When you talk about simple actions that have been completed in the past, you use the PRETERITE tense or el pretérito. Here is how you know when to use it:
An action is completed in the past. I ate. I slept. Yo comí. Yo dormí.
The action has a time-marker mentioned:
- last night- anoche
- yesterday – ayer
- For a year – por un año
- For two hours – por dos horas
Handouts
Each of the 4 groups of verbs has their own endings. 🙂
Sr. Jordan’s Videos on the Preterite