conduje
/konduxe/from spelling rules
conduje is the Spanish way to say "I drove".
The phrase is the first-person singular preterite (past tense) of the verb conducir, which means "to drive". It is used to describe a completed action of operating a motor vehicle in the past.
Which one should you use?
While conduje refers to a completed action in the past, the form conducía is the imperfect form used to say "I was driving" or "I used to drive" for ongoing or habitual actions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Latin America, manejé is a widely used synonym for conduje and it can also be understood in Spain. Additionally, conducí is the first-person singular past tense of the verb conducir.
How does it change in a sentence?
conduje is a conjugated form of the infinitive verb conducir.
How do you pronounce it?
/konduxe/
Did you know?
- While conduje refers to vehicles, the same root is found in the word educación, as educir originally meant 'to lead or bring out' a person's potential.
- The shift from conduje to manejé is so strong in the Americas that the word conductor (driver) is often replaced by chofer, which is a loanword from the French 'chauffeur'.
- The verb conducir shares its root with the English word 'conduct', which is why it can mean 'to lead' or 'to guide' a group of people rather than just operating a vehicle.
Examples in context
- Conduje toda la noche.I drove all night.This sentence shows how to use conduje to describe driving for a duration of time.Tatoeba #2828740 by marcelostockle, translation #2325150 by CK
- Conduje solo hasta casa.I drove myself home.This sentence uses conduje to describe driving oneself to a destination.Tatoeba #7256730 by arh, translation #5851731 by CK
- Una vez conduje el Prius de Tom.I drove Tom's Prius once.This sentence uses conduje to describe operating someone else's vehicle.Tatoeba #2828738 by marcelostockle, translation #2325152 by CK
- Durante mi último viaje a México, manejé desde Cancún hasta Tulum.During my last trip to Mexico, I drove from Cancun to Tulum.
- El fin de semana pasado, manejé hasta la playa con mis amigos.Last weekend, I drove to the beach with my friends.
- Ayer conduje a casa después del trabajo.Yesterday, I drove home after work.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about their trip to the beach.
- Sofía¿Quién llevó el coche a la playa?Who took the car to the beach?
- MateoYo conduje la mayor parte del camino.I drove most of the way.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo, fue un viaje muy largo.Thanks, Mateo, it was a very long trip.
- MateoNo hay problema, me gusta conducir.No problem, I like driving.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
