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Conjugation Chart

“Comprender” (to understand) in the Preterite (Past) Tense

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Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Comprender”

The preterite of comprender is used to express the moment when understanding occurred in the past. For example, you might say “I understood the concept when you explained it,” indicating the specific point when comprehension was achieved.

This is a regular -er verb that follows the standard preterite conjugation pattern. Its conjugations are formed by adding the regular preterite endings to the stem ‘comprend-‘.

How to Use Comprender in the Preterite (Past) Tense

The Preterite of comprender expresses a completed action of understanding in the past.

To grasp or understand something: Used when someone achieved comprehension of a concept or situation at a specific moment, for example Comprendí inmediatamente el problema (I understood the problem immediately).

To realize: Indicates the moment of realization, for example Comprendió que había cometido un error (He realized he had made a mistake).

Real Life Examples of Comprender in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Finalmente comprendí el problema. (I finally understood the problem.)

¿Comprendiste la explicación? (Did you understand the explanation?)

Ella comprendió la situación perfectamente. (She understood the situation perfectly.)

No comprendimos las instrucciones. (We didn’t understand the instructions.)

Los estudiantes comprendieron la lección. (The students understood the lesson.)

Por fin comprendí el concepto. (I finally understood the concept.)

¿Comprendiste por qué lo hice? (Did you understand why I did it?)

El profesor comprendió mi situación. (The teacher understood my situation.)

Comprendimos el mensaje tarde. (We understood the message late.)

Todos comprendieron la importancia. (Everyone understood the importance.)

No comprendí hasta después. (I didn’t understand until later.)

¿Comprendiste las consecuencias? (Did you understand the consequences?)

Mi jefe comprendió mi ausencia. (My boss understood my absence.)

Comprendimos el error demasiado tarde. (We understood the mistake too late.)

Los expertos comprendieron el fenómeno. (The experts understood the phenomenon.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Comprender (to understand) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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.