Spelling changes in the preterite

IN the preterite some –AR verbs have spelling changes

only in the “yo” form

The first set of verbs end in the letters -CARThink of a verb that ends in -CAR? Write it down next to #1 on your worksheet

busqué

buscóbuscaste

buscamos

buscaron

Verbs that end in -carVerbs that end in -car, first-person singular of the preterite (the “yo” form). All other forms of these verbs are conjugated regularly.

c qu Example: buscar

Busqué el programa en la tele. I looked for the program on the TV.

Why does it change from –car to qué?

How do you pronounce the word “hace”?How would you pronounce this word “toce”?

We want it to be pronounced as “toqué” so that it sounds like it comes from “tocar”. By changing the –car to qué, yo preserve the pronunciation of the verb.

#4 Conjugate the verb TOCAR in the preterite tense on #4 on your paper

toqué

tocótocaste

tocamos

tocaron

tocar

The second set of verbs end in -GAR

What verb can you think of that ends in –GAR? Write it down next to #5 on your worksheet

jugué

jugójugaste

jugamos

jugaron

Verbs that end in -garVerbs that end in -gar, first-person singular of the preterite (the “yo” form). All other forms of these verbs are conjugated regularly.

g gué Example: jugar

Jugué fútbol anoche.I played soccer last night.

NOTICE: there is no stem-change in the preterite for this verb.

There are stem-changing preterite verbs but we will learn them later.

Why does it change from –gar to gué?

How do you pronounce the word “general”?How would you pronounce this word “llegé”?

We want it to be pronounced as “llegué” so that it sounds like it comes from “llegar”. By changing the –gar to gué, yo preserve the pronunciation of the verb.

#8 Conjugate the verb llegar in the preterite tense on #8 on your paper

llegué

llególlegaste

llegamos

llegaron

llegar

The third set of verbs end in -ZAR

What verb can you think of that ends in –ZAR? Write it down next to #9 on your worksheet

almorcé

almorzóalmorzaste

almorzamos

almorzaron

Verbs that end in -zarVerbs that end in -zar, first-person singular of the preterite (the “yo” form). All other forms of these verbs are conjugated regularly.

z cé

Almorcé con Juan la semana pasada I ate lunch with Juan last week.

NOTICE: there is no stem-change in the preterite for this verb.

There are stem-changing preterite verbs but we will learn them later.

Why does it change from –ZAR to “ce”• There is no reason – you just have to memorize it!

Conjugate the verb “empezar” next to #11 on your paper. There is no stem-change!

empecé

empezóempezaste

empezamos

empezaron

empezar

NOTICE: there is no stem-change in the preterite for this verb.

There are stem-changing preterite verbs but we will learn them later.