Pretérito preterite
The preterit tense refers to a specific past action performed. 1. At a fixed point in time. 2. A specific number of times. 3. During an enclosed amount of time.
Fixed point in time: I called you at 3:00. I called you at 3:00. Yo te hablé a las 3:00. He bought the car on Tuesday afternoon. He bought the car on Tuesday afternoon. Él compró el carro el viernes por la tarde. We saw the movie last night. We saw the movie last night. Nosotros vimos la película anoche.
Specific number of actions: I called you five times. I called you five times. They ate ten sandwiches. They ate ten sandwiches. She read the book twice. She read the book twice.
Enclosed amount of time: I worked for eight hours. I worked for eight hours. The movie lasted two and a half hours. The movie lasted two and a half hours. He lived there for two years. He lived there for two years.
We do not always state… The qualitity of our actions. When the qualitity is not stated, it is generally of our actions. 1. I went to John’s party. 2. We ate at McDonald’s. 3. The meeting was boring.
-ar é aste ó amos asteis aron
Hablar- to speak Yo hablé Yo hablé Tú hablaste Tú hablaste él habló él habló Nosotros hablamos Nosotros hablamos Vosotros hablasteis Vosotros hablasteis Ellos hablaron Ellos hablaron
-er í iste ió imos isteis ieron
Comer- to eat Yo comí Yo comí Tú comiste Tú comiste él, ella comió él, ella comió Nosotros comimos Nosotros comimos Vosotros comisteis Vosotros comisteis Ellos, ellas comieron Ellos, ellas comieron
-ir íisteióimosisteisieron
Estudiar Estudiar Comprar Comprar Trabajar Trabajar Lavar Lavar Cantar Cantar Correr Correr Escribir Escribir Abrir Abrir Vender Vender Bailar Bailar Tomar Tomar