PRETERITE VS. IMPERFECT When to use these past tenses
When to Use the Preterite When an action was completed When an action was completed at a specific time When an action was completed a specific number of times When an action began or ended When an action interrupts another action
Phrases that indicate use of the preterite Ayer Anteayer Anoche Desde el primer momento Durante dos siglos El otro día En ese momento Entonces Esta mañana El año pasado Hace dos días Hace cuatro años Ayer por la mañana Ayer por la tarde Esta tarde La semana pasada El mes pasado
When to use the Imperfect To state in general when an action took place To describe background information To express weather To tell time To tell age To describe physical and mental states and conditions, including feelings To express habitual actions To express what used to happen To express what was/were…ing
Phrases that indicate use of the Imperfect A menudo A veces Cada día Cada semana Cada mes Cada año Nunca En aquella época Frecuentemente Generalmente Muchas veces Mucho De vez en cuando Con frecuencia
¡OJO! Some verbs change meaning depending on whether they are in the preterite or in the imperfect…
Verbs that change meaning in the preterite and imperfect Querer- tried No querer-refused Conocer-met Saber-found out Poder-succeeded Tener-received Imperfect Querer-wanted No querer- didn’t want Conocer-knew Saber-knew Poder-was able Tener-used to have
Examples of the preterite tense Paco trabajó al supermercado hace dos años. Paco worked at the supermarket 2 years ago. Yo leí el periódico ayer por la tarde. I read the newspaper yesterday afternoon. Comimos una torta a la fiesta el viernes pasado. We ate a cake at the party last Friday.
Examples of the imperfect tense Hacía mal tiempo. It was bad weather. Yo tenía miedo de la tormenta. I was afraid of the storm. Mi abuelo tenía 84 años. My grandfather was 84 years old. Mi padre era un chico malo. My father was a bad boy.
Examples of the preterite vs. the imperfect tenses Beto estudió anoche. Beto studied last night. Beto estudiaba todas las noches. Beto used to study every night. Beto estudiaba cuando se durmió. Beto was studying when he fell asleep.