The preterite of contraer is used to express a specific instance of contracting something in the past, for example Contraje un resfriado durante el viaje (I contracted a cold during the trip). This tense emphasizes the completed action of contracting at a particular moment.
This is an irregular verb that follows the same pattern as ‘traer’ in the preterite. The stem changes to ‘contraj-‘ throughout its conjugation, following the pattern of other verbs in the ‘traer’ family.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Contraer (to contract) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | contraje |
| Tú | contrajiste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | contrajo |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | contrajimos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | contrajeron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Contraer (to contract) 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 Contraer in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The preterite of contraer indicates a completed action of contracting or acquiring in the past.
To contract/catch: Describes getting an illness or condition, for example Contrajo un resfriado (He/she caught a cold) or Contrajeron la enfermedad durante el viaje (They contracted the disease during the trip).
To enter into: Used for formal agreements or commitments, for example Contrajo matrimonio en primavera (He/she got married in spring) or Contrajeron una deuda importante (They took on significant debt).
Examples
Examples of Contraer in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Contraje un resfriado durante el invierno. (I contracted a cold during winter.)
Contrajiste una deuda importante. (You contracted a significant debt.)
La empresa contrajo nuevas obligaciones. (The company contracted new obligations.)
Contrajimos matrimonio en primavera. (We got married in spring.)
Los músculos se contrajeron por el ejercicio. (The muscles contracted from exercise.)
Contraje un compromiso formal. (I made a formal commitment.)
Contrajiste el virus durante el viaje. (You contracted the virus during the trip.)
El metal se contrajo al enfriarse. (The metal contracted when it cooled.)
Contrajimos nuevas responsabilidades. (We took on new responsibilities.)
Los atletas contrajeron los músculos. (The athletes contracted their muscles.)
Contraje una alergia a los mariscos. (I developed an allergy to seafood.)
Contrajiste un préstamo bancario. (You took out a bank loan.)
La economía se contrajo significativamente. (The economy contracted significantly.)
Contrajimos una alianza estratégica. (We formed a strategic alliance.)
Los materiales se contrajeron por el frío. (The materials contracted due to the cold.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Contraer (to contract) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo contraje | I contracted |
| Tú contrajiste | You contracted |
| Él / Ella / Usted contrajo | He / She / You contracted |
| Nosotros / Nosotras contrajimos | We contracted |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes contrajeron | They / You all contracted |
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.