Need to tell a story about what happened last weekend in Spanish? Enter the preterite tense – your go-to tool for describing completed actions in the past! Whether you’re sharing travel adventures with friends in Colombia or writing a report about last quarter’s achievements, mastering the preterite will help you narrate past events like a pro.
Understanding the Spanish Preterite Tense
The preterite tense (or pretérito indefinido) is all about completed actions in the past. Think of it as your “this happened” tense – it’s perfect for describing specific events that started and finished at a definite time.
When to Use the Preterite
- Completed actions with a clear endpoint:
“Estudié español por dos años”
(I studied Spanish for two years) - Single events in the past:
“Fui al supermercado ayer”
(I went to the supermarket yesterday) - Sequential actions:
“Entré, comí y salí“
(I entered, ate, and left) - Actions with specific time frames:
“Vivieron en Madrid durante 2023″
(They lived in Madrid during 2023)
Forming the Preterite Tense
-AR Verbs
Using hablar as an example:
- Yo hablé
- Tú hablaste
- Él/ella/usted habló
- Nosotros hablamos
- Vosotros hablasteis
- Ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaron
-ER/-IR Verbs
Using comer and vivir as examples:
- Yo comí/viví
- Tú comiste/viviste
- Él/ella/usted comió/vivió
- Nosotros comimos/vivimos
- Vosotros comisteis/vivisteis
- Ellos/ellas/ustedes comieron/vivieron
Important Irregular Verbs
- Ser/Ir: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron
- Estar: estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron
- Hacer: hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicisteis, hicieron
Real-Life Examples
1. Travel Stories
“Visité Barcelona el año pasado y conocí a gente increíble.”
(I visited Barcelona last year and met amazing people.)
2. Work Situations
“Terminé el proyecto antes del plazo.”
(I finished the project before the deadline.)
3. Social Events
“La fiesta empezó a las ocho y terminó a medianoche.”
(The party started at eight and ended at midnight.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t use it for ongoing or habitual past actions:
❌ “Estudié español cuando era niño”
✅ “Estudiaba español cuando era niño” - Watch out for irregular verbs:
❌ “Hacieron la tarea”
✅ “Hicieron la tarea”
Ready to Level Up Your Spanish?
Take your Spanish storytelling to the next level with our comprehensive resources! Check out our complete preterite tense guide for detailed explanations and practice exercises. Need help with specific verbs? Learn how to use Comenzar in Latin American Spanish or Comenzar in Castilian Spanish. Working on irregular verbs? We’ve got you covered with Ser in Latin American Spanish and Ser in Castilian Spanish. With our audio examples and practice exercises, you’ll be telling stories in Spanish like a native in no time. ¡Adelante!