Learning Spanish - Past Tense Verb Conjugations

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There are two past tense verb forms in spanish: imperfect and preterite. English has these concepts but we’ll need to dig deeper as it’s often tied to other words. This article can be used a guide.

Preterite Form

This is also known as simple past. In English, it’s the basic verb conjugation with an -ed suffix.

I talked to Joe.

The action is performed and completed. There is a definitive end and a corresponding specific point in time.

The common trigger words involve specific time-frames:

  • ayer (yesterday)
  • hace un año (a year ago)
  • esa vez (that “one time”)

Some verbs exclusively use the preterite form:

  • salir (to leave)
  • graduarse (to graduate)

It does not make sense for these verbs to ongoing actions. Nevertheless, you can construct the imperfect form if you wanted, the rules still work.

Preterite Conjugation of -ar Verbs

  • yo hablé
  • tú hablaste
  • él habló
  • nosotros hablamos
  • ellos hablaron

Preterite Conjugation of -ir and -er Verbs

  • yo bebí
  • tú bebiste
  • él bebió
  • nosotro bebimos
  • ellos bebieron

Nosotros Form

Note that the nosotros form for -ar and -ir verbs is identical to the present tense (-er verbs change to imos). The tense is determined from context clues from the remainder of the sentence.

I see this and I’m thinking there are two outcomes:

  • sentences are always unambiguous, so using preterite form correctly is just verb-tense agreement
  • or nosotros form requires disambiguating by explicitly reworking the sentence

Imperfect Form

Imperfect verbs are actions that are continuous and do not have a definitive end. In English, these are gerunds.

I was talking to Joe.

The action is not complete and ongoing (even though it’s in the past).

The common trigger words involve general time-frames:

  • a menudo (often)
  • a veces (sometimes)
  • todo el tiempo (all the time)

Imperfect Conjugation of -ar Verbs

Replace the -ar suffix with -aba.

  • yo hablaba
  • tú hablabas
  • él hablaba
  • nosotros hablábamos
  • ellos hablabaron

Imperfect Conjugation of -ir and -er Verbs

Replace the -ar suffix with -ia.

  • yo bebía
  • tú bebías
  • él bebía
  • nosotros bebíamos
  • ellos bebían

Mnemonic Devices For Differentiating

Substitute the verb into a sentence that involves an interruption.

I was <imperfect> until <preterite> happened.

The imperfect verb is the action that was continuous and ongoing. The preterite verb is the action that interrupted.

I was talking to Joe when he burst into tears.