Conjugating Verbs in the Preterite Tense

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ConjugatingVerbs in the Preterite Tense
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Steps to conjugate in the Preterite

• Find the stem by dropping the last two letters
  off of the infinitive.
• ie...habl ar
• 2. Add the regular preterite endings.

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AR Endings

• To describe completed actions in the past.

é amos
aste
ó aron
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ER and IR Endings

• To describe completed actions in the past.

í imos
iste
ió ieron
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Watch out for Orthographic spelling changes
We cannot change the original sound of a
letter by conjugating This happens PRIMARILY
with the yo form of AR verbs whose stems end
in C,G,or Z
c - qu
g - gu
z - c
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Preterite Stem Changes

• 3 Onlys
• Only w/ ir verbs
• Only one letter stem change
• Only in the slipper (box 3 5)

ie...dormir durmió durmieron
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Irregular Preterite
3 5 3 2 short U I J Ser Saber I
want Traer Ir Tener to make Decir Dar
Estar wine Poner Poder
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Ojo!
Verb Preterite Imp. saber found
out knew conocer met knew a
person querer refused (neg.)
wanted poder managed, failed had the
ability estar got, became
was tener received possessed, had
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Sentence Examples

• Hablé con mi hermana ayer.
• I talked with my sister yesterday.
• Juan se duchó ayer por la tarde.
• Juan took a shower yesterday afternoon.
• Tomaste los refrescos a la fiesta.
• You drank soft drinks at the party.

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For Extra Practice
http//trackstar.hprtec.org track
93334 http//www.colby.edu/bknelson/exercises/i
ndex.html www.studyspanish.com grammar topics
preterite and imperfect