Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

¡En Español! ¡En Español!

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

When speaking about the past, you can When speaking about the past, you can use either the preterite or the imperfect, use either the preterite or the imperfect, depending on the sentence and the depending on the sentence and the meaning you wish to convey. Compare…meaning you wish to convey. Compare…

Este fin de semana Este fin de semana tométomé una clase de una clase de cerámica. Cuando cerámica. Cuando eraera niño, niño, tomabatomaba clases de escultura.clases de escultura.

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Use the preterite to tell about past actions Use the preterite to tell about past actions that happened and are complete.that happened and are complete.

El sábado, la clase El sábado, la clase empezóempezó a las 10 de la a las 10 de la mañana.mañana.

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Use the imperfect to tell about habitual Use the imperfect to tell about habitual actions in the past.actions in the past.

Cuando Cuando eraera niño, las clases niño, las clases empezabanempezaban a a las 5 de la tarde.las 5 de la tarde.

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Use the preterite to give a sequence of Use the preterite to give a sequence of actions in the past.actions in the past.

Cuando Cuando llegamosllegamos, la profesora , la profesora sacósacó su su pintura y sus pinceles y pintura y sus pinceles y empezó empezó a pintar.a pintar.

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Use the imperfect to give background Use the imperfect to give background details such as time, location, weather, details such as time, location, weather, mood, age, and physical and mental mood, age, and physical and mental descriptions.descriptions.

EranEran las dos de la tarde. las dos de la tarde. EstábamosEstábamos en en el parque. el parque. EraEra un día de otoño. Todos un día de otoño. Todos estábamosestábamos muy contentos. muy contentos.

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Use the preterite and the imperfect Use the preterite and the imperfect together when an action (preterite) together when an action (preterite) interrupts another that is taking place in interrupts another that is taking place in the past (imperfect).the past (imperfect).

EstábamosEstábamos en el taller cuando en el taller cuando entróentró el el profesor.profesor.

Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Use the imperfect when two or more Use the imperfect when two or more actions ar etaking place simultaneously in actions ar etaking place simultaneously in the past.the past.

Mientras los niños Mientras los niños pintabanpintaban, el profesor , el profesor observabaobservaba las pinturas. las pinturas.

Recuerda: Preterit is Recuerda: Preterit is BOSSIBOSSI

BBegan or ended action in the pastegan or ended action in the past

OOne time action in the past ne time action in the past

SSpecific-time action in the past pecific-time action in the past

SSudden, distinct actionudden, distinct action

IInterupting an action already going on.nterupting an action already going on.

Recuerda: Imperfect is Recuerda: Imperfect is WATERLOADSWATERLOADS

WWeathereather LLocationocation

AAgege OOn-going actionn-going action

TTelling Timeelling Time AAttitudettitude

EEmotionmotion DDescriptionescription

RRepeated Actionepeated Action SSetting, etting, backgroundbackground

Verbs That Change Meaning in Verbs That Change Meaning in the Preterite and the Imperfectthe Preterite and the Imperfect

Verbs That Change in Meaning Verbs That Change in Meaning from Preterite to Imperfect Tensesfrom Preterite to Imperfect Tenses

A few Spanish verbs have different A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses:preterite tenses:

SABERSABER CONOCERCONOCER QUERERQUERER NO QUERERNO QUERER PODERPODER

SABERSABER

Imperfect – “knew”Imperfect – “knew” ¿¿SabíasSabías que el concierto empezaba que el concierto empezaba

tarde?tarde? Did you know that the concert began late?Did you know that the concert began late?

Preterite – “found out, learned”Preterite – “found out, learned” Sí, Sí, supesupe ayer que empezaba tarde. ayer que empezaba tarde. Yes, I found out that it began late.Yes, I found out that it began late.

CONOCERCONOCER

Imperfect – “knew (somebody)”Imperfect – “knew (somebody)” Pedro Pedro conocíaconocía muy bien a esa actriz. muy bien a esa actriz. Pedro knew that actress very well.Pedro knew that actress very well.

Preterite – “met (somebody) for the first time”Preterite – “met (somebody) for the first time” Luis la Luis la conocióconoció el año pasado. el año pasado. Luis met her last year.Luis met her last year.

QUERERQUERER

Imperfect – “wanted to”Imperfect – “wanted to” Luis Luis queríaquería comprar las entradas hoy. comprar las entradas hoy. Luis wanted to buy the tickets today.Luis wanted to buy the tickets today.

Preterite – “tried to, attempted to”Preterite – “tried to, attempted to” Yo Yo quisequise comprarlas, pero me enfermé. comprarlas, pero me enfermé. I tried to buy them but I got sick.I tried to buy them but I got sick.

NO QUERERNO QUERER

Imperfect – “didn’t want to”Imperfect – “didn’t want to” No No queríanquerían ver esa obra de teatro. ver esa obra de teatro. They didn’t want to see that play.They didn’t want to see that play.

Preterite – “refused to”Preterite – “refused to” No No quisieronquisieron ver esa obra de teatro. ver esa obra de teatro. They refused to see that play.They refused to see that play.

PODERPODER

Imperfect – “was able to, could”Imperfect – “was able to, could” Ella Ella podíapodía aprender la letra de la canción. aprender la letra de la canción. She was able to learn the letter of the song.She was able to learn the letter of the song.

Preterite – “managed to, succeeded in”Preterite – “managed to, succeeded in” Ella Ella pudopudo aprender la letra de esa canción. aprender la letra de esa canción. She succeeded in learning the letter of that She succeeded in learning the letter of that

song.song.