Pretén

Pretén is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Catalan verb pretendre. The verb has two broad meanings in modern Catalan: to intend or to plan to do something, and to pretend or feign. The intended sense is usually clear from context or with accompanying infinitives, clauses, or adverbials; the feigned sense is indicated when someone acts as if something were true.

Etymology and related forms: pretendre derives from Latin praetendere, meaning to stretch forth or to extend toward, and over time acquired the senses of aiming or feigning. In Catalan, pretendre is used across various tenses and moods to express intention, aspiration, or deception, depending on the discourse.

Usage and examples: In its sense of intention, pretén can appear with an infinitive to signal future aim, as in Ell pretén començar el projecte l’any vinent (He intends to start the project next year). In the feigned sense, pretén may be followed by a clause that describes the supposed state, as in Ell pretén estar malalt (He pretends to be ill). The form is also used in subordinate clauses introduced by que, to report aims or claims, such as Diu que pretén estudiar més (He says he intends to study more).

Notes: Pretendre and its forms are common in everyday Catalan and appear in writing, news reporting, and education. The accent on é in pretén marks the correct pronunciation and stress pattern for the third-person singular present.

See also: pretendre.