Preterite vs.Imperfect
cogitation endings for verbs of preterite or
imperfect:Imperfect: (yo) aba(tu) abas (el,ella,usted) aba
(nosotros) abamos (vosotros) abais (ellos, ellas, ustedes) aban
Preterite: (yo) (tu) aste (el,ella,usted) (nosotros) amos
(vosotros) asteis (ellos, ellas, ustedes) aron
Have the students repeat the words so they understand how to
pronounce them
3the differences between the two and how to differentiate
themPreterite: (BICE)
B - beginning of an action I interruptC - completed action E-
end of an action The mnemonic device will help you to know whether
to use the preterite or the imperfect. Each letter stands for a
rule of when you should use which one.Imperfect: (THREADSS)
T- time H- habitual actions R- repeated actions.E- emotionsA-
age D- description. S- simultaneous actions S- Set up the scene I
would describe that when a sentence is referring to one of the
actions listed, it is either preterite or imperfect. 4Example
This image shows examples of the preterite and imperfect and how
both have different meanings.This image is to help show how the
sentences can be completely different and changed by using
preterite or imperfect. These sentences help show the importance of
preterite and imperfect. 5Examples of Preterite and Imperfect in
Sentences Preterite:B - beginning of an actionEmpez a llover. It
began to rain.Imperfect:S- simultaneous actions Yo miraba la
television mientras mi hermano hacia la tarea.I was watching the
television while my brother was doing homework.
More examples of the preterite and imperfect6Just in case we
need a little bit more help understanding
Memorize these PRETERITE irregular verbs!Ser (to be) Ir (to
go)Dar (to give)Hacer (to make)Tener (to have)Venir (to come)
Have the students repeat the words so they understand how to
pronounce them
8Conjugations of Imperfect irregular verbsSER: (yo) era(tu)
eras(el, ella, usted) era(nosotros) ramos (vosotros) erais(ellos,
ellas, ustedes) eran
VER: (yo) vea(tu) veas(el, ella, usted) vea(nosotros)
veamos(vosotros) veais(ellos, ellas, ustedes) vean
IR: (yo) iba(tu) ibas(el, ella, usted) iba(nosotros)
bamos(vosotros) ibais(ellos, ellas, ustedes) iban
Have the students repeat the words so they understand how to
pronounce them
10Conjugations of Preterite irregular verbsSER+ IR: (same
conjugation)(yo) fui(tu) fuiste(el, ella, usted) fue(nosotros)
fuimos(vosotros) fuisteis(ellos, ellas, ustedes) fueron
DAR: (yo) di(tu) diste(el, ella, usted) dio(nosotros)
dimos(vosotros) disteis(ellos, ellas, ustedes) dieron
HACER: (yo) hice(tu) hiciste(el, ella, usted) hizo(nosotros)
hicimos(vosotros) hicisteis(ellos, ellas, ustedes) hicieron
TENER:(yo) tuve(tu) tuviste(el, ella, usted) tuvo(nosotros)
tuvimos(vosotros) tuvisteis(ellos, ellas, ustedes) tuvieron
VENIR:(yo) vine(tu) viniste(el, ella, usted) vino(nosotros)
vinimos(vosotros) vinisteis(ellos, ellas, ustedes) vinieron
Have the students repeat the words so they understand how to
pronounce them11Common phrases associated with the
preterite:PRETERITE:ayer anteayer anoche desde el primer momento
durante dos siglos el otro daen ese momentoEntoncesesta maanaesta
tarde
These phrases are most commonly found in the beginning of the
sentence12Common phrases associated with the imperfect:IMPERFECT:a
menudoa vecescada dacada aocon frecuenciade vez en cuandoen aquella
pocafrecuentemente
These phrases are most commonly found in the beginning of the
sentence
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