Spelling and Pronunciation
The Preterite Tense
If a verb is a stem changer in the present tense, it will not stem change in the preterite unless it is an – ir verb. No – ar or – er verbs will stem change in the preterite.
Stem-changing verbs ending in -ir
An –ir verb that stem changes in the present tense will stem change in the preterite but only in the third person forms ( él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, and ustedes). Any –ir verb that stem changed o>ue will stem change o>u in the preterite in the third person forms. Table 1 demonstrates the preterite patterns for all –ir verbs that stem-changes o>ue in the present tense. The verb dormir (to sleep) is conjugated exactly the same in both tenses.
|
Singular |
Plural |
|---|---|
|
yo dormí (I slept) |
nosotros/nosotras dormimos (we slept) |
|
tú dormiste (you [informal] slept) |
vosotros/vosotras dormisteis (you [informal] slept) |
|
usted durmió (you [formal] slept) |
ustedes durmieron (you [formal] slept) |
|
él durmió (he slept) |
ellos durmieron (they slept) |
|
ella durmió (she slept) |
ellas durmieron (they slept) |
There are several – ir verbs that stem change e>ie in the present tense. Any – ir verb that stem changes e>ie in the present tense, will stem change e>i in the preterite but only in the third person forms (él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes). Table 2, which conjugates the verb mentir (to tell a lie), demonstrates the preterite patterns for all –ir verbs that stem change e>ie in the present tense.
|
Singular |
Plural |
|---|---|
|
yo mentí (I told a lie) |
nosotros/nosotras mentimos (we told a lie) |
|
tú mentiste (you [informal] told a lie) |
vosotros/vosotras mentisteis (you [informal] told a lie) |
|
usted mintió (you [formal] told a lie) |
ustedes mintieron (you [formal] told a lie) |
|
él mintió (he told a lie) |
ellos mintieron (they told a lie) |
|
ella mintió (she told a lie) |
ellas mintieron (they told a lie) |
Here are some common – ir verbs that are all conjugated like mentir in the preterite tense:
|
convertir |
to convert |
|
divertirse |
to enjoy oneself |
|
hervir |
to boil |
|
sentir |
to feel, to regret |
|
preferir |
to prefer |
If an – ir verb stem changes e>i in the present tense, it will also stem change e>i in the preterite, but only in the third person forms ( él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes). Table 3, which conjugates the verb pedir (to request), demonstrates the preterite patterns for all -ir verbs that stem change e>i in the present tense.
|
Singular |
Plural |
|---|---|
|
yo pedí (I requested) |
nosotros/nosotras pedimos (we requested) |
|
tú pediste (you [informal] requested) |
vosotros/vosotras pedisteis (you [informal] requested) |
|
usted pidió (you [formal] requested) |
ustedes pidieron (you [formal] requested) |
|
él pidió (he requested) |
ellos pidieron (they requested) |
|
ella pidió (she requested) |
ellas pidieron (they requested) |
Here are some common verbs that are all conjugated like pedir in the preterite tense:
|
impedir |
to impede, to prevent |
|
medir |
to measure |
|
repetir |
to repeat |
|
seguir |
to follow |
