Preterite Verbs, Regular

The preterite tense talks about the past, what you did or what happened. It has a definite end though, and has been completed. They are modified by tense endings, with -ar verbs having their method, and -er/-ir verves having theirs.

I am not including a vosotros form here, due to the fact that my teacher doesn't use it.

For -ar Verbs

Hablar

Yo                  ---                                             Hablé

Tú                  ---                                             Hablaste

Usted/él/ella         ---                                   Habló

Nosotros       ---                                             Hablamos

*Note that Nosotros is the only form that doesn't change from a non-preterite verb!*

Ustedes/ellos/ellas        ---                          Hablaron

For -er/-ir

Comer/Vivir

Yo               ---                                             Comí/Viví

Tú              ---                                              Comiste/Viviste

Usted/él/ella                 ---                         Comió/Vivió

Nosotros    ---                                              Comimos/Vivimos

*Note that Nosotros is the only form that doesn't change from a non-preterite verb!*

Ustedes/ellos/ellas         ---                       Comieron/Vivieron

For the nosotros forms of the above words, you must use context to determine whether they are present or preterite tense.

---Vocabulary Break---

Acamper en las Montañas                                To camp in the mountains

Bajar un río en canoa                                         To go down a river in a canoe

Cantar en el coro                                                 To sing in the chorus

Disfrutar con los amigos                                    To enjoy time with friends

Estudiar las artes marciales                            To study marcial arts

jugar al ajedrez                                                       To play chess

(*Jugar is STEM CHANGING u to ue*)

Tomar un curso de natación                            To take a swimming class