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Lingvero

Encontrar Preterite Practice

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

•14 exercises•Stem-changing o→ue•A1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

In the preterite encontrar is completely regular: encontré, encontraste, encontró, encontramos, encontrasteis, encontraron. The o→ue change of the present does not reach this tense, so encuentré and encuentró are mistakes.

It tells what someone found at a specific moment (ayer encontré un billete en la calle), when a search ended (por fin encontró trabajo) and chance meetings: mis padres se encontraron en una estación.

IIConjugation
encontrarPreterite
yo
encontré
tú
encontraste
él / ella / usted
encontró
nosotros
encontramos
vosotros
encontrasteis
ellos / ustedes
encontraron
o→ue in the present (encuentro) and subjunctive; regular preterite, imperfect and future.

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

48 exercises on encontrar 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.

Download PDF
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

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

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: No stem change
Fill in the blank

Ayer _____ un billete de veinte euros en la calle. (encontrar)

Yesterday I found a twenty-euro note in the street.

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

¿Dónde _____ tú ese vestido tan bonito que llevabas el sábado? (encontrar)

Where did you find that lovely dress you were wearing on Saturday?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Por fin
Fill in the blank

Después de meses buscando, mi hermana por fin _____ trabajo. (encontrar)

After months of looking, my sister finally found a job.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Meeting people
Fill in the blank

Anoche mi mujer y yo nos _____ con unos amigos en el cine. (encontrar)

Last night my wife and I ran into some friends at the cinema.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Historical fact
Fill in the blank

Los arqueólogos _____ restos romanos bajo la plaza en 2015. (encontrar)

The archaeologists found Roman remains under the square in 2015.

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

Al final, yo _____ la solución en un foro de internet. (encontrar)

In the end, I found the solution on an internet forum.

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

¿_____ tú las gafas que perdiste la semana pasada? (encontrar)

Did you find the glasses you lost last week?

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Single event
Fill in the blank

El policía _____ al niño perdido dormido en un banco del parque. (encontrar)

The police officer found the lost boy asleep on a park bench.

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

El verano pasado mi familia y yo _____ una casa preciosa para alquilar en Asturias. (encontrar)

Last summer my family and I found a lovely house to rent in Asturias.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Specific time
Fill in the blank

Mis padres se _____ por casualidad en una estación de tren en 1985. (encontrar)

My parents met by chance at a railway station in 1985.

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

¿Cómo _____ vosotros el hotel? ¿Por internet? (encontrar)

How did you (all) find the hotel? Online?

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

Normalmente no encuentro sitio, pero ayer _____ aparcamiento a la primera. (encontrar)

I usually can't find a space, but yesterday I found parking straight away.

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

El médico no le _____ nada grave en la revisión. (encontrar)

The doctor didn't find anything serious at the check-up.

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

Anoche los bomberos _____ a los excursionistas sanos y salvos. (encontrar)

Last night the firefighters found the hikers safe and sound.

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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