¿Pretérito o ¿Pretérito o Imperfecto?Imperfecto?

PretéritoPretérito

--AR VERBS -é-aste-ó-amos-asteis-aron

--ER/--IR VERBS-í-iste-ió-imos-isteis-ieron

PretéritoPretérito

Specifically when an action took place

PretéritoPretérito1. Actions are completed, single

events◦Nosotros fuimos a la tienda ayer. We

went to the store yesterday.2. Actions can occur more than once

if there is a specific end◦Me cepillé los dientes 3 veces. I

brushed my teeth 3 times.3. Series of actions

◦Cené, me arreglé, y fui al teatro. I ate dinner, got ready, and went to the theatre.

PretéritoPretérito4. Actions always have a specific

beginning or end, though it is not always stated◦Los alumnos miraron la televisión.

The students watched television.

5. Action that interrupts another, ongoing action◦Mientras trabajábamos, Carmen

durmió la siesta. While we were working, Carmen took a nap.

ImperfectoImperfecto

--AR VERBS

-aba-abas-aba-ábamos-abais-aban

--ER/--IR VERBS

-ía-ías-ía-íamos-íais-ían

ImperfectoImperfecto

Generally when an action took place

ImperfectoImperfecto1. Actions that do not have a definite beginning or end◦Mis amigos navegaban la red. My

friends surfed the Net.

2. Actions are continuous, habitual, or repeated◦Cuando eras joven, tú jugabas al

tenis. When you were young, you played tennis.

ImperfectoImperfecto3. Actions that occur at the same time as

another (not an interruption)◦David leía cuando Esteban estudiaba. David

read while Esteban studied.

4. Actions that give background information, such as: time, age, physical or emotional conditions, states-of-being, characteristics, or description◦Cuando tenían 7 años, los hermanos vivían en

Madrid. When they were 7 years old, they lived in Madrid.

Verbs that change Verbs that change meaningmeaning

PretéritoMet

Could, succeeded

Tried

Refused

Discovered, found out

Received, got

Knew

Could

Wanted

Didn’t want

Knew

Had, used to have

ConocerPoder

Querer

No querer

Saber

Tener

Imperfecto

Key Words and Phrases: Key Words and Phrases: PretéritoPretéritoAyerAnteayerAnocheEntoncesEsta mañanaLa semana

pasadaEl año pasadoHace 2 años

YesterdayDay before

yesterdayLast nightThen, back thenThis morningLast weekLast year2 years ago

Key Words and Phrases: Key Words and Phrases: ImperfectoImperfectoA menudoA vecesCada día/ todos

los díasCon frecuenciaDe vez en cuandoGeneralmenteMuchoSiempre/nunca

OftenSometimesEach day/ every

day

FrequentlyOnce in a whileGenerallyA lotAlways/ never

PrácticaPrácticaCisco (pescar) con su abuelo cada

verano.◦Pescaba

Julio y Pedro (pescar) con sus abuelos la semana pasada.◦Pescaron

Yo siempre (acostarse) tarde.◦Me acostaba

Pero anoche tú (acostarse) temprano.◦Te acostaste