Preterite Vs. Imperfect Spanish II

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

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.

When to use the imperfect Description Yo era baja. Used to Yo cantaba en la iglesia. Weather Hacía calor. Inside Feelings Yo estaba triste. Time Eran las ocho de la mañana.

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

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.

¡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 Preterite 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 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.

Práctica Read the English sentences on the next slide and determine whether you should use the preterite or the imperfect tense.

1. I ran five miles yesterday. 2. It was four o’clock. 3. He was reading the newspaper. 4. She studied for two hours last night. 5. We went to Canada every year in the summer. 6. I used to ride my bike all day long. 7. Wow! Was she angry! 8. You arrived at the hotel in the afternoon. 9. The cat jumped out the window. 10. It was snowing. 11. It rained yesterday afternoon. 12. He was wearing a black leather jacket. 13. She wore a red skirt yesterday. 14. We lost the match. 15. We were so sad.

1.Preterit 2.Imperfect 3.Imperfect 4.Preterit 5.Imperfect 6.Imperfect 7.Imperfect 8.Preterit 9.Preterit 10.Imperfect 11.Preterit 12.Imperfect 13.Preterit 14.Preterit 15.Imperfect

Más practica Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in Spanish and tell why you chose preterite or imperfect.

1.De niña, yo _______(ser) amable. 2.Ellos siempre _____________(escuchar) la radio. 3.Miguel ______________(caerse) en el piso. 4.Ayer, nosotros _____________(hacer) la tarea. 5.__________(Hacer) sol hoy. 6.__________(Ser) las dos de la tarde. Eran Hacía Hicimos se cayó escuchaban era