predicasteis

Predicasteis is generally considered an incorrect or nonstandard form for the second-person plural preterite of the Spanish verb predicar. The standard preterite form for this verb in the vosotros form is predicasteis. The confusion arises because the correct ending for -ar verbs in the preterite is -asteis, attached to the stem predic-, yielding predicasteis. The sequence predicasteis does not align with Spanish orthography for this verb conjugation, and is not listed as a valid form in common reference grammars.

Usage notes and examples:

In Spain, where the pronoun vosotros is common, the correct sentence is: Ayer predicasteis un sermón en la iglesia. By contrast, predicasteis would be considered incorrect in formal standards. In Latin American usage, where ustedes replace vosotros, the past tense is usually predicaron, as in: Ayer ustedes predicaron un sermón. For present tense, ustedes predican and vosotros predicáis are the relevant forms.

Etymology and morphology:

Predicar comes from Latin praedicare, meaning to proclaim or preach. The preterite vos forms follow the regular -ar pattern: yo predqué, tú predicaste, él predicó, nosotros predicamos, vosotros predicasteis, ellos predicaron. The correct vosotros form reflects this standard conjugation, while predicasteis represents a nonstandard spelling of the same person and tense.

Summary:

Predicasteis is not a recognized standard form in modern Spanish for the preterite of predicar. The correct form is predicasteis, with dialectal variation in usage reflecting the presence or absence of the vosostros pronoun in different Spanish-speaking regions.