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.”