The past tense is the element located at the end of the verb whose function is to indicate the variations of said verb in relation to time, mode, number and person.
Verbal endings are called conjugation endings and between these are distinguished the present endings and the past tense endings.
All verbs are composed of a root and an ending or ending. The root is the element that expresses the meaning of the verb and regularly does not suffer modifications.
The ending is located at the end and this depends on the respective modification of the verb. For example, in the verb"ate"conjugated in past tense,"com"is the root and"ó"is the ending or ending.
Examples of the past tense
In the past simple
The termination or ending is the one that allows to understand that the action happened before and that has finished definitively. It is used in narrations.
Examples
Pedro bought the press and had tea.
- He ate at 10 o'clock at night.
- At last I finished studying!
- I arrived at my office at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
- They ran towards the goal.
In the imperfect tense or co-financier
The termination implies that action began in the past and can continue to occur. It is used in the descriptions.
Examples
- That day Pedro left his house, bought the press and had tea. Soon he was entering his room.
As I walked, I smelled the perfume of the flowers.
- You arrive on time, because I was leaving.
- I wanted you to explain something to me.
- We ate pizza at the school reunion.
In the past perfect plus perfect
The ending allows to express an action already passed and occurred before another action equally passed. This verb tense is used to describe actions.
Examples
- When we arrived, Ana had already left the office.
Antonio had already cleaned the bathroom before the kitchen.
- We had not finished the exam when the teacher asked us.
- That day, Maria had left her house without a coat.
- If I had time, I would have gone.
In the past perfect compound or pre-present
Termination indicates that the action occurs in an earlier period but has not yet ended. This verb tense is used regularly in spoken discourse.
Examples
- We have eaten a succulent cake.
- I went to dinner with a friend.
Susana had left for a moment.
"Tonight you talked like never before.
- This year it has snowed little.
In the past tense or prior term
The ending expresses the action in a past frame that precedes to an event equally passed. Its use is very frequent in written, cultured and elegant language.
Examples
When he had finished speaking, he went home.
- Once he had written the book, he wanted to rest.
- There was hardly an opportunity, she took it.
- As soon as we had done the project, we approved the subject.
- As soon as he had finished eating the main course, he ordered the dessert.
References
- Moreno, C. (2013) Grammar and spelling to the day: guide with the main novelties of the Real Academia Española. In: Ebrary.com.
- Peñate, J. (2001) Simple Grammar. In: Ebrary.com.
- Santana, O. (s.f.) Verb Conjugations. Retrieved on October 13, 2017 from: Sepln.org.
- Serrano, M. (1995) On the use of the perfect preterite and preterite indefinite in the Canarian Spanish: pragmatics and variation. From: Revitas.uchile.cl.
- Tarricone, L. (2012) Grammar explained: for intermediate levels with exercises + solutions. In: Ebrary.com.