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Conjugation Chart of “Encontrar” (to find) in the Preterite (Past) Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | encontré |
| Tú | encontraste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | encontró |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | encontramos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | encontraron |
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Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Encontrar”
The preterite of encontrar is used to express the moment of finding something in the past. For example, you might say “I found my lost wallet this morning,” indicating the specific moment when the discovery occurred.
This is a regular -ar verb that follows the standard preterite conjugation pattern. The endings are consistent and predictable, making it straightforward to learn and use.
How to Use Encontrar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The Preterite of encontrar expresses the moment of finding or discovering something.
Discovery: Used for the moment of finding something, for example encontré las llaves (I found the keys).
Meeting: Describes encountering someone, for example nos encontramos en el café (we met at the café).
Real Life Examples of Encontrar in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Encontré las llaves perdidas. (I found the lost keys.)
¿Dónde encontraste mi celular? (Where did you find my phone?)
Ella encontró un trabajo nuevo. (She found a new job.)
Encontramos el restaurante por casualidad. (We found the restaurant by chance.)
Los científicos encontraron una nueva especie. (The scientists found a new species.)
Encontré la solución al problema. (I found the solution to the problem.)
¿Encontraste lo que buscabas? (Did you find what you were looking for?)
El detective encontró evidencia importante. (The detective found important evidence.)
Encontramos un tesoro escondido. (We found a hidden treasure.)
Los niños encontraron un gatito abandonado. (The children found an abandoned kitten.)
Encontré un billete en la calle. (I found a bill on the street.)
¿Por fin encontraste tu libro? (Did you finally find your book?)
El arqueólogo encontró ruinas antiguas. (The archaeologist found ancient ruins.)
Encontramos una casa perfecta. (We found a perfect house.)
Los excursionistas encontraron el camino de regreso. (The hikers found their way back.)
Conjugation Chart with English Translations
Conjugations of Encontrar (to find) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo encontré | I found |
| Tú encontraste | You found |
| Él / Ella / Usted encontró | He / She / You found |
| Nosotros / Nosotras encontramos | We found |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes encontraron | They / You all found |
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.