The Spanish Preterite (Pretérito Indefinido) is your go-to tense for talking about completed actions in the past. If you’ve ever used verbs like “pagar” (to pay) or “llegar” (to arrive), you’ve likely encountered -GAR verbs. These verbs have a unique quirk in the “yo” (I) form of the preterite, and understanding this small change is key to speaking accurately.
The “G” to “GU” Shift: A Rule for -GAR Verbs in the Preterite
Here’s the trick:
- In the “yo” form, the -GAR ending changes to -GUÉ. This keeps the hard “g” sound consistent with the rest of the verb.
- All other forms stay the same, keeping the regular -G ending.
Example: “pagar” (to pay)
| Pronoun | Preterite Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | pagué |
| Tú | pagaste |
| Él/Ella/Usted | pagó |
| Nosotros/as | pagamos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | pagaron |
Notice how only the “yo” form has the special -GUÉ ending.
5 Common -GAR Verbs to Practice
- pagar (to pay)
- llegar (to arrive)
- jugar (to play) – This one has another change, from -U to -O, in the stem of the preterite (e.g., “yo jugué”).
- apagar (to turn off)
- entregar (to deliver)
Putting It to Use: Examples in Context
- “Yo pagué la cuenta del restaurante ayer.” (I paid the restaurant bill yesterday.)
- “Ellos llegaron tarde a la fiesta.” (They arrived late to the party.)
- “¿Jugaste al fútbol el fin de semana pasado?” (Did you play soccer last weekend?)
- “Nosotros apagamos las luces antes de salir.” (We turned off the lights before leaving.)
- “La empresa entregó el pedido a tiempo.” (The company delivered the order on time.)
A Few Extra Tips
- Remember: This spelling change only happens in the preterite tense, not in other past tenses like the imperfect.
- Practice: The more you use these verbs, the easier it’ll become to remember the -GUÉ ending.
Mastering the Preterite
By understanding this small but important rule for -GAR verbs, you’ll be able to speak and write about past events with more confidence and clarity.
Synonyms:
- English: -GAR Spelling-Change Verbs in Simple Past, Past Simple, Preterite Tense, Past Historic
- Spanish: Verbos en -GAR con Cambios Ortográficos Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito