El pretérito… …or, how to say what happened in the PAST!
Some words that trigger use of the preterit… Ayer Anoche Un día La semana pasada (last week) …or any word that shows a specific time in the past.
The preterit is used to tell… What happened in the past A series of events in the past Something that began and/or ended in the past
We form the preterit… The same way as the present tense, but with different personal endings: –Drop the –ar, -er, or –ir –Add the appropriate personal ending ***Good news*** there are only TWO sets of endings, not three!
The preterit endings: -ar -é-amos -aste-asteis -ó-aron -er and –ir -í-imos -iste-isteis -ió-ieron
Irregulars: hacer and ir HiceHicimos HicisteHicisteis HizoHicieron FuiFuimos FuisteFuisteis FueFueron
Note: -ar and –er verbs have NO stem change in the preterit. Verbs in which all forms are irregular have NO accents. Reflexive pronouns still go before the conjugated part of the verb. –yo/bañarse = me bañé
For example: Ayer, yo hablé con mi amigo. Yesterday, I spoke with my friend. Anoche, nosotros comimos pavo. Last night, we ate turkey. Mi hermano salió sin permiso el verano pasado. My brother went out without permission last summer.