Preterite Vs. Imperfect

BEGINNING / END - PRETERITE HABITUAL OR REPEATED (USED TO/WOULD)- IMPERFECT  Ayer, fui al cine.  Yesterday, I went to the movies.  Todos los sábados, iba al cine.  Every Saturday, I went to the movies. (used to/would go)

COMPLETED - PRETERITEONGOING - IMPERFECT  Juan comió dos enchiladas.  Juan ate 2 enchiladas.  Cuando yo entré, Juan comía dos enchiladas.  When I entered, Juan was eating 2 enchiladas.  Mientras Juan comía 2 enchiladas, yo jugaba a las cartas.  While Juan was eating 2 enchiladas, I was playing cards.

SERIES OF COMPLETED ACTIONS- PRETERITE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTIONS- IMPERFECT  En la fiesta anoche, bailamos, cantamos, y comimos.  At the party last night, we danced, sang, and ate.  Time – Eran las cinco.  It was 5:00.  Location- Estaba en casa.  He was at home.  Weather – Nevaba.  It was snowing.  Age – Teníamos quince anos.  We were 15 years old.  Phsysical Descriptions – Ella era alta y rubia.  She was tall and blonde.  Mental Characteristicas– Estaba triste y quería ir a casa..  He was sad and wanted to go home.

INTERRUPTING - PRETERITEINTERRUPTED - IMPERFECT  Yo practicaba cuando mama salió.  I was practicing when mom left.  Yo practicaba cuando mama salió.  I was practicing when mom left.

 Background Stage Setting - Imperfect  Action - Preterite Eran las dos de la tarde, y hacía sol. Era junio y yo jugaba en mi cuarto, mi mama estaba en la cocina y mi padre trabajaba en el jardín. It was two in the afternoon, and it was sunny out. It was July and I was playing In my room, my mom was in the kitchen and my father was working in the garden. A las tres, mi abuelo vino. Trajo dos bolsas de ropa nueva. Yo abrí una de las bolsas y vi un par de tenis muy lindo! Mi hermana abrió la otra bolsa y sacó un vestido nuevo rojo. Mi abuelo dijo, “Esta ropa es para el año escolar nuevo.” At three o’clock, my grandpa came. He brought 2 bags of new clothes. I opened one of the bags and saw a very pretty pair of sneakers. My sister opened the other bag and took out a new red dress. My grandpa said, “This clothing of for your new school year.

PRETERITEIMPERFECT  Saber – found out  Conocer - met  Querer – tried  No querer - refused  Poder – managed to  No poder – failed to  Saber - knew  Conocer - knew  Querer – wanted  No querer – did not want  Poder – was able  No poder – was not able, could not

PRETERITE IMPERFECT  Ayer  Anteayer  Anoche  Una vez / Dos veces, etc  El martes(pasado), etc.  El verano / La semana pasado(a)  De repente  Todos los días  Todos los veranos, etc.  Muchas veces/A veces  Con frecuencia  Siempre  De niño/de joven  Cuando era niño