The preterite of atravesar is used to express when you crossed or went through something at a specific moment in the past. For example, when you want to say “We crossed the desert last summer” – “Atravesamos el desierto el verano pasado.”
This verb follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern in the preterite tense. All forms are regular with no stem or spelling changes required.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Atravesar (to cross/go through) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | atravesé |
| Tú | atravesaste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | atravesó |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | atravesamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | atravesasteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | atravesaron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Atravesar (to cross/go through) in the Preterite (Past) Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Atravesar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The Preterite of atravesar indicates completed actions of crossing or going through.
To cross/traverse: Used for specific instances of crossing something, for example Atravesé el puente a pie (I crossed the bridge on foot), or Atravesaron el desierto en tres días (They crossed the desert in three days).
To go through: Describes experiencing difficult situations, for example Atravesó un momento difícil (They went through a difficult time).
Examples
Examples of Atravesar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Atravesé el parque para llegar más rápido. (I crossed the park to arrive faster.)
El tren atravesó el túnel. (The train went through the tunnel.)
Atravesaste la ciudad durante la noche. (You crossed the city during the night.)
Atravesamos el desierto en tres días. (We crossed the desert in three days.)
Los exploradores atravesaron la selva. (The explorers crossed through the jungle.)
La flecha atravesó el blanco. (The arrow went through the target.)
¿Cómo atravesaste el río? (How did you cross the river?)
Atravesamos una época difícil. (We went through a difficult time.)
El barco atravesó la tormenta. (The ship went through the storm.)
Los rayos atravesaron las nubes. (The lightning bolts pierced through the clouds.)
Atravesé el puente corriendo. (I ran across the bridge.)
Atravesaste muchos obstáculos. (You went through many obstacles.)
El ejército atravesó la frontera. (The army crossed the border.)
Atravesamos el bosque con cautela. (We crossed the forest cautiously.)
La luz atravesó la ventana. (The light came through the window.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Atravesar (to cross/go through) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo atravesé | I crossed |
| Tú atravesaste | You crossed |
| Él / Ella / Usted atravesó | He / She / You (formal) crossed |
| Nosotros / Nosotras atravesamos | We crossed |
| Vosotros / Vosotras atravesasteis | You all crossed |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes atravesaron | They / You all (formal) crossed |
This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American 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.