Pretérito e Imperfecto Las diferencias
La pregunta importante… What happened first/ next? Conveys the events of a story that took place/did not take place If there is no event in question, there is no preterite
Uses of the preterite A single event (completed) Fui a México el año pasado. I went to Mexico last year.
Continued… Visité unos museos. I visited some museums. One or more events or actions that began and ended in the past Visité unos museos. I visited some museums.
Continued… An event that occurred, interrupting another action ...cuando me dijeron la verdad. ...when they told me the truth. ... cuando mi hija nació. …when my daughter was born.
Continued… Changes in an existing physical or mental state at a precise moment or for a particular isolated cause Tuve miedo cuando vi el perro I was scared when I saw the dog.
Words ALWAYS used with the preterite *una/dos vez/veces - once/twice (etc.) *muchas veces - several times *ayer - yesterday *un día - one day *el lunes - on Monday *bruscamente - suddenly *de repente - all of a sudden
Words ALWAYS used with the preterite *el año pasado – last year *el mes pasado – last month *la semana pasada – last week *anteayer – the day before yesterday
La pregunta importante… What was the scene? What were the conditions? Conveys the background and conditions against which the events of the story occurred
Uses of the Imperfect A habitual or repeated action Iba a España cada año. I used to go to Spain every year. Visitaba mucho la Familia Sagrada . I often visited la Familia Sagrada .
Continued… An ongoing action with no specified completion Iba a España. I was going to Spain. Visitaba unos museos. I was visiting museums.
Continued… Description/background information; set the scene of how things were or what was happening when there was an interruption Estaba en mi cama cuando... I was in bed when... Vivía en Costa Rica cuando... I was living in Costa Rica when...
Continued… General description of physical or mental states of being Tenía miedo de perros. I was afraid of dogs.
Continued… Expression of the time of day or age in the past Eran las cinco de la mañana. It was five a.m. Era sus cumpleaños; tenía doce años. It was his birthday; he was twelve.
Words ALWAYS used with the imperfect *normalmente/usualmente - usually *de vez en cuando - from time to time *antes - formerly *todos los días - every day *los lunes - on Mondays *cada mes/año/semana – each month/ year/week