Year: 2020

Los pasados: The past tense in Spanish

Speaking in the past can be tricky in Spanish, especially because there are two past tenses. The videos below will first help you to form the past tenses and begin using them in context. Then we will explore the differences between these two tenses and more specifics on when to use them.

If this is tricky for you, don’t worry! Differentiating between the past tenses takes a lot of time and exposure to the Spanish language before it comes easily. So just keep reading!

el imperfecto de verbos de AR

The above video will show you the past tense endings for AR verbs, as well as introduce the irregular verb “ir”. After watching, give formation a go with this practice, then check your work.

el imperfecto de verbos de ER/IR

Now that you have learned the -AR endings, discover the -ER/-IR endings with the above video. For some practice, check here, and then go over your answers.

el pretérito de verbos de -AR

The above video explains how to take a regular -AR verb and change it to the past (preterit) tense. See how much you learned with this practice and then check your work.

el pretérito de verbos de -ER/-IR

Now that you have seen how to conjugate -AR verbs, check out -ER and -IR verbs with the above video. Afterwards, practice and check your work.

el pretérito de verbos con cambios

The Spanish preterit tense can be very tricky. There are a lot of irregulares and verbs that just change one letter – but only for certain subjects. Learn about those verbs with spelling changes in this video. Check out this practice and answer key. But also realize that it takes a while to internalize these rules, so be patient with yourself!

irregulares del pretérito parte A

These irregulares follow their own rules. Continued reading and practice will help you master them. Here is a practice for you to try and then you can check the answers.

Irregulares del pretérito, parte B

Even more irregulares means even more practice! Check your answers afterwards.

Las diferencias de los dos pasados

This practice is designed to help you begin to differentiate between the tenses and recognize the basics of which tense to use. Check your work and see where you need to make improvements.

Las diferencias de los dos pasados, parte B

You can continue your practice of the two past tenses with this worksheet. It is designed to help you identify the differences. If you get stuck, please check out the answer sheet for explanations in addition to answers.

Simple Stories in Spanish: Carlos y el elefante

Season 1, episode 1

How does this teacher start her students on their language journey? With a story, of course! Listen along as the Small Town Spanish Teacher tells the story of “Carlos y el elefante” – the story she uses on day 1 of Spanish 1. It repeats the verbs “mira” (sees/looks), “corre” (runs), “se sienta” (sits), “se levanta” (stands) and “para” (stops) as well as multiple cognates. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. 

Carlos y el elefante

Hay un chico. El chico está en el parque. El nombre del chico es Carlos. Carlos está en el parque. Muchas personas están en el parque. Las personas corren en el parque. Carlos no corre en el parque. Carlos se sienta en el parque. Carlos mira las personas que corren, pero Carlos no corre. Carlos se sienta y mira.

En el parque, Carlos mira un elefante. El elefante no se sienta, el elefante corre. El elefante corre en el parque. Carlos se levanta y mira el elefante. Carlos corre también. Carlos corre al elefante.

El elefante mira Carlos. El elefante para – no corre más. El elefante se sienta y mira Carlos. Carlos corre. Carlos corre al elefante. El elefante se levanta y Carlos para.

El elefante mira a Carlos. Carlos mira el elefante. Carlos toca el elefante. El elefante toca Carlos. El elefante se sienta en el parque. Carlos se sienta en el elefante. 

Entonces el elefante se levanta. Se levanta con Carlos. El elefante corre. Corre con Carlos.

Ahora Carlos se sienta en un elefante en el parque. Hay muchas personas en el parque. Carlos no mira las personas. Carlos mira el elefante. Las personas miran el elefante con el chico.

El fin.

You can also watch a video of this story being told on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn Spanish and I like to keep it ad free. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story. Looking for the English translation? I have a PDF for that too! Read a paragraph in Spanish and then read the English translation to see what you understood.

1-1-Carlos-y-el-elefante-1Download
1-1-Carlos-y-el-elefanteDownload

Los tiempos compuestos: The Formation of Past Participles and the Perfect Tenses in Spanish

There is a reason that the verb “haber” is the most used in the Spanish language: it is the first half of the perfect tense! Watch the videos below to learn about the formation of past participles and then learn how to combine them with “haber”.

Los participios pasados

After learning about past participles, practice what you have learned, the check your answers. If you are in my college course, don’t forget about the practice quiz on Canvas!

Spanish present perfect tense (El tiempo compuesto del presente)

Discover how to conjugate the verb “haber” in the present tense, add a past participle and create the present perfect tense in Spanish. After watching the instructional video, check out this practice worksheet followed by checking the answers.

El pluscuamperfecto (tiempo compuesto del pasado)

The difference between “have” and “had” is whether the narrator is speaking in the present or past tense. The video above will walk you through how to say someone “had” (past) done something. Afterwards, see what you are able to understand and produce in this practice (don’t forget to check your answers!)

The Future and Conditional Tenses

Did you know that there are some words that don’t exist in Spanish? We create some verb tenses in English by adding words (such as will and would) while in Spanish these are their own verb tenses. Check out the videos on the Future (will) and Conditional (would) tenses below!

Learn how to form the future tense (“will”)

The best way to learn grammar is by seeing it in context through reading. However, drill practice (like you did with math in elementary school) can also be beneficial in training your brain. Give the future tense a try with this practice, and then check your answers to see how you did!

Learn how to form the Conditional Tense (“would”)

The word “would” does not exist in Spanish. So, how would you say it? You would use the conditional tense, of course! Watch the video above to learn how to form the conditional tense and then practice. As always, check your answers!

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