Spanish Grammar: Preterite Past Tense with Regular [-AR] Verbs

Posted by on Thursday, October 3, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

Spanish Grammar: Preterite Past Tense with Regular [-AR] Verbs

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Identify
Spanish Grammar: Preterite Past Tense with Regular [-AR] Verbs
la gramática española: el pretérito pasado con verbos regulares [-ar]

  • Express singular or completed actions with [-AR] verbs.
  • Discuss what happened in the past.

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60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson
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When speaking about the past in English, you choose which past tense to use depending on the context and the meaning you wish to convey. In Spanish sentences, you chose which past tense you use depending only on the meaning you wish to convey.

Here is how you conjugate [-AR] verbs in the preterite (past) tense!

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Preterite Tense [-AR] Verb Endings
yo [-é]
tú [-aste]
él/ella/usted [-ó]
nosotros(as) [-amos]
vosotros(as) [-asteis]
ellos/ellas/ustedes [-aron]

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Notice that the nosotros form, [-AMOS], is identical to the present tense nosotros form. You’ll just have to use the context of the sentence in order to figure out what time frame is being discussed.

These sentences look and sound alike!

Nosotros hablamos : we speak (present tense)
Nosotros hablamos : we spoke (preterite past tense)

Here are some common [-AR] verbs that are regular in the preterite tense!

AYUDAR : To help

Yo le ayudé.
I helped him.

CAMINAR : To walk

Ellos caminaron allá.
They walked over there.

CANTAR : To sing

El cantó en la ducha.
H sang in the shower.

COCINAR : To cook

Nosotros cocinamos una gran cena.
We cooked a big dinner.

ENSEÑAR : To teach

¿Tú enseñaste la clase ya?
You taught the class already?

ESTUDIAR : To study

Ella estudió toda la noche.
She studied all night.

And more …

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Adapt
¿Con quién hablaste ayer?
Who did you speak with yesterday?

Ayer, yo hablé con mi vecina.
Yesterday, I spoke with my neighbor (fem.)

¿A dónde bailaron ellos la semana pasada?
Where did they dance last week?

Ellos bailaron en la escuela la semana pasada.
They danced at school last week.

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Quizlet Activities – Preterite Past Tense
Verb Conjugation Endings for [-AR] Verbs
  • Direct Link: [https://quizlet.com/_8x9208]
  • Click on the top right-hand corner for Options.
  • Click on the bottom right-hand corner to change Study Mode. 

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Quizlet Activities – Preterite Past Tense
Regular [-AR] Verbs – Examples
  • Direct Link: [https://quizlet.com/_8s2m2h]
  • Click on the top right-hand corner for Options.
  • Click on the bottom right-hand corner to change Study Mode. 

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