El Pretérito
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How to form the Preterite Tense
The preterite tense forms are formed the same way as the present tense endings. You take of the -AR, -ER, -IR endings and replace them with the endings indicated below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Regular Verbs) -AR Yo = -é Nosotros = -amos Tu = -aste Vosotros = -asteis El, Ella, Usted = -ó Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes = -aron Ex. Yo + hablar = hablé Nosotros + hablar = hablamos Tú + hablar = hablaste Vosotros + hablar = hablasteis Él/Ella/Ud. + hablar = habló Ellos/Ellas/Uds. + hablar = hablaron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -ER/-IR Yo = -í Nosotros = -imos Tu = -iste Vosotros = -isteis El, Ella, Usted = -ió Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes = -ieron Ex. Yo + comer = comí Nosotros + comer = comimos Tú + comer = comiste Vosotros + comer = comisteis Él/Ella/Ud. + comer = comió Ellos/Ellas/Uds. + comer = comieron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meaning and usage of the Preterite The Preterite refers to the beginning or the end of a past action or to the action as a completed whole. A) Reference to Entire Event or Period (beginning and ending): B) Reference to Completion (ending of an event): c) Reference to the beginning of an event: |