Spanish
Grade 10
15 min
Verbos -ER/-IR en preterito
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 8 out of 10 correctly conjugated -ER and -IR verbs in the preterite tense within a simple sentence.
- Apply the correct preterite endings to conjugate at least 5 out of 7 different regular -ER and -IR verbs in a fill-in-the-blank exercise.
- Explain in simple terms (using English or Spanish) the difference in preterite endings between -ER and -IR verbs, providing at least one example of each.
- Construct 3 original sentences using correctly conjugated -ER or -IR verbs in the preterite tense to describe past actions.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Conjugate any regular -ER and -IR verb in the preterite tense for all subject pronouns.
Recognize that regular -ER and -IR verbs share the same set of endings in the preterite tense.
Accurately apply accent marks to the first-person singular (yo) and third-person singular (él/ella/usted) forms.
Construct complete sentences describing specific, completed past actions using regular -ER and -IR verbs.
Translate sentences from English to Spanish that require the use of regular -ER/-IR preterite verbs.
Distinguish the use of the preterite for single, completed actions from other past tenses based on context.
Respond to questions about past events using correct -ER/-IR preterite conjugations.
Ever wanted to tell a friend what you ate for dinner last night or...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PretéritoA past tense in Spanish used to describe actions that are viewed as completed, single events in the past. It answers the question 'What happened?'.Ayer, **comí** una manzana. (Yesterday, I ate an apple.)
Verbo RegularA verb that follows a predictable conjugation pattern without changing its stem.Comer (to eat) is a regular verb; its stem 'com-' never changes in the preterite.
Raíz (Stem)The base part of the verb that remains after removing the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir).For the verb 'vivir', the stem is 'viv-'.
Desinencia (Ending)The part of the conjugated verb added to the stem that indicates the tense, mood, and subject (who is doing the action).In 'escribimos', the ending '-imos' indica...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
Patrón de Conjugación del Pretérito para Verbos -ER/-IR
Raíz + {-í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron}
To conjugate any regular -ER or -IR verb in the preterite, first remove the infinitive ending (-er or -ir) to find the stem. Then, add the appropriate preterite ending that matches the subject pronoun. Note that the endings for regular -ER and -IR verbs are identical in this tense.
Regla de Acentuación en el Pretérito
Las formas de 'yo' y 'él/ella/usted' siempre llevan tilde en la vocal final de la desinencia.
The accent mark on the 'yo' (e.g., comí, viví) and 'él/ella/Ud.' (e.g., comió, vivió) forms is not optional. It changes the pronunciation by placing stress on the final syllable and is critical for distinguishing the preterite...
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Challenging
Given the sentence 'Nosotros escribimos una novela', what piece of contextual information is essential to determine if 'escribimos' is in the present or preterite tense?
A.The gender of the authors.
B.The length of the novel.
C.time expression indicating a completed past action (e.g., 'ayer', 'la semana pasada').
D.The type of novel it is.
Challenging
Your friend writes the following text: 'Ayer, yo comi mucho y mi hermano bebio un refresco.' Based on the rules of preterite conjugation, what two specific corrections must be made?
A.Change 'comi' to 'comiste' and 'bebio' to 'bebiste'.
B.Change 'comi' to 'comió' and 'bebio' to 'bebí'.
C.Change 'Ayer' to 'Hoy' and add accents to both verbs.
D.Add an accent to 'comi' (comí) and an accent to 'bebio' (bebió).
Challenging
Select the option that logically and grammatically completes the two-part sentence: 'Anoche, yo __________ la ventana porque __________ un ruido extraño afuera.'
A.abrí / oí
B.abrió / oíste
C.abrimos / oyeron
D.abriste / oió
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Verbos -ER/-IR en preterito"?
Verbos -ER/-IR en preterito is a Grade 10 Spanish lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Verbos -ER/-IR en preterito?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 8 out of 10 correctly conjugated -ER and -IR verbs in the preterite tense within a simple sentence; Apply the correct preterite endings to conjugate at least 5 out of 7 different regular -ER and -IR verbs in a….
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How many practice questions are included with Verbos -ER/-IR en preterito?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.