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Präteritum

preterite, simple past tense

noun prae-TAY-ri-tum Rare
Communication Language

Origin: from Latin praeteritum (past)

Usage Note

Präteritum is the simple past tense in German, formed without an auxiliary. It is the preferred narrative past in writing and formal speech; in southern Germany it is largely replaced by the Perfekt in everyday speech.

Examples

"In der Erzählung verwendete die Autorin konsequent das Präteritum."

Natural Translation

In the narrative the author consistently used the preterite.

Literal Translation

In the narrative used the author consistently the preterite.

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