Spanish 3 Notes on Preterite vs. Imperfect

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite We use the imperfect to describe habitual

or repeated events in the past.

We use the preterite to describe a particular or specific event.

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite

There are certain words that can help us decide: The imperfect is often used with expressions like:

Siempre

Los sábados

Todos los días

A menudo

**These all imply repetition

Always

On Saturdays

Everyday

Often

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite

The preterite is often used with expressions like: Una vez

El sábado pasado

Un día

Esta mañana

Anoche

**These imply the event happened once

Once, one time

Last Saturday

One day

This morning

Last night

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite

We say “used to” + verb a lot in English, to express something happened repeatedly in the past. With this, we’d use the imperfect.

Ex: Carlos used to spend (pasar) the summer in Mexico.

Carlos pasaba el verano en México.

We used to play tennis.Jugábamos al tenis.

Uses of the pret. & imperf.

The preterite is used to describe a well-defined action or event which happened at a specific point in time.

The imperfect is used to describe ongoing actions or events. In English, we say “was (were) +…ing”.

Uses of the pret. & imperf.

Examples:Cuando Carlos llamó…

…yo estudiaba.

Uses of the pret. & imperf.

Carmen llegó…

…mientras nos desayunábamos.

Uses of the pret. & imperf.

Anita sacó una foto…

…de unos niños que jugaban al fútbol.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

The preterite is used to describe actions in the past.

El año pasado mi hermano visitó México.

Vi una escuela grande.

Vi la escuela muy bien.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

The imperfect is used to describe specific circumstances: Time

Era el diez de abril. Eran las ocho de la noche.

Weather Hacía mal tiempo. Llovía.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Location Yo iba por la Avenida Libertad. Yo estaba en la escuela.

Age El profesor tenía entre treinta y treinta y cinco

años. Physical Appearance

Era un hombre alto. Llevaba un súeter gris.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Emotional State Estaba nervioso.

Attitude Él quería aprender español. Ella tenía ganas de conocer México.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Note the past tense forms of hay: Hubo una fiesta.

There was a party. (specific action) Había muchas personas.

There were many people. (circumstance)

Preterite vs. Imperfect

When we speak in the past, it’s either a continuous or isolated action We use the to describe ongoing

actions (actions/events that were in progress during a certain period of time)

We use the to describe isolated actions (actions which occurred at a specific moment in time)

imperfect

preterite

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Translate the following sentences: When I was a child, I didn’t speak

Spanish.

Last night, I spoke Spanish with Ramón.

Julio had a CD player.

Cuando era niño/a, no hablaba español.

Anoche, yo hablé español con Ramón.

Julio tenía un tocadiscos.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Julio sold his CD player.

Anita was my best friend.

Anita left to live in México.

Julio vendió su tocadiscos.

Anita era mi mejor amiga.

Anita se fue a vivir en México.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

In the summer we used to go to the

beach.

Yesterday we didn’t go to the beach.

En el verano, íbamos a la playa.

Ayer, no fuimos a la playa.

Preterite vs. Imperfect

To Describe: Use:A specificaction or eventcompleted in thepast.

Yo visité Puerto Rico.

Preterite

Preterite vs. Imperfect

To Describe: Use:The circumstancesof a past actionor event

Cuando tenía 16 años…

Imperfect

Preterite vs. Imperfect

To Describe: Use:An ongoing pastaction or event

Mis primos vivía en San Juan entonces.

Imperfect

Preterite vs. Imperfect

To Describe: Use:A repeated pastaction or event

Ellos me invitaban todos los veranos.

Imperfect