Skype Chat--Mar 19 - Preterit tense

Question

Update on time: Saturday 5:30 PM East Coast Time, 3:30 PM Mexico, 10:30 PM Spain, Sunday 8:30 AM Australia

Please note: In the United States, we have changed to daylight-saving time this week, so the times in other regions have become one hour earlier.

Dakie and I will be doing a chat on the preterit tense. It will be like the chat that Heidi had for the tú commands. First, someone will give a sentence in English for a person to translate into Spanish like, "I shopped yesterday''. Compré ayer. Then, someone will ask them a question about their sentence. ¿Qué compraste ayer? What did you buy yesterday? And that person will answer the question, for example, "Compré un nuevo vestido". I just started this tense last week so I am just learning it myself.

Now don't get nervous. Dakie says that the preterit tense is really easy.

To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterit, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

é
aste
ó
amos
asteis
aron

To conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the preterit, simply drop the ending (-er or -ir) and add one of the following:

í
iste
ió
imos
isteis
ieron

Watch those Tildes!

The 1st and 3rd person singular have tildes (written accents) to differentiate them from present tense conjugations.

Note: the nosotros forms for -ar and -ir verbs are the same in both preterit and present tenses: hablamos, vivimos.

Here are some words that are used with the preterit flashcard setWords used with the preterit

You can do the video lessons on the preteritThe Preterit and Travels Irregular Preterit and Travel Kind of Irregular Preterit Try to do the best you can. Just try to get the basics. I will be posting some flashcards also.Cómo formar el pretérito Let's have fun with the preterit tense! Here is a link to the Conjuguemos spanish verb practice site for regular preterit. Try practicing it untimed at first. It is a big help. Practice the Spanish PRETERIT TENSE: regular verbs with this verb conjugation practice tool

For English learners, we will be doing part of the chat in English. So you can practice your English too. All levels are welcome.

Who will be there? : Echoline, Ray, Jason, Feliz, Yeser007, Croberts, Margaret, Miro, Joe, Aboutagirl, Rabbit, Lukaaxx, Dogwood, Pacofinger, Ron

Maybe attending : Goldie,

Moderators: Sandy, Dakie

Una buena ídea , Sandy :) - FELIZ77, Mar 11, 2011

Hee hee, a native speaker says it's really easy! I dunno what I was so afraid of then! - rabbitwho, Mar 14, 2011

It's a piece of cake , made in Spain with too much chilli , suggest eat in small pieces , digest slowly. and don't chunder in my direction. - ray76, Mar 15, 2011

Answer 1

I'd love to join you Sandy and company - I am so truly shattered (as in tired) at the moment that I don't think I'm up to it. Have a great time.

I am sad to hear that Galsally I look forward to when you will be able to join us again - FELIZ77, Mar 11, 2011

Thanks Sally, I hope you feel better. Get some rest! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 2

At what time?????????

Thanks, Miro, That is really important! I have added a time. - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 3

Thank you Sandy . That is a great way to have them written out , so clear and

eye catching . good to have given us plenty of time to work on them , if there is

room I would love to participate , be there even.

There is always a place for you mate. :) - Dakie, Mar 10, 2011

Thank you Garbo ,looking forward to your words of wisdom and great sense of humour ,i love it. - ray76, Mar 11, 2011

Ok, Ray, You are in! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 4

Good idea. Thanks, Sanlee and Dakie. I will try to be there. I think that I will be around.

Thank you, Echo! It will be great to have you there! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 5

Ok I'm DEFINITELY in this time. My Home computer is back working from today, my internet connection is back up and my Skype connection has been tried and tested! Im good to go!

are you coming to my chat too? - 00494d19, Mar 11, 2011

I don't think I will be able to make it this Saturday. It's a packed weekend for me. I'm totally free the following weekend. - croberts, Mar 11, 2011

Ok, Croberts. See you there - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 6

Hey Sandy and Dakie, sign me up.

Thank you, Yeser007 - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 7

OK.. add me please...I will try my best to be at home at this time.

Hi Miro, I need your Skype nickname. Please send me a PM. Thank you. - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

You also need to send you Skype nickname to Heidita. Thank you. - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 8

Me encantaría participar en esta charla de Skype

Yes, Feliz, Thank you. See you there. - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 9

Would love to be a part of the chat. Thanks!

Thank you, Jason - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 10

I would like to be involved but something always seems to come up. If possible, put me on the "bench" and maybe sometime during the chat I'll get a chance to play.

Hope to see you there, Goldie! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 11

Please come, this will be really helpful, you will see that talk in past tense sounds different than present tense, which can help you when you are talking to a native Spanish speaker, also I will be willing to answer any doubt about conjugation or pronunciation and why not, repass my own English past tense, so:

We say "review" or "revise" but not "repass". Looking forward to talking to you again Dakie! :) - rabbitwho, Mar 14, 2011

Answer 12

Si es posible me gustaría estar con vosotros el día 19.

Desde luego lukaxx ahora te agregamos. :) - Dakie, Mar 11, 2011

Hi Lukaaxx. Please send me your Skype Nickname by PM. Thank you. - sanlee, Mar 12, 2011

Por favor envíeme su apodo de Skype por correo privado. Gracias. - sanlee, Mar 12, 2011

Answer 13

I'd like to participate as well! Thanks.

Thank you, Joe - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 14

Oh my goodness - I have missed a lot of activity. Is there still room?

How do you do those beautiful posts - can someone give a quick course on that?

Thank you Margaret! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 15

Hi Sandy, Can I join in too? I've just signed up to Skype and am trying to test my connection etc.

hi pintor, sandy will see this of course, but the chat is really full, however, there is always the typical drop out...so stay tuned, maybe you can be added last minute;) - 00494d19, Mar 15, 2011

Anyway, pintor, we need your skype nick;) - 00494d19, Mar 15, 2011

Thanks Heidita, I am a little slow with technology, how do I send you my skype nick? - pintor, Mar 15, 2011

Hi Pintor, Send Heidi and me your Skype nick throught the PM box. - sanlee, Mar 15, 2011