Read Claudia’s note and focus on the tenses she used.

Claudia used the **present tense** to talk about something that happened today. She used the adverb *hoy (today)* in those sentences.

She also used modal verb or verbs phrases you are probably familiar with; phrases like *”ir a” (to go to)*, *reflexive pronoun + doler (to hurt)*, and *poder (can).*

Claudia used the **preterite** to talk about past events. She used the adverb *ayer (yesterday)* in those sentences.

After you have read Claudia’s note, you should answer the questions related to it.

**Tip:** Always answer in the same tense the question was asked.

1. Why does Claudia not go to school?

– Claudia no **va** a la escuela porque le duele mucho la cabeza.
(Claudia does not go to school because her head hurts a lot.)

The question was asked in the resent tense and we answered in the present tense.

**”Va”** is the third-person singular form of the verb *ir (to go).*

2. What did Claudia search for?

– Claudia **buscó** un libro para su mamá.
(Claudia searched for a book for her mom.)

This time, the question was asked in the preterite, so we answered in the preterite.

**”Buscó”** is the third-person singular form of the verb *buscar (to search).*

3. Who helped Claudia? How?

– A Claudia le **aydó** su papá. Él **cocinó** unos huevos.
(Claudia’s dad helped her. He cooked some eggs.)

Again, the question was asked in the preterite, so we answered in the preterite.

**”Aydó”** is the third-person singular form of the verb *aydar (to help).*
**”Cocinó”** is the third-person singular form of the verb *cocinar (to cook).*

4. Why did Susana bring the homework to Claudia’s house in the afternoon?

– Susana **llevó** la tarea a la casa de Claudia en la tarde porque Claudia no **vino** a la escuela.
(Susana brought the homework to Claudia’s house because Claudia did not come to school.)

Again, the question was asked in the preterite, so we answered in the preterite.

**”Llevó”** is the third-person singular form of the verb *llevar (to bring).*
**”Vino”** is the third-person singular form of the verb *venir (to come).*

See the **detailed explanation.**

This exercise aims to help you practice writing about past events using the preterite.

It would be best if you described what you did at home when you were sick and did not go to school.

– Hace unos días, no **vine** a la escuela porque me **dolió** el estómago.
(A few days ago, I did not come to school because my stomach hurt.)

The words that are bolded are the preterite forms of the verbs ***venir** (to come)* and a reflexive verb ***doler** (to hurt).*

Because ***doler*** is used as a reflexive verb, its form in the preterite is the same for all persons and numbers; the only thing that changes is the reflexive pronoun which indicates the person and number.

– **Hablé** con mis amigos de clase y me **dijeron** que **hacieron** en la escuela ese día.
(I talked to m friends from class and they told me what they did at school that day.)

**”Hablé”** is the preterite form for first-person singular of the verb *hablar (to talk).*

**”Dijeron”** is the preterite form for the third-person plural of the verb *decir (to say/to tell).*

**”Hacieron”** is the preterite form for the third-person plural of the verb *hacer (to do).*

– En mi casa, **cociné** comida nutritiva y **descansé** bien.
(At home, I cooked nutritious food and rested well.)

**”Cociné”** is the preterite form for first-person singular of the verb *cocinar (to cook).*

**”Descansé”** is the preterite form for first-person singular of the verb *descansar (to rest).*

See the **detailed explanation.**