español · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Comer in the preterite
Use regular -er endings for finished acts of eating.
Understand the choice
Use the regular -er preterite when eating is complete and bounded. The -er and -ir classes share one preterite ending set, so this pattern also prepares vivir.
Core rule: Regular -er preterite endings are -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron.
Notice it in context
Comí temprano, pero mis amigos comieron a las diez.
I ate early, but my friends ate at ten.
Regular -er preterite endings are -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron.
¿Comiste antes de salir?
Did you eat before leaving?
Comiste is the tú preterite.
Los invitados comieron todo.
The guests ate everything.
Comieron uses the plural -ieron ending.
What to remember
- Comí and comió carry accents; comiste, comimos, comisteis, and comieron do not.
- Third-person plural -ieron belongs to both regular -er and -ir verbs.
Common trap: Do not use present endings after a past marker: ayer como is present. Say ayer comí unless a special narrative present is intended.