PretPretérito v. érito v. ImperfectoImperfecto

SAFE WATERSSAFE WATERS

Let’s review the preterite!Let’s review the preterite!

-AR-AR -ER/-IR-ER/-IR

aronaronóó

asteisasteisasteaste

amosamoséé

ieronieroniióó

isteisisteisisteiste

imosimosíí

*Don’t forget about JUICE!

When to use the preterite…When to use the preterite…

Now that you have mastered conjugating Now that you have mastered conjugating verbs in the preterite tense, you must learn verbs in the preterite tense, you must learn when to use it.when to use it.

Usually, the preterite tense is used when Usually, the preterite tense is used when talking about actions that were completed talking about actions that were completed in the past at a specific point in time.in the past at a specific point in time.

The acronym The acronym SAFESAFE will help you to will help you to remember the types of situations that remember the types of situations that require the preterite tense!require the preterite tense!

SSpecific instance pecific instance or number of or number of instances; instances; completedcompleted

Ejemplo:Ejemplo: Paco me llamPaco me llamó ayer.ó ayer. Paco called me Paco called me

yesterday.yesterday. Le llamLe llamó tres veces.ó tres veces. He called him three He called him three

times.times.

AAction that ction that interrupts interrupts ongoing eventsongoing events

Ejemplo:Ejemplo: Mi mamMi mamáá toc tocó la ó la

puerta mientras yo puerta mientras yo dormía.dormía.

My mom knocked on My mom knocked on the door while I was the door while I was sleeping.sleeping.

FFocus on beginning ocus on beginning or ending of an or ending of an actionaction

Ejemplo:Ejemplo: LloviLlovió a las seis y media ó a las seis y media

en punto.en punto. It rained at exactly 6:30.It rained at exactly 6:30. La fiesta terminó a las La fiesta terminó a las

once.once. The party ended at 11:00.The party ended at 11:00.

EEnclosed nclosed amount of time amount of time (timeline)(timeline)

Ejemplo:Ejemplo: Los Los árabes árabes

controlaron mucho de controlaron mucho de España por más que España por más que 700 años.700 años.

The Arabs controlled The Arabs controlled much of Spain for over much of Spain for over 700 years.700 years.

Let’s review the imperfect!Let’s review the imperfect!

-AR-AR -ER/-IR-ER/-IR

abanabanabaaba

abaisabaisabasabas

ábamosábamosabaaba

íaníaníaía

íaisíaisíasías

íamosíamosíaía

*Don’t forget that ser, ver, and ir are irregular!

When to use the imperfect…When to use the imperfect…

Now that you have mastered conjugating Now that you have mastered conjugating verbs in the imperfect tense, you must verbs in the imperfect tense, you must learn when to use it.learn when to use it.

Usually, the imperfect tense is used when Usually, the imperfect tense is used when talking about actions that were ongoing or talking about actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past.repeated in the past.

The acronym The acronym WATERSWATERS will help you to will help you to remember the types of situations that remember the types of situations that require the imperfect tense!require the imperfect tense!

WWeathereather Ejemplo:Ejemplo:

LlovLlovía.ía. It was raining.It was raining.

AAgege Ejemplo:Ejemplo:

Cuando tenCuando tenía tres ía tres años, quería ser años, quería ser bombera.bombera.

When I was three, I When I was three, I wanted to be a wanted to be a firefighter.firefighter.

TTimeime Ejemplo:Ejemplo:

Eran las cuatro.Eran las cuatro. It was 4:00.It was 4:00.

EEmotion/Attitudemotion/Attitude Ejemplo:Ejemplo:

Estaba muy Estaba muy emocionada.emocionada.

I was very excited.I was very excited.

RRepeated action; epeated action; continuouscontinuous

Ejemplo:Ejemplo: Yo visitaba a mi Yo visitaba a mi

abuela cada veranoabuela cada verano.. I visited my grandma I visited my grandma

every summer.every summer.

SSetting/Location etting/Location and Descriptionand Description

Ejemplo:Ejemplo: Los estudiantes Los estudiantes

estaban en la clase de estaban en la clase de historia.historia.

The students were in The students were in history class.history class.

Una rimaUna rima

Imperfect happened more than once, Imperfect happened more than once, preterite was not repeated,preterite was not repeated,

imperfect was still happening,imperfect was still happening,preterite was completed.preterite was completed.