Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
preterit

preterit

9.9
A past tense that shows actions finished at a specific time
  • noun
  • /ˈprɛtərɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pretérito
  • The writer frequently uses the preterit to describe events that happened in the past.

Examples

  • Many ancient texts are written in the preterit, making their interpretation more challenging.

  • When the frame narrator speaks directly, the preterit is used.

    Academic text (2000)

  • In Spanish, the verb 'hablar' changes to 'hablé' in the preterit tense.

Synonyms

preterite
vspreterit
  • Specialized
9.9

A past verb form that shows a finished action

is the same tense but differs only in spelling
past simple
vspreterit
  • Specialized
3.1

A verb form that shows an action or state happened and finished in the past

is mainly used as a technical label for that tense in other languages

Surface Forms

preterit singular
preterits plural

Etymology

Preterit comes from the Latin praeter, which means 'past' or 'beyond'. So the preterit is the verb form we use for actions that are finished or happened in the past.