Preterite - Spanish Verbs

Select Verbs to Practice

ser(to be)ir(to go)hacer(to do/make)tener(to have)estar(to be)poder(to be able/can)poner(to put)saber(to know)venir(to come)decir(to say/tell)dar(to give)adquirir(to acquire)argüir(to argue/contend)bendecir(to bless)buscar(to look for/search)corroer(to corrode)creer(to believe)elegir(to choose/elect)erguir(to erect/raise)gruñir(to growl/grumble)jugar(to play)morir(to die)pensar(to think)predecir(to predict)raer(to scrape/scratch off)reñir(to quarrel/scold)seguir(to follow/continue)sentir(to feel/regret)sonreír(to smile)tañer(to ring/toll)volver(to return/come back)

When to Use

Use the preterite for completed actions in the past with a definite beginning and end. Expresses actions that happened once, a specific number of times, or during a defined period.

Important Rules

•AR verbs: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron
•ER/IR verbs: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron
•Many common verbs have irregular stems
•Ser and ir share the same preterite forms

Regular Pattern Example

hablar → hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron