​to talk about the past, Spanish uses TWO simple tenses:

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1. The Preterite

2. The Imperfect​

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In this lesson, you will learn how to form the PRETERITE TENSE.​

​The Preterite is used to EXPRESS ACTIONS OR STATES COMPLETED IN THE PAST.

​Preterite endings of Regular Verbs:

​-ar verb endings

​Preterite endings of Regular Verbs:

​-er & -ir verb endings

​Atención

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The Yo and the él/ella/Ud. forms of all three conjugations have written accents on the last syllable to show that it is stressed!​

​-er and -ir verbs:

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have identical endings in the preterite

​Nosotros/as forms of regular -ar and -ir verbs in the preterite:

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are identical to the present tense forms. Context clues will help you determine the tense being used.

​Stem-changing -ar and -er verbs in the present tense,

DO NOT STEM CHANGE IN THE PRETERITE!!

​-Car / -Gar / -Zar ending verbs have spelling changes:

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In the yo form only!!!​

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-car --> the C changes to qu yo busqué

-gar --> the G changes to gu yo llegué

-zar --> the Z changes to c yo empecé​

​Creer, Leer, Oír

​Note the accents and the "y" spelling change.

​Creer: to think/believe

​Leer: to read

​Oír: to hear

​Ver is regular in the preterite, but has NO ACCENTS!

​Ver: to watch/see

​Common words and phrases used with the preterite

​Acabar de + infinitive

​is used to say that something just occurred.

​NOTE: acabar is in the present tense in this construction!!!!

​Acabo de comprar una falda.
I just bought a skirt.