Preterite vs. Imperfect ¡En Español!. Preterite vs. Imperfect  When speaking about the past, you can use either the preterite or the imperfect, depending.

Presentación del tema: "Preterite vs. Imperfect ¡En Español!. Preterite vs. Imperfect  When speaking about the past, you can use either the preterite or the imperfect, depending."— Transcripción de la presentación:

1 Preterite vs. Imperfect ¡En Español!

2 Preterite vs. Imperfect  When speaking about the past, you can use either the preterite or the imperfect, depending on the sentence and the meaning you wish to convey. Compare…  Este fin de semana tomé una clase de cerámica. Cuando era niño, tomaba clases de escultura.

3 Preterite vs. Imperfect  Use the preterite to tell about past actions that happened and are complete.  El sábado, la clase empezó a las 10 de la mañana.

4 Preterite vs. Imperfect  Use the imperfect to tell about habitual actions in the past.  Cuando era niño, las clases empezaban a las 5 de la tarde.

5 Preterite vs. Imperfect  Use the preterite to give a sequence of actions in the past.  Cuando llegamos, la profesora sacó su pintura y sus pinceles y empezó a pintar.

6 Preterite vs. Imperfect  Use the imperfect to give background details such as time, location, weather, mood, age, and physical and mental descriptions.  Eran las dos de la tarde. Estábamos en el parque. Era un día de otoño. Todos estábamos muy contentos.

7 Preterite vs. Imperfect  Use the preterite and the imperfect together when an action (preterite) interrupts another that is taking place in the past (imperfect).  Estábamos en el taller cuando entró el profesor.

8 Preterite vs. Imperfect  Use the imperfect when two or more actions ar etaking place simultaneously in the past.  Mientras los niños pintaban, el profesor observaba las pinturas.

9 Recuerda: Preterit is BOSSI Began or ended action in the past One time action in the past Specific-time action in the past Sudden, distinct action Interupting an action already going on.

10 Recuerda: Imperfect is WATERLOADS WeatherLocation AgeOn-going action Telling TimeAttitude EmotionDescription Repeated ActionSetting, background

11 Verbs That Change Meaning in the Preterite and the Imperfect

12 Verbs That Change in Meaning from Preterite to Imperfect Tenses  A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses:  SABER  CONOCER  QUERER  NO QUERER  PODER

13 SABER  Imperfect – “knew”  ¿Sabías que el concierto empezaba tarde?  Did you know that the concert began late?  Preterite – “found out, learned”  Sí, supe ayer que empezaba tarde.  Yes, I found out that it began late.

14 CONOCER  Imperfect – “knew (somebody)”  Pedro conocía muy bien a esa actriz.  Pedro knew that actress very well.  Preterite – “met (somebody) for the first time”  Luis la conoció el año pasado.  Luis met her last year.

15 QUERER  Imperfect – “wanted to”  Luis quería comprar las entradas hoy.  Luis wanted to buy the tickets today.  Preterite – “tried to, attempted to”  Yo quise comprarlas, pero me enfermé.  I tried to buy them but I got sick.

16 NO QUERER  Imperfect – “didn’t want to”  No querían ver esa obra de teatro.  They didn’t want to see that play.  Preterite – “refused to”  No quisieron ver esa obra de teatro.  They refused to see that play.

17 PODER  Imperfect – “was able to, could”  Ella podía aprender la letra de la canción.  She was able to learn the letter of the song.  Preterite – “managed to, succeeded in”  Ella pudo aprender la letra de esa canción.  She succeeded in learning the letter of that song.