PRETERITE TENSE
Formation/Conjugation of –AR, -ER, AND -IR Verb Groups in the Preterite Tense:
-ar preterite endings nadar=to swim
1) –é 1) –amos 1) Yo nadé 1) Nosotros(as) nadamos
2)-aste 2)xxxxxx 2) Tú nadaste 2) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3)-ó 3)-aron 3) Él } 3) Ellos }
Ella} nadó Ellas} nadaron
Ud.} Uds. }
-er preterite endings comer=to eat
1) -í 1)-imos 1) Yo comí 1) Nosotros(as) comimos
2) –iste 2)xxxxx 2) Tú comiste 2)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3) –ió 3)-ieron 3) Él } 3) Ellos }
-eron Ella } comió Ellas } comieron
Ud. } Uds. }
-ir preterite endings sufrir-to suffer
1) -í 1)-imos 1) Yo sufrí 1) Nosotros(as) sufrimos
2) –iste 2)xxxxx 2) Tú sufriste 2)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3) –ió 3)-ieron 3) Él } 3) Ellos }
Ella } sufrió Ellas } sufrieron
Ud. } Uds. }
The Preterite Tense is a PAST TENSE. That means that when we hear or think of certain English words or phrases that indicate that the action we speak of is in the past, we should choose to use in Spanish either the Preterite or the Imperfect Tense.
English phrasings that usually indicate Preterite Tense are:
1) the simple past as in,” I swam.”
2) the use of “did” with the English present tense, as “I did swim.”
Remember: The use of the Preterite indicates completed past actions that did NOT occur for extended periods of times in the past!
*Oral repetition of the preterite verb conjugations helps greatly in becoming comfortable in using these verbs in conversation. It's a great starting place!