Pedir Preterite Tense
Conjugating the Verb “Pedir” in the Preterite Tense
When learning Spanish, it is important to familiarize yourself with verb conjugations. One commonly used verb is “pedir,” which means “to ask for” or “to request.” Let’s explore how to conjugate “pedir” in the preterite tense, which is used to talk about past actions that are completed.
Conjugation of “Pedir” in the Preterite Tense
The preterite tense of “pedir” is formed by taking the stem “ped-” and adding the corresponding endings for each subject pronoun. Here is the conjugation of “pedir” in the preterite tense:
Yo pedí (I asked for)
Tú pediste (You asked for)
Él/Ella/Usted pidió (He/She/You asked for)
Nosotros/Nosotras pedimos (We asked for)
Vosotros/Vosotras pedisteis (You all asked for)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes pidieron (They/You all asked for)
Usage Examples
Here are some examples of “pedir” in the preterite tense:
Yo pedí una pizza para la cena. (I asked for a pizza for dinner.)
Tú pediste un favor a tu amigo. (You asked for a favor from your friend.)
Él pidió un café en el restaurante. (He asked for a coffee at the restaurant.)
Nosotras pedimos ayuda a nuestros vecinos. (We asked for help from our neighbors.)
Vosotros pedisteis información en la oficina de turismo. (You all asked for information at the tourist office.)
Ellos pidieron prestado el libro de la biblioteca. (They asked to borrow the book from the library.)
Irregularities
While the majority of the verb “pedir” follows a regular conjugation pattern in the preterite tense, there is an irregularity in the third-person singular (él/ella/usted) and third-person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes) forms. Instead of the expected “pedió” and “pidieron,” the correct forms are “pidió” and “pidieron.”
It is important to remember this irregularity when using “pedir” in the preterite tense to ensure accurate communication.
Conclusion
Understanding the conjugation of “pedir” in the preterite tense allows you to talk about past actions of requesting or asking for something. Remember the irregularity in the third-person singular and third-person plural forms: “pidió” and “pidieron.” Practice using “pedir” in different contexts and sentences to reinforce your understanding and fluency in Spanish.
Pedir Preterite Tense