Spanish verbs ending in -CAR have a unique quirk in the preterite (simple past) tense. This concise guide breaks down the spelling change and provides examples for effortless conjugation.
The Golden Rule of -CAR Verbs in the Preterite
- “c” changes to “qu” ONLY in the yo (I) form.
- This happens before adding the “-é” ending.
- All other forms keep the original “c.”
Examples: See the Change in Action
- Buscar (to look for)
- Yo busqué (I looked for)
- Tú buscaste
- Él/Ella/Usted buscó
- Tocar (to touch/play an instrument)
- Yo toqué (I touched/played)
- Tú tocaste
- Él/Ella/Usted tocó
Why the Change?
It’s all about pronunciation! The change from ‘c’ to ‘qu’ ensures the hard ‘k’ sound is maintained before the ‘e’ ending. Without this, it would sound like a soft ‘s.’
Key Takeaway
Remember, this spelling change is specific to -CAR verbs in the preterite tense and only applies to the “yo” form. Practice using these verbs, and you’ll be speaking and writing in the past tense like a native in no time!
Synonyms:
- English: -CAR Spelling-Change Verbs in Simple Past, Past Simple, Preterite Tense, Past Historic
- Spanish: Verbos en -CAR con Cambios Ortográficos en Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito