The preterite can present a past event as completed. Begin with regular verbs ending in -ar.
The idea
Remove -ar and add the endings shown here: hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron. Written accents distinguish hablé and habló from some present forms. A time expression such as ayer can place the event in the past.
Examples
- Ayer llamé a mi hermana.I called my sister yesterday.
- ¿Estudiaste anoche?Did you study last night?
- Ana preparó la cena.Ana prepared dinner.
- Caminamos por el parque ayer.We walked through the park yesterday.
- ¿Trabajaron el sábado?Did you work on Saturday?
- Ellas visitaron el museo.They visited the museum.
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Watch out
Hablamos has the same spelling in the present and preterite; context or a time expression shows which is meant. Not all -ar verbs follow the regular pattern.
Try it yourself
Ayer yo ___ a mi hermana. (llamé / llamo)
Show answer or example answer
llamé
Llamé is the preterite form for yo.
Ana ___ la cena ayer. (preparó / preparo)
Show answer or example answer
preparó
Preparó is the preterite form for singular Ana.
Ellas ___ el museo ayer. (visitaron / visitan)
Show answer or example answer
visitaron
Visitaron is the preterite form for plural ellas.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Spanish sentences where available. We keep your score.
Ayer yo ___ a mi hermana. (llamé / llamo)
Ana ___ la cena ayer. (preparó / preparo)
Ellas ___ el museo ayer. (visitaron / visitan)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write three completed events from yesterday, including one involving another person.