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The key rules of this unit in two minutes. Tap the speaker to hear each example.
The simple past: -ar verbs
For finished events at a specific time (yesterday, last week, in 2019) Spanish uses the “indefinido”. For -ar verbs the endings are -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron.
- Ayer hablé con Mateo.Yesterday I spoke to Mateo.
- ¿Compraste el pan?Did you buy the bread?
-er and -ir verbs
Verbs ending in -er and -ir share the same endings: -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron. Watch the accent: comí (I ate) but como (I eat).
- Anoche comí pescado.Last night I ate fish.
- Salimos a las diez.We went out at ten.
Fui: went or was?
“Ir” (to go) and “ser” (to be) have exactly the same past forms. Context tells you which one is meant: fui a Madrid (I went), fue genial (it was great).
- Fui a Mallorca.I went to Mallorca.
- Fue un día increíble.It was an incredible day.
Today or yesterday?
In Spain: today, this week, ever → he comido (perfect). Yesterday, last week, in 2019 → comí (indefinido).
- Hoy he trabajado mucho.I’ve worked a lot today.
- Ayer trabajé mucho.I worked a lot yesterday.