In this exercise, you should put the correct form of the stem-changing verbs in the preterite to make grammatically correct sentences.

The stem of the verbs changes only in the **first-person singular:**

– Verbs ending with **-car** – the *c* changes to *qu* before the *é*
– Verbs ending with **-gar** – the *g* changes to *gu* before the *é*

Remember that **the verb matches the subject in person and number.**

1. Yo **llegué** a la escuela…
(I arrived at school…)

The subject is first-person singular, so we used the first-person singular form of the verb *lle**gar** (to arrive).* Since it is the first-person singular, the stem of the verb changed.

2. Mis amigos **buscaron** un lugar…
(My friends searched for a place…)

The subject is third-person plural, so we used the third-person plural form of the verb *bus**car** (to search).*

3. Yo **pagué** los libros…
(I paid for the books…)

The subject is first-person singular, so we used the first-person singular form of the verb *pa**gar** (to arrive).* Notice how the stem changed due to the subject being first-person singular.

4. Luis **sacó** la basura…
(Luis took out the trash…)

Luis third-person singular, so we used the third-person singular form of the verb *sa**car** (to take out/ to throw out).*

5. Yo **practiqué** con el bate…
(I practiced with a bat…)

The subject is the first-person singular, so we used the first-person singular form of the verb *practi**car** (to practice).* Notice how the stem changed.

See the **detailed explanation.**
1. llegué
2. buscaron
3. pagué
4. sacó
5. practiqué

In this exercise, you will practice writing short and simple sentences regarding some activities you did or did not do using the preterite form.

The tricky part is that you should use stem-changing verbs, but that won’t be hard if you know the following:

*The stem of the verbs changes only in the **first-person singular** (the one you are required to use):*

– Verbs ending with **-car** – the *c* changes to *qu* before the *é*
– Verbs ending with **-gar** – the *g* changes to *gu* before the *é*
– Verbs ending with **-zar** – the *z* changes to *c* before the *é*

1. comen**zar** la tarea tarde
(start homework late)

– Yo (no) **comencé** la tarea tarde.
(I started (did not start) homework late.)

2. practi**car** un deporte
(practice a sport)

– Yo (no) **practiqué** un deporte.
(I practiced (did not practice) a sport.)

3. lle**gar** a casa temprano
(arrive home early)

– Yo (no) **llegué** a casa temprano.
(I arrived (did not arrive) home early.)

4. to**car** la guitarra
(play the guitar)

– Yo (no) **toqué** la guitarra.
(I played (did not play) the guitar.)

5. ju**gar** videojuegos
(play video games)

– Yo (no) **jugué** videojuegos.
(I played (did not play) video games.)

This exercise aims to help you practice writing. You should use stem-changing verbs such as *lle**gar** (to arrive), bus**car** (to search),* and *pa**gar** (to pay).*

Remember that the stem of the verbs changes only in the **first-person singular:**

– Verbs ending with **-car** – the *c* changes to *qu* before the *é*
– Verbs ending with **-gar** – the *g* changes to *gu* before the *é*

**N. B.** The verb matches the subject in person and number.

Use the model sentences below as a reference.

– Hace unos días, yo *llegué* a un centro comercial en la mañana.
(A few days ago, I arrived at a shopping mall in the morning.)

– *Busqué* unos jeans y zapatos nuevos. También *busqué* una mochila para escuela.
(I searched for new jeans and shoes. I also searched for a backpack for school.)