The Preterite or the Imperfect????
Choosing between the preterite and the imperfect can sometimes be a little confusing for a non-native speaker. Sometimes, either choice could make perfect sense-it just depends what you want to emphasize.
If you are describing a COMPLETED action-one with a clear beginning or ending point or one that went on for a specific amount of time-stick to the preterite. Otherwise, it’s likely that you need the imperfect. Let’s review the key concepts of these past tenses
Let’s review the key concepts of these past tenses: Preterite: Imperfect: Single, complete event Incomplete, ongoing event The beginning or ending point Description of an action Telling time in the past When you tell how long an Habitual actions action lasted
Examples: Luis Miguel sólo cantó por media hora. (cantó-preterite-specified amount of time) Luis Miguel only sang for half an hour. Yo leía mi libro mientras mi novio veía la televisión. (leía/veía-imperfect-two ongoing actions) I was reading my book while my boyfriend was watching tv.
Preterite Endings -é -í -í -aste -iste -iste -ó -ió -ió AR ER IR -é -í -í -aste -iste -iste -ó -ió -ió -amos -imos -imos -aron -ieron -ieron
Common irregulars ir: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron hacer: hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicieron dar: di, diste, dio, dimos, dieron ver: vi, viste, vio, vimos, vieron traer: traje, trajiste, trajo, trajimos, trajeron
Imperfect AR ER/IR aba ía abas ías ábamos íamos aban ían