Understanding the AR, ER, IR Preterite Tense Endings Chart

When learning Spanish, mastering the preterite tense is crucial. One of the key aspects of this tense is understanding the endings that verbs take. In this article, I will delve into the AR, ER, IR preterite tense endings chart, providing you with a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this linguistic challenge.

What is the Preterite Tense?

The preterite tense in Spanish is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. It is a simple past tense, and it is essential for conveying past events, experiences, and actions. The endings of verbs in the preterite tense are what distinguish them from other tenses and can be quite complex.

The AR, ER, IR Preterite Tense Endings Chart

One of the most common ways to categorize Spanish verbs in the preterite tense is by their endings. The AR, ER, IR endings are the most common and are used by a vast majority of Spanish verbs. Let’s take a closer look at each category and how they are used.

As you can see from the table above, AR verbs typically end in -ar, ER verbs end in -er, and IR verbs end in -ir. However, it’s important to note that not all verbs follow this pattern. Some verbs may have irregular endings or may belong to a different category altogether.

Regular AR Verbs

Regular AR verbs follow a specific pattern when conjugating in the preterite tense. The endings are as follows:

For example, the verb “hablar” (to talk) in the preterite tense would be conjugated as follows:

Regular ER Verbs