Past tense: Preterite & Imperfect
(Yo) Estaba – I was (Tú) Estabas – You were (Él/Ella/Usted) Estaba – He/ She/ It was (Nosotros/as) Estábamos – We were (Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes) Estaban – They/ All of you (plural) were
(Yo) Era – I was (Tú) Eras – You were (Él/Ella/Usted) Era – He/ She/ It was (Nosotros/as) Éramos – We were (Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes) Eran- They/ All of you (plural) were
Preterite Imperfect ◦ Habitual action ◦ Narrating the past Think: “It was ____ ing…”
For actions that were repeated habitually ◦ Las señoras siempre charlaban por las mañanas. The ladies would always chat in the mornings. For actions that "set the stage" for another past action ◦ Yo leía cuando entró mi papá. I was reading when my papa entered. (note that "entered" is preterite) For telling time ◦ Eran las siete de la noche. It was seven o'clock at night. For stating one's age ◦ La niña tenía cinco años. The little girl was five years old.
For mental states (usually) ◦ Juan estaba cansado. To describe the characteristics of people, things or conditions ◦ La persona estaba enferma.
For actions that can be viewed as single events ◦ Ella caminó por el parque. She walked through the park. For actions that were repeated a specific number of times ◦ Ayer escribí tres cartas. Yesterday I wrote three letters. For actions that occurred during a specific period of time ◦ Vivimos allí por cuatro años. We lived there for four years For actions that were part of a chain of events ◦ Ella se levantó, se vistió, y salió de la casa. She got up, dressed, and left the house. To state the beginning or the end of an action ◦ Empezó a nevar a las ocho de la mañana. It began to snow at eight in the morning.
Vocab ◦ los caries dentales: caries ◦ el bacteria/los microbios: bacteria, microbes ◦ la encía: gums (gingiva) ◦ el empaste dental: filling, restoration ◦ cepillarse los dientes: to brush your teeth ◦ limpiar los dientes con hilo dental: to floss ◦ por lo menos un dos veces al dia: at least 2 times a day ◦ El esmalte: enamel
Oral Health Instruction Phrases: ◦ Hay ciertos tipos de microbios en su boca que causan los caries. (There are certain types of bacteria/microbes in your mouth that cause caries) ◦ Estos microbios se pegan a sus dientes y producen ácido que desgasta la superficie o la capa externa de los dientes. (These microbes stick to your teeth and produce acid that erodes the top surface of the teeth) ◦ Mantener una dieta equilibrada que no consiste en demasiados azúcares y carbohidratos. (Maintain a balanced diet that doesn’t have too much sugar or carbohydrates)
Hay que cepillarse los dientes por lo menos dos veces al dia (You need ot brush your teeth at least 2 times a day) Hay que limpar los dientes con hilo dental una vez al dia (You need to floss your teeth once a day)