5.1 Question Bank: Basic Preterit

Choose the correct preterit form of : comer (yo) to say "I ate" (a)  

• comí
• comiste
• comió
• comieron

Answer explanation

comer = to eat

comí = i ate

¿Presente o pasado? Read each sentence and decide of it occurred in the present or past by the verb form that is used:

Groups:

(a) presente

,

(b) pasado

• Mi hermano y yo lavamos el coche ayer.

• Ella cocina para la familia cada día.

• ¿Ayudaste mucho a tus padres la semana pasada?

• Mis padres trabajan todos los días excepto los fines de semana.

• Ella cocinó para la familia.

• Yo corté el césped después de las clases.

Answer explanation

cocina = present (he/she cooks)

cocinó = past (he/she cooked)

trabajan = they work

corté = i cut

ayudaste = you helped

lavamos = we wash OR we washed. The key word is ayer (yesterday) so we know it's washed

¿Presente o pasado? Read each sentence and decide of it occurred in the present or past by the verb form that is used: Mis hermanos limpiaron el baño y yo lavé los platos.

• presente
• pasado

Use the verb comprar (to buy) to say what each person bought. Mi madre (a)   aretes ayer.

• compré
• compraste
• compraron
• compró

Answer explanation

compró = he/she bought

Use the verb comprar (to buy) to say what each person bought. Mis primos ​ (a)   videojuegos anoche.

• compré
• compró
• compraste
• compraron

Answer explanation

mis primos compraron = my cousins bought

Use the verb comprar (to buy) to say what each person bought. Mi papá ​ (a)   una pulsera hace un año.

• compré
• compró
• compraste
• compraron

Answer explanation

mi papá compró = my dad bought

Use the verb comprar (to buy) to say what each person bought. Tú _​ (a)   un vestido hace tres días.

​

• compré
• compró
• compraste
• compraron

Answer explanation

tú compraste = you bought

Pay attention to the verb tense! Choose the correct verb form and tense: I wash the dishes. Yo _____los platos.

• lavo
• lavé

Answer explanation

i wash = present tense, so lavo

Choose the correct verb conjugation: They lived in Spain for three years. Ellos_____ en España por tres años.

• viven
• vivieron
• vivían
• vivimos

Answer explanation

they lived = ellos vivieron

Choose the correct preterit form for the subject Usted to say "you (formal) practiced" (a)  

• practiqué
• practicaste
• practicaron
• practicó

Answer explanation

usted practicó = you (formal) practiced