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Lingvero

Dormir Preterite Practice

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

14 exercisesStem-changing o→ueA1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

Dormir is almost regular in the preterite — dormí, dormiste, dormimos, dormisteis take the plain -ir endings. The catch is the third person: the stem o turns into u, giving durmió and durmieron instead of the "dormió"/"dormieron" that beginners expect.

Watch the accents too: dormí and durmió carry the stress on the final syllable, while dormiste and dormimos do not. Only él/ella/usted and ellos/ustedes change the vowel; every other form keeps the o.

IIConjugation
dormirPreterite
yo
dormí
dormiste
él / ella / usted
durmió
nosotros
dormimos
vosotros
dormisteis
ellos / ustedes
durmieron
o→ue in the present (duermo); o→u in the preterite él/ellos forms (durmió) and nosotros subjunctive.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

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

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Yo form
Fill in the blank

Anoche _____ apenas cuatro horas por culpa del ruido de la calle. (dormir)

Last night I slept barely four hours because of the street noise.

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

¿Cuántas horas _____ ayer antes del examen final? (dormir)

How many hours did you sleep yesterday before the final exam?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: 3rd person o→u
Fill in the blank

El bebé por fin _____ toda la noche esa noche sin despertarse. (dormir)

The baby finally slept through the whole night that night without waking up.

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

La semana pasada _____ en una cabaña en medio del bosque. (dormir)

Last week we slept in a cabin in the middle of the forest.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Ellos o→u
Fill in the blank

Los niños _____ en el auto durante todo el viaje de anoche. (dormir)

The children slept in the car during the whole trip last night.

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

Ayer _____ tan profundamente que no oí el despertador. (dormir)

Yesterday I slept so deeply that I didn't hear the alarm.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Él/ella o→u
Fill in the blank

Ricardo _____ en el sofá porque llegó agotado del trabajo anoche. (dormir)

Ricardo slept on the couch because he arrived exhausted from work last night.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

Se nota que anoche no _____ nada bien, tienes ojeras. (dormir)

You can tell you didn't sleep well at all last night — you have dark circles.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Ellos o→u
Fill in the blank

Esa noche los invitados _____ en colchones inflables en la sala. (dormir)

That night the guests slept on air mattresses in the living room.

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

Anoche mi hermano y yo casi no _____ por culpa de la tormenta. (dormir)

Last night my brother and I barely slept because of the storm.

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

El año pasado _____ en un hotel junto al mar durante mis vacaciones. (dormir)

Last year I slept in a hotel by the sea during my vacation.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Él/ella o→u
Fill in the blank

De repente el gato se acurrucó y _____ sobre mi regazo. (dormir)

Suddenly the cat curled up and slept on my lap.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Ellos o→u
Fill in the blank

Ayer los pasajeros _____ durante casi todo el vuelo a Buenos Aires. (dormir)

Yesterday the passengers slept during almost the entire flight to Buenos Aires.

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

¿Dónde _____ vosotros la noche del concierto? (dormir)

Where did you all sleep the night of the concert?

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