Español Dos
Coeur d’Alene High School - March 8, 2016
El Pretérito
When do I use the PRETERITE?
When the action is completed, not to happen again.
Or when something has happened at a specific time.
Examples: I died.
You cannot die twice. This action is permanent.
Last night, I slept.
You wake up after you sleep, so this action ends.
I went to the store.
This event ended. You are not still going.
Formation:
1.
2.
3.
Choose the appropriate subject pronoun, using the chart on the left. The
conjugated verb MUST be in the same box as the subject pronoun.
Is the verb and –ar / --er / or –ir verb?
Take the stem of the verb (everything except the last two letters) and
choose the appropriate ending to conjugate the verb.
LOS IRREGULARES
-Car, -Gar, or -Zar Verbs:
ALL verbs that end in –car/ -gar/ or –zar are irregular in the preterite because of their sound.
The change however is not throughout the verb, only in the first person / ‘Yo’ form.
Look at the following examples:
a. If it ends in –car: change the c to qu. Like “buscar” – busqué, buscaste…
b. If it ends in –gar: change the g to gu. Like “llegar” – llegué, llegaste…
c. If it ends in –zar: change the z to c. Like “cruzar” – crucé, cruzaste…
Note This:
-car/-gar/-zar verbs
Only Have
Irregular Forms in
the 1st Person
Verbs Irregular in Yo form only (-car/-gar/-zar verbs):
Verbs that have a slight orthographic change in the FIRST PERSON ‘YO’ FORM ONLY!
arrancar
buscar
comunicar
explicar
identificar
indicar
marcar
pescar
picar
practicar
sacar
tocar
entregar
llegar
pagar
colgar
abrazar
cruzar
gozar
localizar
almorzar
empezar
equivocarse
secarse
jugar
comenzar
Double-Vowel Infinitives:
ALL verbs that have two vowels together in the infinitive are irregular in the preterite. These
verbs will ALWAYS end in –er or –ir. Can you guess why these changes occur?
Look at the following example:
The Two Vowel Infinitive Verbs:
Leer
Sustituir
Construir
Caerse
Oír
Creer
Note This:
In this form all ‘i’s’
will carry accents
and the third
person (Box 3/6)
will carry ‘y’s’ inbetween the two
vowels. Hence the
following rhyme:
“Accents on I’s,
Third Person Y’s”
Irregulars that are Double Vowel Infinitives:
Verbs that have ACCENTS ON ALL ‘I’s’ in conjugation and ‘Y’s’ IN THE 3RD PERSON (Boxes 3/6)
Creer
Leer
Construir
Oír
Sustituir
Caerse
-Ir Stem Changes in Present Tense:
Boy, they still come back to haunt us don’t they? Yes, just like in the progressive verb tenses, verbs that END IN
–IR AND ARE STEM CHANGING VERBS IN THE PRESENT TENSE are also irregular in the preterite, ONLY in the 3rd
person! Hey, at least it’s nothing completely new to us? Look at the following examples:
Note This:
These changes only occur in the
THIRD PERSON, boxes 3 & 6.
The changes are the same as in
the PROGRESSIVE.
Irregulars that are –ir Stem Changes in Present Tense:
All of these verbs have the SAME STEM CHANGES AS THE PROGRESSIVE in the THIRD PERSON ONLY
(Box 3/6). The stem change ‘E’ GOES TO ‘I,’ and the stem changing ‘O’ GOES TO ‘U.’
competir
medir
reñir
sonreír
conseguir
mentir
repetir
sugerir
corregir
morir
requerir
vestirse
despedirse
pedir
seguir
divertirse
preferir
sentirse
dormir
reírse
servir
The Quadruplets (Kinda):
There are four verbs that are RADICAL IRREGULARS in the preterite tense: DAR, VER, SER, AND IR.
However, SER / IR have the EXACT SAME CONJUGATIONS! However, when we advance on to the imperfect verb
tense (bet you can’t wait), you’ll see why you’ll rarely use the verb ‘ser’ in the preterite. Look at the following examples:
Note This:
None of the
Radical Verbs in
the Preterite have
ACCENTS. Also,
don’t forget SER /
IR are the same.
The True Irregulars:
The following verbs have “stem changes” in the preterite. Now, before you beat your head against your desk…all of them
have the SAME ENDINGS no matter what type of verb they are, and all DO NOT CARRY ACCENTS! ¡OLÉ! They are
also even BROKEN INTO GROUPS so that you might be able to recognize them easier! Look at the following example:
Note This:
All of the verbs in this section,
use the EXACT SAME ENDINGS
seen to the left. None of them
carry a single ACCENT in their
conjugation, and they are
grouped as to their change.
Group I
 Querer:
 Hacer :
 Venir:
Watch the 3rd person
singular form: hizo.







Group U
Poder:
Poner:
Andar:
Estar:
Tener:
Saber:
Caber:
Group J
 Traer:
 Decir:
 Traducir:
 Conducir:
Look out for the Box 6
Form: No ‘i’ in ending.
PALABRAS CLAVES:
Look for the following words (or similar ones) to help you identify the preterite:
Anoche –
Anteayer –
Ayer –
Una vez –
La semana / mes…pasada (o) –
A las cinco (etc.) –
El otro día –
En mil novecientos sesenta (etc.) –
Todo el día –
WHY USE THE PRETERITE TENSE?
1.
The preterite is used for actions that can be viewed as single events.
EJEMPLO:
She walked through the park.
Ella andó por el parque.
They arrived at 6:00.
Ellos llegaron a las seis.
2. The preterite is used for actions that were repeated a specific number of times, or occurred during a
specific period of time.
EJEMPLO:
Yesterday I wrote a letter.
Ayer, escribí una carta.
I lived there for three years.
Yo viví aquí por tres años.
3. The preterite is used for actions that were part of a chain of events.
EJEMPLO:
She got up, dressed, and left.
Ella se levantó, se vistió, y salió.
4. The preterite is used to state the beginning or the end of an action.
EJEMPLO:
It began to snow at eight in the morning.
Empezó a nevar a las 8 de la mañana.
5. But, most of all: The preterite is used for past actions that are seen as completed.
Practicamos:
Try to translate the following exercises:
1. Did you all (formal) hear the noise last night?
11. She had an accident last Thursday.
2. He found $50 at the park.
12. She made three burritos the other day.
3. He opened the window.
13. They (boys) got dressed quickly.
4. I arrived late to the party.
14. They (girls) lied to their parents.
5. I entered the classroom at 9AM.
15. They threw their trash on the floor.
6. I explained the lesson to her.
16. We walked to the beach on Wednesday.
7. Jorge traveled to Spain a week ago.
17. You (formal) ordered pizza with anchovies.
8. Luis and Maria got married the day before yesterday.
18. You broke my heart!
9. My poor dog died last night.
19. You guys (Spain) ate at Beverly’s on your birthday.
10. My sister left for college on Saturday.
20. You went with me to the movies.
Llena al Blanco:
1. Tú tenías miedo a la ____________ de la mañana, cuándo tú ____________ un ruido afuera.
2. Yo ____________ un sándwich mixto en la cafetería a las doce.
3. Ella ____________ conmigo a la fiesta el sábado.
4. Tú y José ____________ el español al íngles para “El Patrón.”
YEAH BABY…
These Preterites
aren’t so bad…
5. Luisa y María ____________ hacer su tarea para la clase de español.
6. Ella me ____________.
7. Tú y yo ____________ el video a Hastings.
8. Él ____________ de comer al gato “Piki.”
9. Juan y Juana se ____________ mucho en la pelicula “Austin Powers.”
10. Los Vikingos ____________ contra los osos del Moscow y ____________ el partido. ¡OLÉ!
I shall call
them…Preterite
Irregulars.