PRETERITE TENSE
IRREGULAR VERBS
We know that there are two patterns for regular Preterite tense endings. One for AR verbs and one for ER and IR verbs. There is in fact a third pattern for verbs which are irregular in Preterite tense. These verbs will use the pattern below. In addition you will see that the stem of the verb also changes.
| I | Yo | E |
| You | Tú | ISTE |
| He / she / it | Él / ella / usted | O |
| We | Nosotros / as | IMOS |
| All of you | Vosotros / as | ISTEIS |
| They | Ellos / ellas / ustedes | IERON |
| Andar | Anduve, anduviste etc. |
| Estar | Estuve |
| Tener | Tuve |
| Caber | Cupe |
| Saber | Supe |
| Haber | Hube |
| Poder | Pude |
| Poner | Puse |
| Querer | Quise |
| Venir | Vine |
| Hacer |
Hice, hiciste, hizo *(note the c – z in 3ps) |
There are also completely irregular verbs which will have their own patterns.
| PERSON | PRETERITE OR PAST TENSE |
SER – TO BE IR – TO GO |
|
| I | Yo | I was / went | FUI |
| You | Tú | You were / went | FUISTE |
| He / She / Usted | Él / Ella / Usted | He / she was / went | FUE |
| We | Nosotros (as) | We were / went | FUIMOS |
| You | Vosotros (as) | You were / went | FUISTEIS |
| They / Ustedes | Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes | They were / went | FUERON |
| PERSON | PRETERITE OR PAST TENSE | DAR – TO GIVE | |
| I | Yo | I gave | DI |
| You | Tú | You gave | DISTE |
| He / She / Usted | Él / Ella / Usted | He / she gave | DIO |
| We | Nosotros (as) | We gave | DIMOS |
| You | Vosotros (as) | You gave | DISTEIS |
| They / Ustedes | Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes | They gave | DIERON |
| PERSON | PRETERITE OR PAST TENSE | VER – TO SEE | |
| I | Yo | I saw | VI |
| You | Tú | You saw | VISTE |
| He / She / Usted | Él / Ella / Usted | He / she saw | VIO |
| We | Nosotros (as) | We saw | VIMOS |
| You | Vosotros (as) | You saw | VISTEIS |
| They / Ustedes | Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes | The saw | VIERON |
| PERSON | PRETERITE OR PAST TENSE | DECIR – TO SAY / TO TELL | |
| I | Yo | I said / told | DIJE |
| You | Tú | You said / told | DIJISTE |
| He / She / Usted | Él / Ella / Usted | He / she said / told | DIJO |
| We | Nosotros (as) | We said / told | DIJIMOS |
| You | Vosotros (as) | You said / told | DIJISTEIS |
| They / Ustedes | Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes | They said / told | DIJERON |
| PERSON | PRETERITE OR PAST TENSE | TRAER – TO BRING | |
| I | Yo | I brought | TRAJE |
| You | Tú | You brought | TRAJISTE |
| He / She / Usted | Él / Ella / Usted | He / she brought | TRAJO |
| We | Nosotros (as) | We brought | TRAJIMOS |
| You | Vosotros (as) | You brought | TRAJISTEIS |
| They / Ustedes | Ellos / Ellas/ Ustedes | They brought | TRAJERON |