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Spanish Verb Conjugation: Indicative Mood: Preterite Tense
Preterite Tense: ER & IR Verbs

©RCAguilar

OBJECTIVE:
Start using the vocabulary on this page and making up sentences in Spanish.
TASK:
Use one ending (like the "yo" form) with the various question words you already know.
PERPLEXED?
See! It's not that bad!
Is there anything special about these forms?
Yeah. You don't have to concentrate on 'em much. Just learn the endings, remember the "functions" - or what most refer to as the "meanings."
It's almost time for you to go ahead and start studying another language now. You should be fluent in Spanish in about another week or two.
It's really up to you how much you learn. Anybody come up with a valid reason to learn so much stuff yet? Is anybody out there going to Mexico? Can I go, too?
It seems to me that somebody once said: "Veni. Vidi. Vinci." It seems to me like those are kinda like these endings. What was it that guy did?

 
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VERB CONJUGATION
Indicative Mood
Present Tense
Regular -ar Verbs
Regular -er Verbs
Regular -ir Verbs
Stem e -> ie
Stem o -> ue
Stem e -> i
Stem iar: i -> í
Stem uar: u -> ú
Stem uir: i -> y
Stem ger/gir: g -> j
Yo form -oy
Yo form -zco
Yo form -go
Imperfect Tense
AR Verbs
ER & IR Verbs
Preterite Tense
Regular AR Verbs
Ending -car
Ending -gar
Ending -zar
ER/IR Verbs
ER/IR Verbs vowel Stem
IR Stem-changers
Irregular Stems
Future Tense
Regular Verbs
Irregular Stems
Conditional Tense
Regular Verbs
Irregular Stems
Progressive Tenses
Perfect Tenses

Reference
Subject Pronouns
yo
nosotros
nosotras
tú*
vosotros
vosotras
él
ella
Usted
ellos
ellas
Ustedes
*In some countries in Central & South America vos is used instead of .

Reflexive Pronouns
me nos
te os
se  se

Direct Object Pronouns
me nos
te os
lo
la
lo/la
los
las
los/las

Indirect Object Pronouns
me nos
te os
le les
Preterite Tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
 
Many ER & IR verbs are not affected by irregularities in any way in the formation of the preterite tense.
There is a group of irregular verbs which take a separate set of endings.
Only stem-changing IR verbs maintain a stem change in the preterite.
yo -í nosotros, nosotras -imos
-iste vosotros, vosotras -isteis
él, ella, Usted - ellos, ellas, Ustedes -ieron
 
ER aprender to learn lernen
correr to run laufen
esconder to hide verstecken
prometer to promise versprechen
vender to sell verkaufen
IR abrir to open öffnen
confundir to confuse verwirren
describir to describe beschreiben
insistir to insist beharren
recibir to receive erhalten
To make the preterite forms, drop the -er or -ir from the end of the infinitive and add the endings given above.
To see the preterite tense conjugated forms of these verbs, click on a pronoun below:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Yo form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and addto the stem.
This is the event. This is what I did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendí I learned I did learn
ich habe gelernt
correr corrí I ran I did run
ich bin gelaufen
esconder escondí I hid I did hide
ich habe versteckt
prometer prometí I promised I did promise
ich habe versprochen
vender vendí I sold I did sell
ich habe verkauft
IR
abrir abrí I opened I did open
ich habe geöffnet
confundir confundí I confused I did confuse
ich habe verwirrt
describir describí I described I did describe
ich habe beschrieben
insistir insistí I insisted I did insist
ich habe beharrt
recibir recibí I received I did receive
ich habe erhalten
The pronoun YO does not need to be stated in the preterite.
It is already clear by the ending that YO is doing the action.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -iste to the stem.
This is the event. This is what you did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendiste you learned you did learn
du hast gelernt
correr corriste you ran you did run
du bist gelaufen
esconder escondiste you hid you did hide
du hast versteckt
prometer prometiste you promised you did promise
du hast versprochen
vender vendiste you sold you did sell
du hast verkauft
IR
abrir abriste you opened you did open
du hast geöffnet
confundir confundiste you confused you did confuse
du hast verwirrt
describir describiste you described you did describe
du hast beschrieben
insistir insististe you insisted you did insist
du hast beharrt
recibir recibiste you received you did receive
du hast erhalten
The pronoun does not need to be stated in the preterite.
It is already clear by the ending that is doing the action.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Él form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -ió to the stem.
This is the event. This is what he did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendió he learned he did learn
er hat gelernt
correr corrió he ran he did run
er ist gelaufen
esconder escondió he hid he did hide
er hat versteckt
prometer prometió he promised he did promise
er hat versprochen
vender vendió he sold he did sell
er hat verkauft
IR
abrir abrió he opened he did open
er hat geöffnet
confundir confundió he confused he did confuse
er hat verwirrt
describir describió he described he did describe
er hat beschrieben
insistir insistió he insisted he did insist
er hat beharrt
recibir recibió he received he did receive
er hat erhalten
The pronoun ÉL needs to be stated in the preterite, because the same form is used for ELLA & USTED.
Once it is clear that ÉL is the subject, it can be left out in further statements.
The preterite tense reflects an action as a reported event.
It provides importance to the fact that it happened.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Ella form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -ió to the stem.
This is the event. This is what she did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendió she learned she did learn
sie hat gelernt
correr corrió she ran she did run
sie ist gelaufen
esconder escondió she hid she did hide
sie hat versteckt
prometer prometió she promised she did promise
sie hat versprochen
vender vendió she sold she did sell
sie hat verkauft
IR
abrir abrió she opened she did open
sie hat geöffnet
confundir confundió she confused she did confuse
sie hat verwirrt
describir describió she described she did describe
sie hat beschrieben
insistir insistió she insisted she did insist
sie hat beharrt
recibir recibió she received she did receive
sie hat erhalten
The pronoun ELLA needs to be stated in the preterite, because the same form is used for ÉL & USTED.
Once it is clear that ELLA is the subject, it can be left out in further statements.
The preterite tense reflects an action as a reported event.
It provides importance to the fact that it happened.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Usted form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -ió to the stem.
This is the event. This is what you did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendió you learned you did learn
Sie haben gelernt
correr corrió you ran you did run
Sie sind gelaufen
esconder escondió you hid you did hide
Sie haben versteckt
prometer prometió you promised you did promise
Sie haben versprochen
vender vendió you sold you did sell
Sie haben verkauft
IR
abrir abrió you opened you did open
Sie haben geöffnet
confundir confundió you confused you did confuse
Sie haben verwirrt
describir describió you described you did describe
Sie haben beschrieben
insistir insistió you insisted you did insist
Sie haben beharrt
recibir recibió you received you did receive
Sie haben erhalten
The pronoun USTED needs to be stated in the preterite, because the same form is used for ÉL & ELLA.
Once it is clear that USTED is the subject, it can be left out in further statements.
The preterite tense reflects an action as a reported event.
It provides importance to the fact that it happened.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Nosotros & Nosotras form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -imos to the stem.
Notice that the NOSOTROS form is exactly the same in the present & preterite tenses for IR verbs.
This is the event. This is what we did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendimos we learned we did learn
wir haben gelernt
correr corrimos we ran we did run
wir sind gelaufen
esconder escondimos we hid we did hide
wir haben versteckt
prometer prometimos we promised we did promise
wir haben versprochen
vender vendimos we sold we did sell
wir haben verkauft
IR
abrir abrimos we opened we did open
wir haben geöffnet
confundir confundimos we confused we did confuse
wir haben verwirrt
describir describimos we described we did describe
wir haben beschrieben
insistir insistimos we insisted we did insist
wir haben beharrt
recibir recibimos we received we did receive
wir haben erhalten
The pronoun NOSOTROS does not need to be stated in the preterite.
It is already clear by the ending that NOSOTROS is doing the action.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Vosotros & Vosotras form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -isteis to the stem.
This is the event. This is what y'all did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendisteis y'all learned y'all did learn
ihr habt gelernt
correr corristeis y'all ran y'all did run
ihr seid gelaufen
esconder escondisteis y'all hid y'all did hide
ihr habt versteckt
prometer prometisteis y'all promised y'all did promise
ihr habt versprochen
vender vendisteis y'all sold y'all did sell
ihr habt verkauft
IR
abrir abristeis y'all opened y'all did open
ihr habt geöffnet
confundir confundisteis y'all confused y'all did confuse
ihr habt verwirrt
describir describisteis y'all described y'all did describe
ihr habt beschrieben
insistir insististeis y'all insisted y'all did insist
ihr habt beharrt
recibir recibisteis y'all received y'all did receive
ihr habt erhalten
The pronoun VOSOTROS does not need to be stated in the preterite.
It is already clear by the ending that VOSOTROS is doing the action.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Ellos form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -ieron to the stem.
This form is important, as it is the basis for the formation of the past subjunctive.
This is the event. This is what they did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendieron they learned they did learn
sie haben gelernt
correr corrieron they ran they did run
sie sind gelaufen
esconder escondieron they hid they did hide
sie haben versteckt
prometer prometieron they promised they did promise
sie haben versprochen
vender vendieron they sold they did sell
sie haben verkauft
IR
abrir abrieron they opened they did open
sie haben geöffnet
confundir confundieron they confused they did confuse
sie haben verwirrt
describir describieron they described they did describe
sie haben beschrieben
insistir insistieron they insisted they did insist
sie haben beharrt
recibir recibieron they received they did receive
sie haben erhalten
The pronoun ELLOS needs to be stated in the preterite, because the same form is used for ELLAS & USTEDES.
Once it is clear that ELLOS is the subject, it can be left out in further statements.
The preterite tense reflects an action as a reported event.
It provides importance to the fact that it happened.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Ellas form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -ieron to the stem.
This form is important, as it is the basis for the formation of the past subjunctive.
This is the event. This is what they did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendieron they learned they did learn
sie haben gelernt
correr corrieron they ran they did run
sie sind gelaufen
esconder escondieron they hid they did hide
sie haben versteckt
prometer prometieron they promised they did promise
sie haben versprochen
vender vendieron they sold they did sell
sie haben verkauft
IR
abrir abrieron they opened they did open
sie haben geöffnet
confundir confundieron they confused they did confuse
sie haben verwirrt
describir describieron they described they did describe
sie haben beschrieben
insistir insistieron they insisted they did insist
sie haben beharrt
recibir recibieron they received they did receive
sie haben erhalten
The pronoun ELLAS needs to be stated in the preterite, because the same form is used for ELLOS & USTEDES.
Once it is clear that ELLAS is the subject, it can be left out in further statements.
The preterite tense reflects an action as a reported event.
It provides importance to the fact that it happened.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top
Preterite tense: -ER & -IR verb conjugation
Ustedes form
To make this form, drop the -er or -ir or from the end of the infinitive and add -ieron to the stem.
This form is important, as it is the basis for the formation of the past subjunctive.
This is the event. This is what you did.
deutsch
ER
aprender aprendieron you learned you did learn
Sie haben gelernt
correr corrieron you ran you did run
Sie sind gelaufen
esconder escondieron you hid you did hide
Sie haben versteckt
prometer prometieron you promised you did promise
Sie haben versprochen
vender vendieron you sold you did sell
Sie haben verkauft
IR
abrir abrieron you opened you did open
Sie haben geöffnet
confundir confundieron you confused you did confuse
Sie haben verwirrt
describir describieron you described you did describe
Sie haben beschrieben
insistir insistieron you insisted you did insist
Sie haben beharrt
recibir recibieron you received you did receive
Sie haben erhalten
The pronoun USTEDES needs to be stated in the preterite, because the same form is used for ELLAS & ELLOS.
Once it is clear that USTEDES is the subject, it can be left out in further statements.
The preterite tense reflects an action as a reported event.
It provides importance to the fact that it happened.
A look at other forms:
YO
ÉL
ELLA
USTED
NOSOTROS
VOSOTROS
ELLOS
ELLAS
USTEDES
More information concerning the preterite tense
Back to Top