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Decir Preterite Practice

Decir (to say, to tell) in the preterite: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

14 exercisesIrregularA1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

In the preterite, decir switches to the irregular stem dij- and takes the unstressed strong-preterite endings: dije, dijiste, dijo, dijimos, dijeron — no accent marks anywhere.

The single biggest trap is the ellos form: because the stem ends in j, the ending is -eron, so it's dijeron, never *dijieron*. Also resist writing *dijó* — the yo and él forms carry no accent.

IIConjugation
decirPreterite
yo
dije
dijiste
él / ella / usted
dijo
nosotros
dijimos
vosotros
dijisteis
ellos / ustedes
dijeron
e→i stem change plus irregular yo (digo), preterite dij- (dijeron, not dijieron), future dir-.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

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

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Irregular stem dij-
Fill in the blank

Ayer le _____ a mi jefe que necesito vacaciones. (decir)

Yesterday I told my boss that I need a vacation.

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

¿Qué le _____ a Mariana en la fiesta de anoche? (decir)

What did you say to Mariana at last night's party?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: No accent on dijo
Fill in the blank

El médico me _____ que debo descansar una semana. (decir)

The doctor told me that I should rest for a week.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Ellos trap (dijeron)
Fill in the blank

Los testigos _____ la verdad ante el juez. (decir)

The witnesses told the truth before the judge.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Al final de la reunión, _____ lo que pensábamos del proyecto. (decir)

At the end of the meeting, we said what we thought about the project.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Irregular stem dij-
Fill in the blank

Yo ya te lo _____ la semana pasada: el vuelo sale a las seis. (decir)

I already told you last week: the flight leaves at six.

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

Anoche me _____ que ibas a llegar temprano. (decir)

Last night you told me you were going to arrive early.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Reporting speech
Fill in the blank

En la entrevista, la directora _____ algo que nadie esperaba. (decir)

In the interview, the director said something nobody expected.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Ellos trap (dijeron)
Fill in the blank

Después del partido, los jugadores no _____ ni una palabra. (decir)

After the game, the players didn't say a single word.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Nunca le _____ a nadie dónde escondimos las llaves. (decir)

We never told anyone where we hid the keys.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Irregular stem dij-
Fill in the blank

De repente, yo _____ en voz alta lo que todos pensaban. (decir)

Suddenly, I said out loud what everyone was thinking.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Por qué no me _____ antes que estabas enfermo? (decir)

Why didn't you tell me before that you were sick?

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Telling lies
Fill in the blank

Sofía nos _____ una mentira para no ir a la cena. (decir)

Sofía told us a lie to avoid going to the dinner.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos trap (dijeron)
Fill in the blank

El sábado, mis primos _____ que vendrían a visitarnos en julio. (decir)

On Saturday, my cousins said they would come visit us in July.

Every answer is explained

Not just a green check. A short paragraph telling you why.

No gamification

No streaks, no points, no leaderboards. Just questions.

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