Past Tense in Spanish: The Preterite

Grade 6 · Spanish · Study Guide

Learn how to talk about completed actions in the past using the Spanish preterite tense.

In Spanish, the most common way to talk about completed past actions is the preterite tense (el pretérito indefinido). You use it when an action started and finished at a specific point in the past — similar to the simple past in English ("I ate," "she ran," "we watched").

To form the preterite for regular -ar verbs, drop the -ar ending and add: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron. For example, hablar (to speak): hablé (I spoke), hablaste (you spoke), habló (he/she spoke), hablamos (we spoke), hablaron (they spoke).

For regular -er and -ir verbs, the endings are: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron. For example, comer (to eat): comí (I ate), comiste (you ate), comió (he/she ate).

Some very common verbs have irregular preterite forms that must be memorized. Ser (to be) and ir (to go) share the same irregular forms: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron. Context tells you which verb is meant. Other important irregulars include tener (to have): tuve, tuviste, tuvo; and hacer (to do/make): hice, hiciste, hizo.

Time expressions that often signal the preterite include: ayer (yesterday), la semana pasada (last week), el año pasado (last year), and hace dos días (two days ago).

Key terms

preterite (pretérito): The Spanish past tense used for actions that were completed at a specific moment or period in the past.
conjugation: Changing a verb's form to match the subject (who is doing the action) and tense (when).
regular verb: A verb that follows a standard, predictable pattern of conjugation.
irregular verb: A verb that does not follow the standard conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
infinitive: The base form of a verb (unconjugated), such as hablar, comer, or vivir.
subject pronoun: The pronoun that shows who performs the action: yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos/ellas.

Flashcards

hablé / hablaste / habló: Preterite forms of 'hablar' (to speak) for yo / tú / él-ella.
comí / comiste / comió: Preterite forms of 'comer' (to eat) for yo / tú / él-ella.
fui / fuiste / fue: Preterite forms of both 'ser' (to be) and 'ir' (to go) for yo / tú / él-ella.
ayer: Yesterday — a time expression often used with the preterite tense.
la semana pasada: Last week — a common preterite time expression.
hice / hiciste / hizo: Irregular preterite forms of 'hacer' (to do/make) for yo / tú / él-ella.
tuve / tuviste / tuvo: Irregular preterite forms of 'tener' (to have) for yo / tú / él-ella.
el año pasado: Last year — another common time expression signaling the preterite tense.

Questions

What is the preterite form of hablar for 'yo' (I)?
1. hablo
2. hablé
3. hablaba
4. hablaré
Show answer
Answer: hablé
The preterite 'yo' ending for -ar verbs is -é, giving us hablé. 'Hablo' is present tense, 'hablaba' is imperfect past, and 'hablaré' is future tense.
In the preterite tense, ser (to be) and ir (to go) have the same conjugation forms.
Show answer
Answer: True
Ser and ir are both irregular in the preterite and happen to share identical forms: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron. Context clarifies the meaning.
Ella ______ (comer) una pizza ayer. (She ate a pizza yesterday.)
Show answer
Answer: comió
The preterite of comer for ella (she) is comió, using the -ió ending for -er verbs.
Which time expression would most likely pair with the preterite tense?
1. todos los días
2. ayer
3. normalmente
4. siempre
Show answer
Answer: ayer
'Ayer' (yesterday) signals a specific completed past action — perfect for the preterite. 'Todos los días,' 'normalmente,' and 'siempre' signal habitual actions, which use the imperfect.
The preterite tense is used for actions that are still ongoing.
Show answer
Answer: False
The preterite is used for actions that are complete and finished. Ongoing or habitual past actions use a different tense called the imperfect (imperfecto).

Get a personalized course on Past Tense in Spanish built around your child.