Lesson 5: Past tense

Spanish past tense: what this Spanish lesson covers

This free interactive lesson on spanish past tense is part of the Mondosol Learn to speak Spanish course. In about ten minutes you will meet 8 essential words and phrases about past tense, see how they are used, and test yourself with a short quiz. Everything on this page runs in your browser, so you can practise spanish past tense on your phone, tablet or laptop without installing anything.

What you will learn

• Fui — It is the past of ser and ir, for what you were or where you went.
• Tuve — It is the past of tener, for something you had.
• Hice — It is the past of hacer, for something you did or made.
• Vine — It is the past of venir, for arriving somewhere earlier.
• Hablé — It is the past of hablar, for words you spoke earlier.
• Comí — It is the past of comer, for a meal you already ate.
• Vi — It is the past of ver, for something you saw before.
• Pude — It is the past of poder, for something you managed to do.

Practice questions

1. What does "Hice" mean? Options: the past of tener, the past of hacer, the past of comer.
2. What does "Comí" mean? Options: the past of ver, the past of venir, the past of comer.
3. What does "Fui" mean? Options: the past of ser and ir, the past of hablar, the past of poder.
4. What does "Pude" mean? Options: the past of hablar, the past of ver, the past of poder.

How the lesson works

Each card shows one item with a visual cue and a clear explanation. Tap the card to flip it, say it out loud, and move on when it feels familiar. After the cards you answer a short quiz on spanish past tense; a wrong answer costs a heart, and if you run out you can restart the lesson for free. Finish all the cards and the quiz to earn XP and keep your daily streak alive, exactly like a language app but built around real Spanish situations.

Why spanish past tense matters

Spanish is spoken by more than 500 million people across Spain and Latin America. Mastering one everyday topic at a time lets you use the language on your very next trip, call or conversation, and builds the confidence to keep going.

Keep going

Ready for more? Go back to the full Learn to speak Spanish course to pick your next lesson, or browse all Mondosol courses. For an authoritative reference on this topic, see the Real Academia Española. Mondosol is free to start; Plus unlocks all courses, unlimited hearts and offline practice.