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Creer Preterite Practice

Creer (to believe, to think) in the preterite: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

•14 exercises•Spelling change i→y•A1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

In the preterite creer changes its spelling: an unstressed i between two vowels becomes y, so the third persons are creyó and creyeron — never 'creió'. The other forms keep the i but need a written accent to show it is stressed: creí, creíste, creímos, creísteis.

Leer (leyó), caer (cayó) and oír (oyó) follow the same pattern. In meaning, the preterite reports a single moment of believing or a reaction: por un momento creí que…, no me creyeron.

IIConjugation
creerPreterite
yo
creí
tú
creíste
él / ella / usted
creyó
nosotros
creímos
vosotros
creísteis
ellos / ustedes
creyeron
Regular except that an unstressed i between vowels becomes y: creyó, creyeron; accents in creí, creíste and creído.

Download the creer conjugation worksheet (PDF) — free, with answer key

48 exercises on creer across 8 tenses on one printable worksheet: each tense opens with its conjugation table, and the answer key with short explanations is at the end. Fits A4 and US Letter. Free for classroom use — no sign-up.

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IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Spelling change: creer
Fill in the blank

Yo _____ que la tienda cerraba a las ocho, pero estaba abierta. (creer)

I thought the shop closed at eight, but it was open.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Por qué no me _____ cuando te dije la verdad? (creer)

Why didn't you believe me when I told you the truth?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Spelling change: creer
Fill in the blank

El juez no _____ la versión del acusado y lo condenó. (creer)

The judge didn't believe the defendant's version and convicted him.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Al principio mis amigos y yo _____ que era una broma, pero era verdad. (creer)

At first my friends and I thought it was a joke, but it was true.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Spelling change: creer
Fill in the blank

Mis padres no me _____ cuando les conté que había aprobado. (creer)

My parents didn't believe me when I told them I'd passed.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Yo form
Fill in the blank

Por un momento yo _____ que había perdido el pasaporte. (creer)

For a moment I thought I had lost my passport.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿De verdad tú _____ esa historia tan absurda que te contó? (creer)

Did you really believe that ridiculous story he told you?

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Él/ella form
Fill in the blank

Colón _____ que había llegado a la India. (creer)

Columbus believed he had reached India.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Cuando vimos las luces en el cielo, _____ que eran un ovni. (creer)

When we saw the lights in the sky, we thought they were a UFO.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Spelling change: creer
Fill in the blank

Los vecinos _____ que era un ladrón y llamaron a la policía. (creer)

The neighbours thought he was a burglar and called the police.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Vosotros form
Fill in the blank

¿Vosotros _____ lo que os contó Marta ayer? (creer)

Did you (all) believe what Marta told you yesterday?

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

Normalmente creo a mi hermano, pero esta vez no le _____. (creer)

I usually believe my brother, but this time I didn't.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Él/ella form
Fill in the blank

Nadie nos _____ cuando contamos lo que habíamos visto. (creer)

Nobody believed us when we told them what we had seen.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Al ver el vídeo, mis alumnos _____ que era real. (creer)

When they saw the video, my students thought it was real.

Every answer is explained

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