Preterite Verb Conjugations in Spanish

Preterite Verb Conjugations: Comprehensive Study Notes

Understanding the Preterite Tense

The preterite tense is used to communicate about completed actions in the past. These are actions that have a definite beginning and end. For example: "Yesterday, I walked to school" translates to "Ayer caminé a la escuela."

Each conjugation in the preterite tense conveys who performed the action in the past. For instance, in "comiste," the ending "-iste" directly indicates that "tú" (you, singular informal) ate.

Learning Strategy for Preterite Verbs

Given the significant number of irregular verbs in the preterite tense (e.g., fui, hice, vi, dijo), the most effective way to learn them is through reading and listening to them in context. Additionally, dedicating time to memorize the irregular forms is highly beneficial. It is recommended to keep this information readily accessible for future reference.

Regular Preterite Verb Conjugations

General Rules

• Notice that the -er and -ir verb conjugations in the preterite tense are identical.

• Pay close attention to the accents on the yo and él/ella/usted forms for regular verbs. These accents are crucial for distinguishing tense and subject.

Conjugation Endings

Examples of Regular Conjugations

Bailar (to dance) - -AR Verb

• Yo bailé

• Tú bailaste

• Él/ella/usted bailó

• Nosotros bailamos

• Vosotros bailasteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes bailaron

Comer (to eat) - -ER Verb

• Yo comí

• Tú comiste

• Él/ella/usted comió

• Nosotros comimos

• Vosotros comisteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes comieron

Vivir (to live) - -IR Verb

• Yo viví

• Tú viviste

• Él/ella/usted vivió

• Nosotros vivimos

• Vosotros vivisteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes vivieron

Spelling Changes in the Yo Form (GAR, CAR, ZAR verbs)

Verbs ending in -gar, -car, and -zar undergo a spelling change only in the yo form of the preterite to maintain the original sound.

• -GAR verbs change to -gué. Example: Llegar (to arrive) → Yo llegué.

• -CAR verbs change to -qué. Example: Buscar (to look for) → Yo busqué.

• -ZAR verbs change to -cé. Example: Empezar (to begin) → Yo empecé.

Examples of Spelling Change Conjugations

Llegar (to arrive)

• Yo llegué

• Tú llegaste

• Él/ella/usted llegó

• Nosotros llegamos

• Vosotros llegasteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes llegaron

Buscar (to look for)

• Yo busqué

• Tú buscaste

• Él/ella/usted buscó

• Nosotros buscamos

• Vosotros buscasteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes buscaron

Empezar (to begin)

• Yo empecé

• Tú empezaste

• Él/ella/usted empezó

• Nosotros empezamos

• Vosotros empezasteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes empezaron

Preterite Irregular Verbs (No Accents)

Some common irregular verbs have unique conjugations in the preterite and do not carry accents.

Ser / Ir (to be / to go)

These two verbs share identical preterite conjugations.

• Yo fui

• Tú fuiste

• Él/ella/usted fue

• Nosotros fuimos

• Vosotros fuisteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes fueron

Dar (to give)

• Yo di

• Tú diste

• Él/ella/usted dio

• Nosotros dimos

• Vosotros disteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes dieron

Ver (to see / to watch)

• Yo vi

• Tú viste

• Él/ella/usted vio

• Nosotros vimos

• Vosotros visteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes vieron

Spelling Change to 'Y' Verbs

These verbs change the vowel i to y in the él/ella/usted (third person singular) and ellos/ellas/ustedes (third person plural) forms due to being between two vowels.

Leer (to read)

• Yo leí

• Tú leíste

• Él/ella/usted leyó

• Nosotros leímos

• Vosotros leísteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes leyeron

Oír (to hear)

• Yo oí

• Tú oíste

• Él/ella/usted oyó

• Nosotros oímos

• Vosotros oísteis

• Ellos/ellas/ustedes oyeron

Other Verbs with 'Y' Spelling Change

• caer → cayó

• creer → creyó

• construir → construyó

• concluir → concluyó

Really Irregular Verbs in the Preterite

Many of the most common verbs in Spanish are highly irregular in the preterite. They follow a similar conjugation pattern for their endings but have irregular roots (stems). Familiarity comes from exposure and memorization.

Irregular Endings Pattern

While the roots are irregular, the endings for these "really irregular" verbs broadly follow a pattern that does not include accents:

Examples of Irregular Root Verbs and Conjugations

Stem-Changing -IR Verbs in the Preterite

Important Note: Only -IR verbs undergo stem changes in the preterite tense. -ER and -AR verbs DO NOT stem change in the preterite tense.

Rules for -IR Stem Changes

• Stem changes in -IR verbs occur only in the third person singular (él, ella, usted) and plural (ellos, ellas, ustedes) forms.

• e to ie stem-changers (like sentir) change to just i in the preterite's third person forms.

• e to i stem-changers (like pedir) maintain the i change in the preterite's third person forms.

• o to ue stem-changers (like dormir) change to just u in the preterite's third person forms.

Examples of Stem-Changing -IR Verbs

Pedir (to ask for/order) - (e to i)

• Present Tense (for comparison):

  • Pido, Pides, Pide, Pedimos, Pedís, Piden

• Preterite Tense:

  • Pedí, Pediste, Pidió, Pedimos, Pedisteis, Pidieron

Seguir (to follow) - (e to i)

• Present Tense (for comparison):

  • Sigo, Sigues, Sigue, Seguimos, Seguís, Siguen

• Preterite Tense:

  • Seguí, Seguiste, Siguió, Seguimos, Seguisteis, Siguieron

Dormir (to sleep) - (o to ue)

• Present Tense (for comparison):

  • Duermo, Duermes, Duerme, Dormimos, Dormís, Duermen

• Preterite Tense:

  • Dormí, Dormiste, Durmió, Dormimos, Dormisteis, Durmieron

Sentir (to feel/regret) - (e to ie)

• Present Tense (for comparison):

  • Siento, Sientes, Siente, Sentimos, Sentís, Sienten

• Preterite Tense:

  • Sentí, Sentiste, Sintió, Sentimos, Sentisteis, Sintieron