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Verbs Ending in 'gar' in the Preterite Tense

Some AR verbs in the preterite change their stem in the 'yo' form. This is the only change and follow a regular pattern after this. Derivatives of these verbs follow the same pattern.

Verbs ending in 'gar'

Verbs ending in 'gar'

  • Spanish verbs ending in 'gar' in the preterite change their spelling in the first person.
  • These verbs add a 'u' after 'g'.
    • Jugar (to play) → jugué (I played).
Jugar - to play

Jugar - to play

  • Jugué - I played.
  • Jugaste - you played.
  • Jugó - he/she played.
  • Jugamos - we played.
  • Jugasteis - you (plural) played.
  • Jugaron - they played.
Negar - to deny

Negar - to deny

  • Negué - I denied.
  • Negaste - you denied.
  • Negó - he/she denied.
  • Negamos - we denied.
  • Negasteis - you (plural) denied.
  • Negaron - they denied.
Entregar - to hand in

Entregar - to hand in

  • Entregué - I handed in.
  • Entregaste - you handed in.
  • Entregó -he/she handed in.
  • Entregamos - we handed in.
  • Entregasteis - you (plural) handed in.
  • Entregaron - they handed in.
Llegar - to arrive

Llegar - to arrive

  • Llegué - I arrived.
  • Llegaste - you arrived.
  • Llegó - he/she arrived.
  • Llegamos - we arrived.
  • Llegasteis - you (plural) arrived.
  • Llegaron - they arrived.
Other verbs that follow this pattern

Other verbs that follow this pattern

  • Other verbs that follow this pattern include:
    • Apagar - to turn off.
    • Colgar - to hang.
    • Castigar - to punish.
    • Pagar - to pay.
    • Cargar - to load, charge.
    • Navegar - to surf (the internet).

Verbs Ending in 'car' in the Preterite Tense

Some AR verbs in the preterite change their stem in the 'yo' form. This is the only change and they follow a regular pattern after this.

Verbs ending in 'car'

Verbs ending in 'car'

  • Spanish verbs ending in 'car' change their spelling in the first person preterite.
  • The 'car' in the infinitive changes to 'qué' in the 'yo' form.
    • Publicar (to publish) → publiqué (I published).
Tocar - to touch, play (an instrument)

Tocar - to touch, play (an instrument)

  • Toqué - I played.
  • Tocaste - you played.
  • Tocó - she played.
  • Tocamos - we played.
  • Tocasteis - you played.
  • Tocaron - they played.
Explicar - to explain

Explicar - to explain

  • Expliqué - I explained.
  • Explicaste - you explained.
  • Explicó - he explained.
  • Explicamos - we explained.
  • Explicasteis - you explained.
  • Explicaron - they explained.
Similar verbs

Similar verbs

  • Other verbs that follow this pattern include:
    • Pescar - to fish.
    • Dedicar - to devote.
    • Provocar - to provoke.
    • Marcar - to score, to mark.
    • Sacar - to get, to achieve

Verbs Ending in 'zar' in the Preterite Tense

AR verbs that end in 'zar' have an irregular 'yo' form in the preterite tense. The 'zar' in the infinitive changes to 'cé' in the 'yo' form, e.g. comenzar → comen (to start → I started).

Empezar - to begin

Empezar - to begin

  • Empe - I began.
  • Empezaste - you began.
  • Empezó - he/she began.
  • Empezamos - we began.
  • Empezasteis - you (plural) began.
  • Empezaron - they began.
Comenzar - to start

Comenzar - to start

  • Comen - I started.
  • Comenzaste - you started.
  • Comenzó - he/she started.
  • Comenzamos - we started.
  • Comenzasteis - you (plural) started.
  • Comenzaron - they started.
Utilizar - to use

Utilizar - to use

  • Utili - I used.
  • Utilizaste - you used.
  • Utilizó - she used.
  • Utilizamos - we used.
  • Utilizasteis - you (plural) used.
  • Utilizaron - they used.
Similar verbs

Similar verbs

  • Other verbs that follow this pattern include:
    • Almorzar - to have lunch.
    • Amenazar - to threaten.
    • Cruzar - to cross.
    • Organizar - to organise.
    • Alcanzar - to reach.
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The Basics

2

Current & Future Study & Employment

2.1

School & Subjects

2.2

School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)

2.3

School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)

2.4

Education Post - 16

2.5

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)

2.6

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)

3

Identity & Culture

3.1

Me, My Family & Friends

3.2

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)

3.3

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)

3.4

Technology in Everyday Life

3.5

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)

3.6

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)

3.7

Free Time Activities

3.8

Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)

3.9

Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)

3.10

Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.11

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)

3.12

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)

4

Areas of Interest

4.1

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2

Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)

4.3

Home & Region - Translations (Higher)

4.4

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4.5

Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)

4.6

Social Issues - Translations (Higher)

4.7

Global Issues

4.8

Global Issues - Translations

4.9

Travel & Tourism

4.10

Travel & Tourism - Translations

5

Listening Practice

5.1

Time Expressions - Listening

5.2

Me, My Family & Friends - Listening

5.3

Technology in Everyday Life - Listening

5.4

Free-Time - Listening

5.5

Customs & Festivals - Listening

5.6

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening

5.7

Social Issues - Listening

5.8

Travel & Tourism - Listening

5.9

Education - Listening

5.10

Food & Drink - Listening

5.11

In the Home - Listening

5.12

Colours - Listening

5.13

Clothes & Accesories - Listening

5.14

Measurements - Listening

5.15

Materials - Listening

6

Common Tenses

7

Important Verbs

8

Advanced Tenses

9

Extra Grammar

9.1

Articles

9.2

Negatives

9.3

Nouns

9.4

Asking Questions

9.5

Adjectives

9.6

Adverbs

9.7

Conjunctions

9.8

Pronouns

9.9

By, With, From, Of

9.10

Verbs

9.11

Comparisons

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