Preterite Tense

Use the preterite to narrate completed actions, to signal a definite beginning or end, and to relate sequential events; it contrasts with the imperfect, which describes habitual or background actions. Think of the preterite as anchoring events firmly in past time with clear boundaries.

Regular verbs follow predictable endings in the preterite for each conjugation group, so learning one set of endings makes it easy to apply them to new verbs in narratives. Practice with common verbs to internalize the pattern.

Some verbs change their stem in the preterite only in the third person forms, typically for certain -ir verbs where e changes to i and o changes to u, affecting narrations of specific actions. These changes help signal that the action occurred and completed with a particular nuance.

Irregular verbs in the preterite often change their stem and endings in ways that must be memorized, but they are high-frequency verbs that appear in many stories and reports. Learning these patterns speeds up recall when recounting past events.

Signal words like ayer, anoche, and el mes pasado often trigger the use of the preterite because they point to a specific completed time, helping learners choose the tense that fits the narrative frame. These time markers anchor the action in a definite moment.

The preterite narrates completed actions with clear time boundaries; regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs follow predictable endings, certain -ir verbs stem-change in the third person, and key irregular verbs like ir/ser, hacer, and tener must be memorized for fluent storytelling. Signal words guide tense choice by marking definite past moments.