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Preterite vs. Imperfect
Both the preterite and imperfect explain past actions, but they are
used in different situations to mean
different things.
Arregla tus apuntes así:Preterite1.2.3.4.5.
Imperfect:1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.
MAIN uses:Preterite: completed action:
Fui a la fiesta contigo.I went (once) to the party with you.
MAIN uses:Imperfect: Ongoing, repeated
past action (no defined beginning or end) or “used to…”Yo iba a las fiestas contigo.I used to go to the parties with you. (No given time period.)
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. 3.4.5.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2.3.4.5.6.7.8. 9.
Interrupting action
Preterite: The action that interruptsImperfect: The background action
(getting interrupted)..
Cenábamos cuando me llamó.We were eating dinner when he
called me.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting
action3. 4.5.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3.4.5.6.7.8.9.
Preterite: Beginning or end of an action.
Empezó a llover.It began to rain.
Teminaste tu tarea.You finished your assignment.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting 3. Beginning or
End of an action
4.5.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3.4.5.6.7.8.9.
Preterite: Something done a specific number of times or for a specific duration.
Desayunamos en el hotel cinco veces.We ate breakfast in the hotel five times.Comimos en el restaurante por dos
horas. We ate at the restaurant for 2 hours.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interruptor3. Beginning or
End of an action
4. # of times5.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3.4.5.6.7.8.9.
Preterite: A chain or sequence of events. (They’re all completed actions one after the other)
Me desperté, me duché y fui a la escuela.
I woke up, I showered, and I went to school.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Interrupted3.4.5.6.7.8.9.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or
End of an action4. # of times/
duration5. Chain of events
Imperfect: Setting the scene or describing the background for other events.
Hacía calor y los pájaros cantaban.
It was hot and the birds were singing.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Interrupted3. Setting the scene4.5.6.7.8.9.
Preterite1. Completed Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or End
of an action4. # of times/
duration5. Chain of events
Imperfect: Time (use era/eran where you would have used es/son)
Era la una y media.It was one thirty.
Eran las tres y veinte.It was three twenty.
Imperfect: Date
Era lunes, el catorce de mayo.
It was Monday, May 14th.
Imperfect: Weather (use “hacía” instead of “hace.”)
Hacía mucho viento.It was very windy.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3. Setting the scene4. Time, date, weather5.6.7.8.9.
Preterite1. Completed Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or End
of an action4. # of times/
duration5. Chain of events
Imperfect: Physical descriptions and states, including AGE.
El hombre tenía cuarenta años.The man was 40 years old.
Yo estaba cansada.I was tired.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3. Setting the scene4. Time, date, weather5. Physical description, age6.7.8.9.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or
End of an action4. # of times5. Chain of
events
Imperfect: Emotional conditions, mental processes, and attitudes.
Siempre me encantaba nadar.I always loved to swim.
Creías que hacía frío.You believed that it was cold.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3. Setting the scene4. Time, date, weather5. Physical description, age6. Emotions, attitudes,
mental processes7.8.9.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or
End of an action4. # of times/
duration5. Chain of events
Imperfect: Location (as part of setting the scene)
Estábamos en Madrid cuando atacaron la estación de trenes.
We were in Madrid when they attacked the train station.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated
action2. Background action3. Setting the scene4. Time, date, weather5. Physical description, age6. Emotions, attitudes,
mental processes7. Location8. 9.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or
End of an action4. # of times/
duration5. Chain of events
Imperfect: Past Progressive (estar in imperfect + present participle)
Estaba bailando cuando mi móvil sonó.
I was dancing when my cell phone rang.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated action2. Background action3. Setting the scene4. Time, date, weather5. Physical description, age6. Emotions, attitudes,
mental processes7. Location8. Past progressive9.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or
End of an action4. # of times5. Chain of
events
Imperfect: Intentions. “was going to...”(ir in imperfect + a + infinitive)
Iban a cantar en la iglesia.They were going to sing in the
church.
Imperfect:1. Ongoing/repeated action2. Background action3. Setting the scene4. Time, date, weather5. Physical description, age6. Emotions, attitudes,
mental processes7. Location8. Past progressive9. Intentions: Ir + a + inf.
Preterite1. Completed
Action2. Interrupting3. Beginning or
End of an action4. # of times/
duration5. Chain of events
Verbs that change meaning
Some verbs take different meanings depending on whether you conjugate them in the preterite or the imperfect.
SABER
Imperfect: knew (facts/info)“sabía”Preterite: found out
facts/info. “supe, supiste..”
CONOCER
Imperfect: knew (people/ places) conocía….
Preterite: met someone.Conocí, conociste…
QUERER + inf.
Imperfect: wanted “Quería ganar.”
Preterite: tried “Quise, quisiste etc. + infinitive.”
NO QUERER + Inf.
Imperfect: didn’t want to. “No quería comer.”
Preterite: refused to“No quise comer.”
TENER
Imperfect: had. teníaPreterite: got/ received (1st
time you had it.) “tuve, tuviste, tuvo…”
PODER
Imperfect: Was able (had the ability.) “Yo podía ganar.”
Preterite: Could and did. (Was able and succeeded in doing so on the specific occasion being presented) “Él pudo hacer su tarea.”
