Spanish/Tenses/Indicative/Simple/Preterite

-AR-ER / -IRconjugationexampletranslationconjugationexampletranslation-ARhablarto speak-ER / -IRcomerto eatYostem+éhabléI spokestem+ícomíI ateTústem+astehablasteYou spokestem+istecomisteYou ateÉlstem+óhablóHe spokestem+iócomióHe ateNosotrosstem+amoshablamosWe spokestem+imoscomimosWe ateVosotrosstem+asteishablasteisYou all spokestem+isteiscomisteisYou all ateEllosstem+aronhablaronThey spokestem+ieroncomieronThey ate Some things to note: Most significantly, the -ER and -IR verbs have exactly the same endings. This makes learning the preterite simpler. The nosotros forms of the -AR and -IR verbs appear exactly the same as they do in the present. You must figure out their meaning based on context. Accent marks are essential. Hablo and Habló are completely different; an accent mark makes the difference between "I speak" and "he spoke."