indefinido

Indefinido is a grammatical term used in Iberian Romance languages to describe a past tense that marks actions completed in the past. In Spanish grammar it is usually called pretérito indefinido or pretérito perfecto simple, and in Portuguese grammar it is commonly referred to as pretérito perfeito simples; some grammars also use indefinido to describe the same tense. The term signals that the action occurred at a definite point in the past and is viewed as completed without reference to the present.

In its use, the pretérito indefinido is employed to narrate events that advance a storyline, to report a series of past actions, or to indicate single, punctual occurrences at a specific time. It contrasts with the imperfect tense, which describes ongoing or habitual past actions, background information, or conditions.

Forms and examples vary by language. In Spanish, regular endings are -ar: hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron; -er/-ir: comí, comiste, comió, comimos, comisteis, comieron. Irregulars include ser/ir (fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron), estar (estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron), hacer (hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicisteis, hicieron), among others.

In Portuguese, regulars end as follows: -ar verbs—falei, falaste, falou, falamos, falastes, falaram; -er verbs—comi, comeste, comeu, comemos, comestes, comeram; -ir verbs—parti, partiste, parts, partimos, partistes, partiram. Irregulars include ser/ir (fui, foste, foi, fomos, fostes, foram), estar (estive, estiveste, esteve, estivemos, estivestes, estiveram), ter (tive, tiveste, teve, tivemos, tivestes, tiveram), fazer (fiz, fizeste, fez, fizemos, fizestes, fizeram).

Usage notes: indefinido frequently appears in narratives and with time expressions like ayer, la semana pasada, ontem, há dois dias. The exact endings and some irregular forms depend on the language and dialect.