DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido)
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Key Takeaways
- Conjugate regular -AR, -ER, -IR verbs in the preterite tense with clear charts.
- Master key irregular verbs like Ir, Ser, Hacer, and Ver.
- Learn when to use the preterite with DELE A2-focused examples.
- Practice with our targeted quiz to ace the exam.
Welcome to your complete guide to the Spanish Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido), a fundamental topic for the DELE A2 exam. This past tense is essential for describing completed actions and telling stories, which is crucial for the writing and speaking sections. In this guide, you will learn to conjugate regular and key irregular verbs, see clear examples, and get links to our free practice tools.
What is the Preterite Tense in Spanish?
For the DELE A2 level, the preterite tense (el pretérito indefinido) is used to talk about past actions that are seen as completed. They have a definite beginning and end. Think of it as the “simple past” in English.
When to Use the Preterite:
- Completed Actions: An action that happened once and is finished.
- *Ayer *comí paella.” (Yesterday I ate paella.)
- Actions with a Specific Time: An action that occurred at a specific point in the past.
- *”La reunión *empezó a las tres.” (The meeting started at three.)
- A Series of Completed Events: A chain of events in a story.
- “**Me levanté, *desayuné y *salí de casa.” (I got up, I ate breakfast, and I left home.)
Spanish Preterite Tense Conjugation Charts: Regular Verbs
Here are the complete conjugation tables for regular verbs in the preterite tense.
1. -AR Verb Endings (Example: Hablar – To Speak)
| Subject Pronoun | Ending | Conjugation (Hablar) |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | -é | hablé |
| Tú | -aste | hablaste |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -ó | habló |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | -amos | hablamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | -asteis | hablasteis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | -aron | hablaron |
2. -ER and -IR Verb Endings (Example: Comer – To Eat / Vivir – To Live)
| Subject Pronoun | Ending | Conjugation (Comer) | Conjugation (Vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | -í | comí | viví |
| Tú | -iste | comiste | viviste |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -ió | comió | vivió |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | -imos | comimos | vivimos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | -isteis | comisteis | vivisteis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | -ieron | comieron | vivieron |
DELE A2 Tip: Notice that -ER and -IR verbs have the exact same endings in the preterite tense. This makes them easier to learn!
Essential Irregular Verbs for DELE A2
You must memorize these common irregular verbs for the DELE A2 exam.
| Verb (English) | Yo | Tú | Él/Ella/Usted | Nosotros | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ir (to go) | fui | fuiste | fue | fuimos | fueron |
| Ser (to be) | fui | fuiste | fue | fuimos | fueron |
| Hacer (to do/make) | hice | hiciste | hizo | hicimos | hicieron |
| Ver (to see) | vi | viste | vio | vimos | vieron |
DELE A2 Tip: The verbs Ir (to go) and Ser (to be) are identical in the preterite tense. You must use context to understand the meaning!
Common DELE A2 Preterite Verbs & Examples
Here are example sentences you can use in the DELE A2 speaking or writing section.
Regular Verbs:
- Trabajar (to work): “Trabajé mucho la semana pasada.” (I worked a lot last week.)
- Aprender (to learn): “Aprendimos a bailar flamenco.” (We learned to dance flamenco.)
- Escribir (to write): “Escribiste una carta muy bonita.” (You wrote a very nice letter.)
Irregular Verbs:
- Ir (to go): **”El año pasado *fui a México.” (Last year I went to Mexico.)
- Hacer (to do/make): **”¿Qué *hiciste ayer?” (What did you do yesterday?)
Practice with Our Free Spanish Conjugation Tool
Learning the patterns is the first step. Now, you need to practice! Use our interactive Spanish Conjugation Tool to practice any verb in the preterite tense.
→Click here to open our Spanish Conjugation Tool and practice!
You can type in any verb, select “Preterite Tense,” and see all the conjugations.
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Have you studied the charts and examples? Now it’s time to see if you are ready for the exam!
Take our DELE A2 Preterite Tense Quiz here to check your understanding and get one step closer to passing your DELE A2.
What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?
- Ready for another past tense? Study the DELE A2 Imperfect Tense next.
- Confused about when to use which? Master the DELE A2 Preterite vs. Imperfect guide.
- Practice all A2 topics? Return to the DELE A2 Grammar Hub.
Good luck with your DELE A2 preparation!
