Spanish Preterite Tense and Time Expressions

Vocabulary and grammar flashcards reviewing regular -ar, -er, and -ir preterite endings, rules for preterite stem-changing verbs, and common past tense time expressions.

-ar Preterite Endings

The preterite verb endings for -ar verbs: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron (with written accents on -é and -ó).

-er and -ir Preterite Endings

The preterite verb endings for -er and -ir verbs: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron.

-amos (-ar verbs)

The first-person plural ending for -ar verbs that is the same in both the present tense and preterite tense.

Preterite Stem-Changing Verbs

Verbs that only undergo a stem change in the third-person forms (the he/she and they forms).

Past Tense Stem Changes

The specific vowel stem changes that occur in the preterite: (e -> i) or (o -> u).

Present vs. Past Stem Changers

The rule that verbs with stem changes in the present tense do not have to be stem changers in the past tense.

Ayer

Yesterday.

Una vez

Once.

La semana pasada

Last week.