The Spanish preterite tense (pretérito indefinido, also called pretérito perfecto simple) is how you talk about finished actions in the past: what you did yesterday, last weekend or last year. It works like the English simple past (I ate, we went), so it is the first Spanish past tense every learner should master.
In this guide you'll find the preterite conjugation rules for regular -AR, -ER and -IR verbs, the most common irregular preterite verbs, accent rules, time markers and free interactive Spanish preterite exercises (19 questions with instant feedback). Start with the interactive slides below.
1. When to Use the Spanish Preterite (Pretérito Indefinido)
The action started and ended. Yesterday I ate arepas.
Each verb is one step in the story. I got up, had breakfast and left.
You can point to when it happened. Last night I arrived late.
2. Spanish Preterite Conjugation: Regular -AR, -ER and -IR Endings
Remove -ar, -er or -ir and add the ending. Notice that -er and -ir verbs share the same endings.
| Person | -AR (hablar) | -ER / -IR (comer, vivir) |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hablé | comí |
| tú | hablaste | comiste |
| él / ella / usted | habló | comió |
| nosotros | hablamos | comimos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablaron | comieron |
3. Irregular Preterite Verbs: Ir, Ser, Ver, Dar and Hacer
Ir (to go) and ser (to be) look identical. Context tells you which one: Ayer fui al cine (I went) vs. Fue una gran noche (It was).
No accent on vi or vio: one syllable.
Same pattern as ver.
Careful: hizo uses z to keep the sound.
Want a native Colombian teacher to correct your Spanish preterite in real conversations?
Book a class — from $104. Preterite Accent Rules: Hablo vs. Habló
One little mark changes the time. Compare:
Hoy yo estudio. — I study today. (present)
Ayer yo estudié. — I studied yesterday. (past)
Ella habla / Ella habló — she speaks / she spoke.
5. Preterite Time Markers (Signal Words) in Spanish
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ayer | yesterday |
| anoche | last night |
| el año pasado | last year |
| hace dos días | two days ago |
| una vez | once |
| de repente | suddenly |
Spanish Preterite Exercises: Free Interactive Worksheet
Test your preterite conjugation with four activities: complete the sentences, conjugate the verbs, choose the right tense, and put the words in order. You get instant feedback, a score bar and a final result. Open "Ayuda" if you need the endings table.
Spanish Conversation Practice: Past Tense Games for Kids and Adults
Grammar sticks when you use it with real people. Choose a path: kids (dice, silly stories, a reporter role play and daily missions) or adults (conversation starters, a job-interview role play, storytelling and "two truths and a lie"). Tap any line to hear it in Spanish, then say it out loud with a partner or your teacher.
Learn Spanish with a Native Colombian Teacher
On the Caribbean coast you'll hear stories like "Ayer fui a la playa con mis parces" (Yesterday I went to the beach with my buddies). Explore Colombian Spanish slang in Colombian Spanish slang: 10 expressions you'll never find in a textbook, and start from zero with Spanish for beginners.
Challenge: say three things you did yesterday out loud, using three different verbs from this post.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Spanish Preterite Tense
What is the preterite tense in Spanish?
The preterite (pretérito indefinido or pretérito perfecto simple) is a past tense for actions that started and finished at a specific time: Ayer comí arepas (Yesterday I ate arepas). It works like the English simple past.
How do you conjugate regular verbs in the preterite?
Drop -ar, -er or -ir and add the ending. -AR verbs: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -aron (hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablaron). -ER and -IR verbs: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -ieron (comí, viviste, comió, vivimos, comieron).
What are the most common irregular preterite verbs?
Start with ir and ser (fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron), ver (vi, viste, vio), dar (di, diste, dio) and hacer (hice, hiciste, hizo). Verbs such as estar (estuve), tener (tuve) and decir (dije) also have irregular stems.
What is the difference between pretérito indefinido and pretérito perfecto simple?
There is no difference: both names refer to the same tense, and many textbooks simply call it el pretérito.
When do I use the preterite instead of the imperfect?
Use the preterite for completed actions with a clear beginning and end (Ayer fui al cine). Use the imperfect for habits and descriptions in the past (De niño jugaba fútbol).
