Spelling changes in the preterite: -car, -gar, -zar verbs

U4L2, p. 227

• Verbs ending in -car, -gar, and -zar have a spelling change in the yo form to keep their pronunciation.
• All the other conjugations are regular

-car verbs

buscar (to look for)

yo busqué

tú buscaste

practicar (to practice)

yo practiqué

tú practicaste

explicar (to explain)

yo expliqué

tú explicaste

tocar (to play an instrument, to touch)

yo toqué

tú tocaste

​

-gar verbs

llegar (to arrive)

yo llegué

tú llegaste

pagar (to pay)

yo pagué

tú pagaste

​

jugar (to play a sport)

yo jugué

tú jugaste

pegar (to hit; to paste)

yo pegué

tú pegaste

​

-zar verbs

memorizar (to memorize)

yo memoricé

tú memorizaste

comenzar (to begin)

yo comencé

tú comenzaste

​

organizar (to organize)

yo organicé

tú organizaste

almorzar (to eat lunch)

yo almorcé

tú almorzaste

​