Learning how to use the Spanish preterite tense is a key step toward fluency. Whether you’re talking about what you did yesterday or describing a past vacation, mastering this tense will help you express yourself clearly and confidently in real-life conversations. In this guide, we’ll break it down step-by-step so you can learn it without feeling overwhelmed.
1. Stem-Changing -IR Verbs
Only -ir verbs change stems in the preterite, and only in the third person.
Example (dormir):
- yo dormí
- tú dormiste
- él/ella durmió (o → u)
- ellos/ellas durmieron (o → u)
2. Verbs with Spelling Changes
To preserve pronunciation, some verbs change their spelling:
- yo busqué (buscar → qu)
- yo llegué (llegar → gu)
- yo empecé (empezar → c)
3. Completely Irregular Verbs
Some verbs don’t follow any regular patterns:
| Verb | Preterite Root | Example (yo form) |
|---|---|---|
| estar | estuv- | estuve |
| tener | tuv- | tuve |
| poder | pud- | pude |
| hacer | hic-/hiz- | hice |
| decir | dij- | dije |
| ir/ser | fui- | fui |
These verbs also use a different set of endings:
- yo: -e
- tú: -iste
- él/ella/usted: -o
- nosotros: -imos
- vosotros: -isteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: -ieron (-eron for roots ending in “j,” e.g., dijeron)
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite tense when:
- The action has a clear beginning and end.
Empezó a llover a las tres. (It started raining at three.)
- You know exactly when it happened.
El año pasado viajamos a México. (Last year we traveled to Mexico.)
- You are listing completed actions.
Me levanté, desayuné y salí. (I got up, had breakfast, and left.)
Preterite vs. Imperfect: Key Difference
The preterite emphasizes that the action is completed. The imperfect, on the other hand, describes what was happening or actions that used to occur regularly.
Example:
Estudiaba cuando llegó mi amigo.
(I was studying when my friend arrived.)
Here, estudiaba (imperfect) is the ongoing background action, which is interrupted by llegó (preterite), the completed action.
Tips to Master the Preterite
- Focus on irregular verbs first—you’ll encounter them often in everyday conversation.
- Practice with timelines: place actions in order and decide which ones are completed.
- Read Spanish stories or news articles to see how frequently the preterite is used for specific events.
Quick Recap
The preterite tense is all about completed actions in the past. Learn the regular endings, watch out for stem-changing and irregular verbs, and use it when the timeframe is clear. With consistent practice, you’ll be able to tell stories and describe past events confidently in Spanish.
