The preterite or regular and stem-changing

The Preterite of regular & stem-changing verbs

• Express actions that are viewed by the speaker as completed.

• Express the beginning or end of a past action.

• Narrate series of past events.

​

​Use the Preterite to

• Ayer

• El año pasado

• La semana pasada

• Anoche

​

Common words and expressions commonly used

Notice that the 1st person plural (nosotros) does not change in -ar, -ir ending from the present. Use context to differentiate for this form.

• yo/usted/él/ella have accents

​

Verb forms of regular verbs

These endings also apply when using reflexive verbs.

Ex: Lavarse > Yo me lavé (los pies)

Ex: Dormirse (o:u) > Usted se durmió

Ex: Vestirse(e:i) > Ella se vistió

Verb forms of regular verbs

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo bañarse ^{to bathe oneself}

• me bañé

• me bañe

• me baño

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo comer ^{to eat}

• comi

• comí

• me comí

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Tú hacer ^{to do/make}

• hice

• haces

• hiciste

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Ellos acampar ^{to go camping}

• acampa

• acampan

• acamparon

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo Tocar ^{to touch/play an instrument}

• tocaste

• toqué

• tocaron

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo buscar ^{to search for}

• buscó

• busqué

• buscaste

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo jugar ^{to play}

• jugaste

• juga

• jugué

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo llegar ^{to arrive}

• llegué

• llego

• llegamos

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo Empezar ^{to begin}

• empecé

• empezó

• empezamos

Multiple Choice

Change the verb into the Preterite tense - Yo Comenzar ^{to begin/start}

• comenzó

• comenzamos

• comencé

​to hear to read

Multiple Choice

she heard music

• oíste

• oyó

• oí

Multiple Choice

He heard music

• oíste

• oyó

• oímos

Multiple Choice

you (formal) read a book

• leíste

• leyó

• leímos

The Preterite of stem-changing verbs

The only stem-changing in the preterite is in the 3rd person singular and plural. Él/Ella/(usted) and Ellos/ Ellas.

E : I and O : U

-ir verbs

Stem-changing verbs in preterite

Other common stem-changing verbs

Conseguir - to obtain repetir - to repeat

Divertirse - to have fun seguir - to follow

Morir - to die servir - to serve

Preferir - to prefer vestirse - to get dressed

Multiple Choice

Ella dormir

• duerme

• durmió

Multiple Choice

Usted conseguir

• consigue

• consiguió

Multiple Choice

Ustedes preferir

• prefirieron

• preferieron

Multiple Choice

Ellos vestirse

• se visten

• se vistieron