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"Pretérito indefinido" is a noun which is often translated as "simple past", and "pretérito perfecto" is a noun which is often translated as "present perfect". Learn more about the difference between "pretérito indefinido" and "pretérito perfecto" below.
el pretérito indefinido(
preh
-
teh
-
ree
-
toh
een
-
deh
-
fee
-
nee
-
doh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (grammar)
a. simple past
El pretérito indefinido se usa para expresar acciones acabadas en el pasado.The simple past is used to express actions completed in the past.
b. preterite
"Fui" es la primera persona del pretérito indefinido de los verbos "ir" y "ser"."Fui" is the first person of the preterite of the verbs "ir" and "ser."
c. past tense
El ejercicio consiste en poner estos infinitivos en pretérito indefinido.The exercise involves putting these infinitives in the past tense.
el pretérito perfecto(
preh
-
teh
-
ree
-
toh
pehr
-
fehk
-
toh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (grammar)
a. present perfect
El pretérito perfecto se forma con el presente del verbo "haber" y el participio del verbo conjugado; por ejemplo, "he oído" ("I've heard").The present perfect is formed with the present of the verb "haber" and the past participle of the conjugated verb, for instance "he oído" ("I've heard").
b. simple past
El pretérito perfecto simple indica que la acción expresada por el verbo acabó en un momento del pasado.The simple past indicates that the action expressed by the verb finished at a point in the past.
