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6.5: Conjugating in the present and preterite tenses

  • Page ID
    173587
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    Conjugating in the present and preterite tenses.

    We have learned the present indicative and preterite verb tenses.  Let's practice them a bit before we move on.

    A. Decide if the following sentences are in the present indicative or preterite verb tense. Explain your answer.

    1.  Yo estudio mucho.

    2.  Ustedes estudiaron mucho ayer.

    3.  Tú bailas bien.

    4.  Ud. bailó mucho el viernes pasado.

    5. Nosotros comimos tacos la noche pasada.

    6. Nosotros comemos después de nuestra clase.

    7. Antes, María vivió lejos.

    8. Ahora María vive cerca.

    9.  Ustedes tienen muchos amigos.

    10. Ustedes durmieron poco anoche.

    11. Yo pedí una ensalada.

    12. Yo te pido el número.

    13. Antes jugué al tenis.

    14. Ahora juego al pickleball.

    15. Jorge toca el piano.

    16. Jorge tocó el clarinete.

    17.  La profesora cierra la puerta.

    18.  Los estudiantes cerraron las ventanas.

    19. Anoche miramos la televisión.

    20. Ahora miramos la televisión.

    B. Change the present tense verb conjugations to the preterite tense.                                                                                                                                      

                         now/ahora                                before/antes

    1.   La clase estudia.

    2.   Los profesores escriben.

    3.   Yo almuerzo temprano.

    4.   Nosotros leemos.

    5.   Ellas cantan.

    6.   Voy a mi casa.

    7.    Dice un chiste.

    8.   El estudiante hace la tarea.

    9.   Los chicos cantan.

    10.  Veo la noticia.

    11. Sé bailar.

    12. Ponemos la mesa.

    13. Puedo dibujar.

    14. Ustedes prefieron descansar.

    15. El perro duerme.

    C. Conjugate the following verbs in the present and then preterite verb tenses.

                 presente                                    preterite

    1.   Yo (cantar)

    2.   Tú (bailar)

    3.   Él (escribir)

    4.   Nosotros (correr)

    5.   Ellas (recibir)

    6.   Tú (conocer)

    7.   Ustedes (saber)

    8.   Usted (poder)

    9.   Yo (tener)

    10. Ana (hacer)

    11. Nosotras (leer)

    12. Tú (cerrar)

    13. Yo (explicar) 

    14. Yo (jugar)

    15. Yo (almorzar)

    16. La clase (leer)

    17.  Ustedes (irse)

    18.  Ana María (ser)

    19.  Los chicos (prepararse)

    20.  Yo (levantarse)

     

    D. Translate the following sentences into Spanish.   Be sure to conjugate in the present or preterite verb tenses.

    1. We study Spanish.

    2. We ate tacos.

    3. She drank coffee.

    4. She writes the verbs.

    5.  I prefer nachos.

    6.  I played tennis.

    7.  You (familiar, singular) play the piano.

    8.  You (familiar, singular) went to the library.

    9.  You (formal, plural) are lucky.

    10. You (formal, plural) slept late.

    11. He told the story.

    12. He reads the book.

    13.  They make tacos.

    14.  They made tacos.

     

    E. Is it easier for you to conjugate in the present indicative or the preterite verb tense? Why? Give three examples in the verb tense you chose.

     


    6.5: Conjugating in the present and preterite tenses is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.