Past tense

[PyroDogs94]

I solemnly swear I am up to no good.

How to do past tense? Example:
I can say 'Tengo que sacar la basura.'
Which is, 'I have to take out the trash.'

But how do I say, 'I had to take out the trash.' ?

Just, as an example. Maybe explain how to do come past tense?

Thank you (:

Mischief managed.

 

[HauntedCris]

You have to use the "pretérito perfecto simple" form of the verb.
Tienes que usar el pretérito perfecto simple del verbo.

"I had to take out the trash."
"Tuve que sacar la basura."

Verbo TENER
Pretérito perfecto simple
(yo) tuve
(tú) tuviste
(él) tuvo
(nosotros) tuvimos
(vosotros) tuvisteis
(ellos) tuvieron  

[rag96306785]

Which past tense are you talking about? There are at least two.  

[xehanort777]

Very helpful. Past tense is what i just finished studying!
It's not bad actually; just gotta watch out for the special verbs like ir/ser, hacer, etc.  

[RiRil]

There are two ways to say "I had to take out the trash." One is formal and the other informal. Both are equally acceptable. The two ways are:

"Tuve que sacar la basura." (informal)
"Tenia que sacar la basura." (formal) arrow Be careful with this one because depending on the context, it can also be applied to someone you are talking about that is not you. Ex: "Ella tenia que sacar la basura." ("She had to take out the garbage.") You can say it as it is, or you can make it more about you by saying "Yo tenia que sacar la basura."

As said before, both ways are acceptable.  

[Izzebaya]

"Tengo que sacar la basura" turns into "Tení que sacar la basura"

For -ar verbs...
yo= -á
tu= -aste
él, ella, Ud.= -ó
nosotros= -amos
vosotros= -asteis
ellos, ellas, Uds.= -aron

For -ir AND -er verbs...
yo= -í
tu= -iste
él, ella, Ud.= -ió
nosotros= -imos
vosotros= -isteis
ellos, ellas, Uds.= -ieron

For these the irregulars DON'T change. However, (as you'd expect) there are some that don't go by this rule; Ir, Dar, and dormir are just a few. I'd tell you how they go but I've forgotten. redface sorry.