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58 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
The preterite tells us specifically when an action took place.
The imperfect tells us in general when an action took place.
Preterite tense
the preterite is used for actions in the past that are seen as completed. Use of the preterite tense implies that the past action had a definite beginning and definite end.
Juan spoke from one until two o'clock.(clearly stated beginning and end)
Juan habló de la una hasta las dos.
Note - Preterite
It is important to realize that the beginning and the end may not always be clearly stated.
Juan spoke for two hours.(implied beginning and end)
Juan habló dos horas.
Juan spoke with the student.(implied beginning and end)
Juan habló con la estudiante.
Preterite 1
The preterite is used for actions that can be viewed as single events.
She walked through the park.
Ella caminó por el parque.
They arrived at eight o'clock.
Ellos llegaron a las ocho.
Preterite 2
The preterite is used for actions that were repeated a specific number of times, or occurred during a specific period of time.
Yesterday I wrote three letters.
Ayer escribí tres cartas.
We lived there for four years.
Vivimos allí por cuatro años.
Preterite 3
The preterite is used for actions that were part of a chain of events.
She got up, dressed, and left the house.
Ella se levantó, se vistió, y salió de la casa.
Preterite 4
The preterite is used to state the beginning or the end of an action.
It began to snow at eight in the morning.
Empezó a nevar a las ocho de la mañana.
Imperfect tense
Generally speaking, the imperfect is used for actions in the past that are not seen as completed. Use of the imperfect tense implies that the past action did not have a definite beginning or a definite end.
The girls used to speak in English.(no definite beginning or end)
Las chicas hablaban en inglés.
Imperfect 1
The imperfect is used for actions that were repeated habitually.
We would lunch together every day.
Almorzábamos juntos todos los días.
The ladies would always chat in the mornings.
Las señoras siempre charlaban por las mañanas.
Imperfect 2
The imperfect is used for actions that "set the stage" for another action.
I was reading when my papa entered. (note that "entered" is preterite)
Yo leía cuando entró mi papá.
Imperfect 3
The imperfect is used for telling time and stating one's age.
It was seven o'clock at night.
Eran las siete de la noche.
The little girl was five years old.
La niña tenía cinco años.
Imperfect 4
One does not normally think of a general mental state or physical sensations as having a definite beginning or end, and so they are usually expressed in the imperfect.
Ramón was afraid to speak in public.
Ramón tenía miedo de hablar en público.
I thought that Juan could do it.
Yo creía que Juan podía hacerlo.
I liked the car. (The car was pleasing to me.)
Me gustaba el coche.
Imperfect 5
The imperfect is used to describe how things were or what things were like. Use the imperfect when describing the characteristics of people, things or conditions.
He was a very intelligent boy.
Era un muchacho muy inteligente.
She was a beautiful young lady.
Era una señorita muy guapa.
The windows were open.
Las ventanas estaban abiertas.
The house was white.
La casa era blanca.
Preterite and Imperfect
Some verbs actually change meaning, depending upon whether they are used in the preterite or the imperfect. This is not surprising, since the difference in meaning can be traced back to the different way in which these two past tenses are used.
conocer
met & knew
I met Juan five years ago.(completed action)
Conocí a Juan hace cinco años.
At that time we knew the city very well.(no definite beginning or end)
En aquella época conocíamos muy bien la ciudad.
querer
tried & wanted
Maria tried to buy the house.(completed action)
María quiso comprar la casa.
Juan wanted to buy the house.(no definite beginning or end)
Juan quería comprar la casa.
no querer
refused & did not want
Maria refused to buy the house.(completed action)
María no quiso comprar la casa.
Juan did not want to buy the house.(no definite beginning or end)
Juan no quería comprar la casa.
saber
found out & knew
Maria found out yesterday.(completed action)
María lo supo ayer.
Juan knew that Maria was coming.(no definite beginning or end)
Juan sabía que María venía.
poder
succeeded & was able
Maria succeeded in lifting the table.(completed action)
María pudo levantar la mesa.
Juan was able to participate in the demonstration.(no definite beginning or end)
Juan podía participar en la manifestación.
tener
recieved & used to have
Maria received a letter from her mom.(completed action)
María tuvo una carta de su mamá.
Juan used to have a new car.(no definite beginning or end)
Juan tenía un coche nuevo.
Defining the Imperfect
Definitions
I worked in the agency during the day.
I was working in the agency during the day.
I visited my grandmother every day.
I used to visit my grandmother every day.
Every afternoon I took a nap.
Every afternoon I would take a nap.