Past Tense
PASO 1: Verbos Regulares
Definition: Regular verbs in Spanish follow a consistent pattern of conjugation.
Examples of Regular Verbs:
cantar = to sing
Conjugation:
yo canté
tú cantaste
el/ella/ud. cantó
nosotros(as) cantamos
vosotros(as) cantasteis
ellos/ellas/uds. cantaron
comer = to eat
Conjugation:
yo comí
tú comiste
el/ella/ud. comió
nosotros(as) comimos
vosotros(as) comisteis
ellos/ellas/uds. comieron
vivir = to live
Conjugation:
yo viví
tú viviste
el/ella/ud. vivió
nosotros(as) vivimos
vosotros(as) vivisteis
ellos/ellas/uds. vivieron
Additional Regular Verbs and Their Conjugations:
hablar = to talk
yo hablé
tú hablaste
el/ella/ud. habló
nosotros(as) hablamos
vosotros(as) hablasteis
ellos/ellas/uds. hablaron
aprender = to learn
abrir = to open
ayudar = to help
barrer = to sweep
asistir = to attend, to assist
bailar = to dance
beber = to drink
batir = to mix
bajar = to lower
comprender = to understand
cubrir = to cover
caminar = to walk
correr = to run
discutir = to discuss
cambiar = to change
escribir = to write
PASO 2: Verbos Terminación
Definition: These verbs end in specific sounds/letters changing the vowel at the end of the base form.
Examples of Conjugation:
tocar = to touch
yo toqué
tú tocaste
el/ella/ud. tocó
nosotros(as) tocamos
vosotros(as) tocasteis
ellos/ellas/uds. tocaron
llegar = to arrive
yo llegué
empezar = to start
Additional Verbs:
buscar = to look for
pagar = to pay
sacar = to take out; remove
pegar = to hit, to glue
comenzar = to start
secar = to dry
colgar = to hang up
cruzar = to cross
brincar = to jump
rogar = to beg; plead
alcanzar = to reach
colocar = to arrange, to place
rezar = to pray
chocar = to collide, to crash
entregar = to submit
bostezar = to yawn
explicar = to explain
cargar = to carry/load
lanzar = to throw
pescar = to fish; grab
negar = to deny
alzar = to lift
practicar = to practice
navegar = to navigate
avanzar = to advance
acercar = to approach/bring/place near
fregar = to scrub
bautizar = to baptize
atacar = to attack
apagar = to turn off
gozar = to enjoy
equivocar = to be mistaken
tropezar = to stumble
marcar = to mark, to dial, to score
memorizar = to memorize
educar = to educate, to train
almorzar = to have lunch
aparcar = to park
organizar = to organize
tocar = play (an instrument) to touch, to knock at the door
PASO 3: Verbos con Doble Vocal
Definition: These verbs contain double vowels that affect their conjugation.
Examples of Double Vowel Verbs:
leer = to read
yo leí
tú leíste
él/ella/ud. leyó
nosotros(as) leímos
vosotros(as) leísteis
ellos/ellas/uds. leyeron
oír = to hear
yo oí
tú oíste
él/ella/ud. oyó
nosotros(as) oímos
vosotros(as) oísteis
ellos/ellas/uds. oyeron
creer = to believe
yo creí
tú creíste
él/ella/ud. creyó
nosotros(as) creímos
vosotros(as) creísteis
ellos/ellas/uds. creyeron
caer = to fall
yo caí
tú caíste
él/ella/ud. cayó
nosotros(as) caímos
vosotros(as) caísteis
ellos/ellas/uds. cayeron
Note: In these verbs, all forms except for “ellos” have an accent. The forms “él” and “ellos” change to “y.”
Additional Double Vowel Verbs:
huir = to escape/flee
yo huí
construir = to construct
tú huiste
contribuir = to contribute
él/ella/ud. huyó
destruir = to destroy
nosotros(as) huimos
distribuir = to distribute
vosotros(as) huisteis
ellos/as/uds. huyeron
PASO 4: Verbos de Cambio Radical
Definition: These are verbs that undergo a radical change in the stem when conjugated.
Examples of Stem-Changing Verbs:
dormir = to sleep (o-u)
yo dormí
tú dormiste
él/ella/ud. durmió
nosotros(as) dormimos
vosotros(as) dormisteis
ellos/ellas/uds. durmieron
servir = to serve (e-i)
yo serví
tú serviste
él/ella/ud. sirvió
nosotros(as) servimos
vosotros(as) servisteis
ellos/ellas/uds. sirvieron
Additional Stem-Changing Verbs:
morir = to die
pedir = to ask for something
vestir = to dress
repetir = to repeat
medir = to measure
seguir = to follow
conseguir = to get; to obtain
competir = to compete
despedir = to dismiss; take leave
embestir = to attack
proseguir = to proceed
reír = to laugh
derretir = to melt
desvestir = to undress
elegir = to elect
preferir = to prefer
sentir = to feel
divertirse = to have fun
PASO 5: Verbos Irregulares
Definition: Irregular verbs that do not follow the common patterns; they often exhibit unique changes of the root.
Examples of Irregular Verbs Without Accents:
andar = to walk
Changes to:
anduv
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
poner = to put
Changes to:
pus
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
caber = to fit
Changes to:
cup
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
estar = to be
Changes to:
estuv
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
querer = to want
Changes to:
quis
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
tener = to have
Changes to:
tuv
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
poder = to be able; can
Changes to:
pud
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
venir = to come
Changes to:
vin
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
haber = to have
Changes to:
hub
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, ieron
decir = to say; tell
Changes to:
dij
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, *dijeron
producir = to produce
Changes to:
produj
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, *produjeron
traer = to bring
Changes to:
traj
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, *trajeron
conducir = to drive; to conduct
Changes to:
conduj
Endings: e, iste, o, imos, isteis, *condujeron
hacer = to do; make
Changes to:
hic
Endings: e, iste, *hizo, imos, isteis, ieron
ser = to be
Changes to:
fui
Endings: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron
ir = to go
Changes to:
fui
Endings: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron
dar = to give
Changes to:
di
Endings: di, diste, dio, dimos, disteis, dieron
ver = to see
Changes to:
vi
Endings: vi, viste, vio, vimos, visteis, vieron