Preterite Conjugations: Your Complete Guide

The preterite tense (pretérito) describes completed actions in the past. It's one of the most important tenses for telling stories and describing what happened. Here's your practical guide.

Regular Preterite Endings

-AR Verbs (hablar, comprar, etc.)

-ER/-IR Verbs (comer, vivir, etc.)

Common Irregular Preterite Verbs

Ser/Ir (Same Forms!)

Estar

Tener

Hacer

When to Use Preterite

• Completed actions: "Ayer comí pizza" (Yesterday I ate pizza)
• Specific past events: "Fui a España el año pasado" (I went to Spain last year)
• Series of completed actions: "Me levanté, me vestí, y salí" (I got up, got dressed, and left)

Preterite vs Imperfect

• Preterite = completed, one-time actions (I ate)
• Imperfect = ongoing, habitual, or descriptive past (I used to eat, I was eating)

Practice Plan (10 Minutes)

1. Conjugate 5 regular -AR verbs in preterite.
2. Practice irregulars: ser/ir, estar, tener, hacer.
3. Write 5 sentences describing what you did yesterday using preterite.

Example: "Ayer fui al cine, comí palomitas, y vi una película."

Common Mistakes

• Using present tense for past: "Ayer como" → Say "Ayer comí"
• Mixing preterite/imperfect: Use preterite for completed actions
• Forgetting stem changes in irregulars: "tener" → "tuve" (not "tené")

Make It Stick

The best way to master preterite isn't memorizing charts—it's using it in stories. Practice talking about what happened, get corrections as you speak, and watch these forms become natural. Try Parlai and tell stories in Spanish with instant feedback.