Download 2. preterite of

el pretérito
and the
-car, -gar, -zar
verbs
el pretérito
• There are two past tense forms in the
Spanish language, the imperfect and
the preterite (el pretérito).
• The imperfect is used to describe
continuous past action.
• El pretérito is used to talk about
actions that began and ended in the
past, usually only one time. It is used
to describe single actions.
Formation of the preterite of regular –ar
verbs
• For any regular –ar verb, start with the
infinitive form:
hablar
• Drop the –ar:
habl
• Add new endings:
singular
plural
yo
hablé
nosotros hablamos
tú
hablaste
vosotros hablasteis
él
ella habló
Ud.
ellos
ellas
Uds.
hablaron
NOTE: Always use a written accent mark on the first and third
person singular forms. Be careful with pronunciation.
el pretérito
de los verbos irregulares
• Three classifications of –ar verbs form
the first person singular form in an
unusual manner.
• These are the verbs whose infinitives
end in the letters –car, -gar, or –zar.
-car verbs
• Start with the infinitive
• Drop the –ar
• Conjugate
busqué
buscar
busc
buscamos
buscaste
buscasteis
buscó
buscaron
There is a spelling change
for first person singular—
CHANGE THE C TO QU
BEFORE ADDING THE ENDING.
-gar verbs
• Start with the infinitive
• Drop the –ar
• Conjugate
llegué
llegamos
llegaste
llegasteis
llegó
llegaron
There is a spelling change
for first person singular—
CHANGE THE G TO GU
BEFORE ADDING THE ENDING.
llegar
lleg
-zar verbs
• Start with the infinitive
• Drop the –ar
• Conjugate
almorcé
almorzar
almorz
almorzamos
almorzaste
almorzasteis
almorzó
almorzaron
There is a spelling change
for first person singular—
CHANGE THE Z TO C
BEFORE ADDING THE ENDING.