Preterit Tense

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Preterit Tense
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Two Ways to Talk About the Past

• Preterit
• Completed past actions
• Imperfect
• Actions that were ongoing

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• The preterit tense is used to talk about past
  events unless it is important to mention that
  they were ongoing. Consider the following
  examples
• He broke the window.
• We went to the store.
• My friend called.
• They ate out last night.

4

• When it is important to mention that an event was
  ongoing or not completed, the preterit tense is
  not used. Consider the following examples
• We went to Florida every summer when I was a kid.
• We used to sit on the porch and watch the sunset.

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Preterit or Not Preterit?

• Decide whether each of the following would
  require the preterit tense.
• Manuel ate a sandwich.
• The students took a test.
• They used to go camping a lot.
• I hit a home run.
• Did you stay with your grandparents much?

Preterit
Preterit
Not preterit
Preterit
Not preterit
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PARE
Before proceeding, complete 9-001 on Quia.
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ar Verb Endings in the Preterit
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er and ir Verb Endings in the Preterit
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Verb Endings in the Preterit
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PARE
Before proceeding, complete Conjuguemos 9-005.