation makes it an excellent example for practicing regular preterite forms.
How to Use Funcionar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The preterite of funcionar expresses a completed period of functioning or working in the past.
To work/function: Describes something operating correctly, for example El motor funcionó perfectamente (The engine worked perfectly) or La estrategia funcionó bien (The strategy worked well).
To operate/run: Used for machines or systems, for example El nuevo sistema funcionó sin problemas (The new system operated without problems).
Real Life Examples of Funcionar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
El nuevo sistema funcionó perfectamente. (The new system worked perfectly.)
Tu plan funcionó mejor de lo esperado. (Your plan worked better than expected.)
La estrategia funcionó para ganar el juego. (The strategy worked to win the game.)
Los equipos funcionaron sin problemas. (The equipment worked without problems.)
El experimento funcionó según lo planeado. (The experiment worked as planned.)
La idea funcionó muy bien. (The idea worked very well.)
Mi celular no funcionó durante el viaje. (My cell phone didn’t work during the trip.)
El método funcionó para todos los casos. (The method worked for all cases.)
La máquina funcionó por varias horas. (The machine worked for several hours.)
Los sensores funcionaron correctamente. (The sensors worked correctly.)
El programa funcionó sin errores. (The program worked without errors.)
La solución funcionó inmediatamente. (The solution worked immediately.)
El motor funcionó toda la noche. (The engine worked all night.)
Los planes funcionaron a la perfección. (The plans worked perfectly.)
El remedio funcionó rápidamente. (The remedy worked quickly.)
Conjugation Chart with English Translations
Conjugations of Funcionar (to function/work) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo funcioné | I functioned |
| Tú funcionaste | You functioned |
| Él / Ella / Usted funcionó | He / She / You functioned |
| Nosotros / Nosotras funcionamos | We functioned |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes funcionaron | They / You all functioned |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.