Quick Review Spanish has two past tenses the preterite and the
imperfect.
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The Preterite
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En general: The preterite is used for past actions that are
seen as completed.
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REVIEW: SPECIFIC USES OF THE PRETERITE Actions that: were
repeated a specific number of times occurred during a specific
period of time. were part of a chain of events. can be viewed as
single events. state the beginning or the end of an action.
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The Imperfect en general The imperfect is used for past actions
that are not seen as completed.
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Specific reasons to use the imperfect: The imperfect is used
for actions that were repeated habitually. Example: We would eat
lunch in the car everyday.
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Specific reasons to use the imperfect: The imperfect is used
for actions that "set the stage" for another action. Example: We
were eating dinner when she called.
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Specific reasons to use the imperfect: 3. Telling time Example:
It was eight oclock at night.
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Specific reasons to use the imperfect: 4. Stating age Example:
The little girl was five years old.
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Specific reasons to use the imperfect: 5. when describing the
characteristics of people, things or conditions. Examples: 1. The
house was white. 2. He was an intelligent boy.
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Specific reasons to use the imperfect: 6. when describing the
general mental state or physical sensation. Examples: 1. I liked
the car. 2. I thought that Juan could do it.
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Imperfect Vocabulary: a veces (sometimes) cada da (every day)
cada semana (every week) cada mes (every month) cada ao (every
year) con frecuencia (frequently) de vez en cuando (from time to
time) frecuentemente (frequently generalmente (usually) muchas
veces (many times) mucho (a lot) nunca (never) siempre (always)
todas las semanas (every week) todos los das (every day) todo el
tiempo (all the time) varias veces (several times)
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AR endings Mirar to watch/look at 1. miraba 2. mirabas 3.
miraba 1. mirbamos 2. mirabais 3. miraban
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ER and IR endings Comer to eat 1. coma 2. comas 3. coma 1.
comamos 2. comais 3. coman
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ER and IR endings Vivir to eat 1. viva 2. vivas 3. viva 1.
vivamos 2. vivais 3. vivan
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Only 3 irregulars! Ser Ir Ver
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Ser to be 1. era 2. eras 3. era 1. ramos 2. erais 3. eran
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Ir - to go 1. iba 2. ibas 3. iba 1. bamos 2. ibais 3. iban
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Ver to see 1. vea 2. veas 3. vea 1. veamos 2. veais 3.
vean
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Examples 1. We would eat lunch in the car everyday. 2. We were
eating dinner when she called. 3. It was eight oclock at night. 4.
The little girl was five years old. 5. The house was white. 6. He
was an intelligent boy. 7. I liked the car. 8. I thought that Juan
could do it.
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Examples 1. We would eat lunch in the car everyday. Almorzbamos
en el carro todos los das. 2. We were eating dinner when she
called. Cenbamos cuando ella llam. 3. It was eight oclock at night.
Eran las ocho de la noche 4. The little girl was five years old. La
nia tena cinco aos.
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Examples 5. The house was white. La casa era blanca. 5. He was
an intelligent boy. l era un nio inteligente. 6. I liked the car.
Me gustaba el carro. 6. I thought that Juan could do it. Yo crea
que Juan poda hacerlo.
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Importante Use the imperfect for the following: Used to: Most
ing in the past Would (meaning used to)
