Learning Preterite Verbs

Question

How can I have an easier time learning Preterite Verbs?

What is you specific issue. Otherwise all anyone can do is link lessons for the very broad subject, which you could easily search for yourself? :) - bosquederoble, Jan 25, 2017

Thanks I'll try to be more specific in the future!:) - James0309, Jan 25, 2017

Answer 1

I tried to answer this a few hours ago but lost my answer part way through.

If you look at Daniela's profile you will see she knows what she is talking about. However, I know many teachers refer to the simple past as preterite, the one using haber as present perfect and the one for habitual actions, imperfect. For some years the teachers I have had have given the lessons in Spanish so have used the Spanish names for the tenses. On the basis I found the perfect tense and imperfect reasonably easy I assume you are looking for tips on the preterite.

Here is an earlier answer about learning verb tenses

previous answer

I like Jack's approach. However you may groan at some answers as there isn't a quick fix.

1. Note 1st person plural is the same for present and preterite

2. If you are not planning to use Spanish in Spain you can omit vosotros [though it is just adding 'is' to the tu form]

3. Tu form is the present tense with 'te' added.

4. . Note the use of accents. For example hablo = I speak but habló = he spoke. In addition they are pronounced differently.

5. A lot of the irregular verbs follow the same pattern so learn the more common ones together. Some are stem changing, others change their spelling to keep a uniform pronunciation.

6. When you learn the imperfect subjunctive, you use as the root, the 3rd person plural of the preterite so learn it now!

I like listening to music and it is a painless way to improve your knowledge of verbs..

Here is a Spanish singer, singing y nos dieron la diez.

Joaquin Sabina

and here is an exercise based on the song.

formespa exercise

Finally, here are a series of exercises and quizzes

study spanish.com

Listen to music you like, but also look out for songs recommended for a particular subject.

Gracias Mardle - James0309, Jan 26, 2017

Answer 2

First of all there is no such thing as a "preterite verb." "Preterite" is a verb tense. It is also called the "simple" past tense- simple meaning only one word is used, likes "went" as apposed to a "compound" tense like "have gone"

There are many tenses in Spanish, and preterite is one of them.

No one has an "easy time" learning them. It takes time and effort. Spanish is derived from Latin, mainly, and has a very complicated verb system. This is why we teach just a little a t time.

My suggestion is that you go to SD's home page, scroll down till you see "grammar practice." Click on it, Then scroll down till you get to verbs, then you will see links to the various tenses.

Gracias Daniela I appreciate it:) - James0309, Jan 25, 2017