Preterite

Stem-Changing Verbs

I > Y

E > I

O > U

dormí dormimos

dormiste dormisteis

durmió durmieron

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

(o to ue in the present tense) (o to u in the preterite tense)

DORMIR – to sleep

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

Morí Morimos

Moriste Moristeis

Murió Murieron

MORIR – to die(o to ue in the present tense) (o to u in the preterite tense)

Preferí Preferimos

Preferiste Preferisteis

Prefirió Prefirieron

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

PREFERIR – to prefer(e to ie in the present tense) (e to i in the preterite tense)

Sentí Sentimos

Sentiste Sentisteis

Sintió Sintieron

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

(e to ie in the present tense) (e to i in the preterite tense)

SENTIR – to feel

Me divertí Nos Divertimos

Te divertiste Os Divertisteis

Se Divirtió Se Divirtieron

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

(e to ie in the present tense) (e to i in the preterite tense)

DIVERTIRSE – to have fun

Reír – to laughReí Reímos

Reíste ReísteisRió Rieron

Sonreí SonreímosSonreíste Sonreísteis

Sonrió Sonrieron

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

Sonreír – to smile

*In the third person singular and plural line the E is dropped

Leí Leímos

Leíste Leísteis

Leyó Leyeron

* In words with a vowel immediately before the ending. The third person singular and

plural takes on a y.

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

LEER – to read

Creí Creímos

Creíste Creísteis

Creyó Creyeron

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

CREER – to believe

Other verbs that change like Leer y Creer

Caer

Oír

Poseer

Exceptions are: Traer, atraer, and all verbs ending in –guir.

Construí Construimos

Construiste Construisteis

Construyó Construyeron

• These are the same endings for other verbs

ending in –UIR.

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

CONSTRUIR – to construct

Other verbs that change like Construir

Distribuir

Huir

Incluir

Contribuir

Preterite of stem-changing verbs