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Tener Preterite Practice

Tener (to have) 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, tener swaps its whole stem for tuv- and takes the special strong endings: tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvieron. Unlike regular preterites, none of these forms carries an accent — tuve and tuvo are stressed on the first syllable.

The classic mistakes are regularizing the verb (*tení, *tenió) or adding accents (*tuvé, *tuvó). Also watch the meaning shift: tuve describes a completed event ('I had / I got'), while the imperfect tenía paints an ongoing state.

IIConjugation
tenerPreterite
yo
tuve
tuviste
él / ella / usted
tuvo
nosotros
tuvimos
vosotros
tuvisteis
ellos / ustedes
tuvieron
Irregular yo form (tengo), e→ie stem change, preterite stem tuv-, future stem tendr-.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

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

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

Ayer _____ una entrevista de trabajo en el centro. (tener)

Yesterday I had a job interview downtown.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

¿_____ tiempo de llamar a tu mamá anoche? (tener)

Did you have time to call your mom last night?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: No accents
Fill in the blank

Marcos _____ un accidente de bicicleta el sábado pasado. (tener)

Marcos had a bicycle accident last Saturday.

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

El mes pasado nosotros _____ tres exámenes en una semana. (tener)

Last month we had three exams in one week.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Tener que
Fill in the blank

Mis padres _____ que vender la casa en 2020. (tener)

My parents had to sell the house in 2020.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

De repente yo _____ una idea genial para el proyecto. (tener)

Suddenly I had a brilliant idea for the project.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

_____ mucha suerte ayer en el sorteo de la escuela. (tener)

You were very lucky yesterday in the school raffle.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

La empresa _____ pérdidas enormes el año pasado. (tener)

The company had enormous losses last year.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Tener que
Fill in the blank

Anoche mi hermana y yo _____ que dormir en el aeropuerto. (tener)

Last night my sister and I had to sleep at the airport.

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

Los estudiantes _____ solo una hora para terminar la prueba ayer. (tener)

The students had only one hour to finish the test yesterday.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

El lunes _____ fiebre y me quedé en casa todo el día. (tener)

On Monday I had a fever and stayed home all day.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

¿Qué nota _____ tú en el examen del viernes pasado? (tener)

What grade did you get on last Friday's exam?

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

Doña Rosa _____ nueve hijos, todos nacidos en el mismo pueblo. (tener)

Doña Rosa had nine children, all born in the same village.

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

¿Vosotros _____ problemas con el tren el verano pasado? (tener)

Did you all have problems with the train last summer?

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