# Preterite spelling: -car, -gar, -zar (busqué, llegué, crucé)

> id: conjugation.preterite.spelling-car-gar-zar · category: conjugation · depth: standard · levels: A2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** In the yo preterite, c → qu, g → gu, z → c before the -é ending: buscar → busqué, llegar → llegué, cruzar → crucé. Pronunciation never changes.

The yo preterite of -ar verbs ends in -é. To keep the stem's sound in front of that e, spelling adjusts: c would soften, so it becomes qu (busqué); g would soften, so it becomes gu (llegué); and Spanish avoids ze, so z becomes c (crucé).

Only the yo form of the preterite is affected in the indicative — the other persons keep the original letter: buscaste, llegó, cruzamos.

The same adjustment runs through the entire present subjunctive of these verbs, because all its endings start with e: busque, llegues, crucemos. Verbs in -guar add a diaeresis: averiguar → averigüé.

## Examples
- Busqué el documento toda la mañana. — I looked for the document all morning.
- Llegué tarde a la reunión. — I arrived late to the meeting.
- Crucé la frontera en bus. — I crossed the border by bus.

Related: conjugation.preterite.regular, conjugation.present.spelling-ger-gir

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