Breaking an obligation

An obligation can be left unmet by a person or organisation.

The idea

Incumplir takes the obligation as its direct object and follows a regular present-tense pattern.

La empresa incumplió el contrato.The company breached the contract.
El proveedor incumple el plazo acordado.The supplier is missing the agreed deadline.
No debemos incumplir las normas del edificio.We must not break the building rules.
El ayuntamiento incumplió su promesa.The council broke its promise.
Si incumples el acuerdo, avísanos.If you fail to honour the agreement, let us know.
La asociación nunca incumple sus obligaciones.The association never fails to meet its obligations.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Do not confuse it with cumplir, which means fulfilling an obligation.

Choose the correct form: El inquilino ___ la cláusula. (incumple / incumplen)
Show answer or example answer
incumple
incumple agrees with the singular tenant.
Choose the correct form: Ayer los socios ___ el pacto. (incumplieron / incumple)
Show answer or example answer
incumplieron
incumplieron reports a completed action by a plural subject.
Choose the correct form: No debemos ___ la ley. (incumplir / incumple)
Show answer or example answer
incumplir
incumplir follows the modal verb in the infinitive.

Describe a promise that someone failed to keep.