9.3.1

Uses of the Preterite Tense

Test yourself

Uses of the Preterite Tense

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A finished one-time action

  • Fernando compró un nuevo coche.
    • Fernando bought a new car.
  • Nací en Inglaterra.
    • I was born in England.
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‘Ayer, la semana pasada, hace un año’

  • España ganó la Copa del Mundo en 2010.
    • Spain won the world cup in 2010.
  • Henry nació el cinco de julio.
    • Henry was born on the 5th of July.
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A finished period of time

  • Vivieron en Australia por seis meses.
    • They lived in Australia for six months.
  • Leí este libro el año pasado.
    • I read this book last year.
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Events in order, a sequence of actions

  • Me vestí y salí a dar una vuelta.
    • I got dressed and went for a walk.
  • Entró, bebió una cerveza y comió un pedazo de pan.
    • He came in, drank a beer and ate a piece of bread.
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Past events in a story

  • Llegó a la playa y puso su toalla en la arena.
    • She arrived at the beach and put her towel on the sand.
Illustrative background for Start and end of eventsIllustrative background for Start and end of events ?? "content

Start and end of events

  • Empezó a llover.
    • It began to rain.
  • La novela terminó con un final cómico.
    • The book ended with a comic end.

Jump to other topics

1Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

2You, Family & Home

3School & Jobs

4Town, Shopping, Food, Drink

5Free Time

6Holiday

7The World Around Us

8Present Tense

9Past Tense

10Future Tense

11Conditional

12Grammar

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