How to use Some irregular verbs in the simple past tense in Spanish

Learn how to use Some irregular verbs in the simple past tense, and what to use it for in Spanish.
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Some irregular verbs in the simple past tense

In the simple past (pretérito indefinido), verbs ending in -zar are irregular with the pronoun yo (I) and regular with all other pronouns.

Empezar → Empecé.

(to start → [I] started)

Alcanzar → Alcancé.

(to reach → [I] reached)

This is how they're conjugated:

Empezar en
Yo empecé
Tú empezaste
Él/ella/usted empezó
Nosotros/as empezamos
Vosotros/as empezasteis
Ellos/ellas/ustedes empezaron
Alcanzar en
Yo alcancé
Tú alcanzaste
Él/ella/usted alcanzó
Nosotros/as alcanzamos
Vosotros/as alcanzasteis
Ellos/ellas/ustedes alcanzaron
Rechazar en
Yo rechacé
Tú rechazaste
Él/ella/usted rechazó
Nosotros/as rechazamos
Vosotros/as rechazasteis
Ellos/ellas/ustedes rechazaron

Empecé a leer un nuevo libro.

I started reading a new book.

Rechacé la propuesta.

I turned down the proposal.

Other verbs that follow this pattern are: abrazar (to embrace), utilizar (to use), realizar (to realize), almorzar (to have lunch) and finalizar (to finish).

Almorcé ayer con Betty almorzar, pret. indefinido.

I had lunch with Betty yesterday.

Finalicé el proyecto finalizar, pret. indefinido. 

I finished the project.

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