Transcript Imperfect vs. Preterite

Imperfect vs. Preterite
Español III H.
Sonia Torna
Uses of the Imperfect

The imperfect is used to describe:
Emotions, mental states, physical states,
appearance in the past:
Los niños estaban emocionados y contentos.
Julia era alta, tenía pelo largo, y estaba un poco
gordita.
Uses of the Imperfect

The imperfect is used to describe background
in the past, including time, weather:
Era el 31 de octubre, hacía frío y llovía.
Uses of the Imperfect

The imperfect is used to describe actions that
“used to take place” or habitual actions:
Cuando era niño, íbamos a recoger dulces el día de
“Halloween”
Siempre llegaba tarde a la escuela cuando vivía en
Santa Cruz.
Uses of the Imperfect

The imperfect is used to express
simultaneous actions in progress:
Mientras miraba la tele, mi hermano preparaba la
cena.
Uses of the Imperfect

The imperfect is used to express actions
repeated an unspecified number of times:
El verano pasado visitaba a mi abuela de vez en
cuando.
Uses of the Imperfect

The imperfect is used to express anticipated
actions:
Iba a estudiar para el examen, pero decidí mirar la
tele.
Uses of the Preterite

The preterite is used to express the beginning
or the end of an action:
Comencé a estudiar para el examen a las cuatro y
terminé de estudiar a las ocho.
Uses of the Preterite

The preterite is used to describe an action
that was completed once or a specific
number of times:
Estudié anoche.
Fui al cine tres veces la semana pasada.
Uses of the Preterite

The preterite is used to describe actions
completed in a sequence:
Me levanté, me bañé, y salí para la escuela.
Uses of the Preterite

The preterite is used to describe an activity or
event that was completed, even if it took a
long time to complete:
Viví en España por tres años y estudié en el
instituto por dos.
Uses of the Preterite

The preterite is used to describe a sudden
change in physical, psychological or
emotional state:
Me enfermé el sábado pasado y me deprimí mucho
porque había un partido de fútbol americano. Para
peor suerte, mi novia se enojó conmigo.
Changes in Verb Meaning
(Preterite)
Verb
Meaning
Querer
tried to
No querer
to refuse
Poder
managed to
Saber
to find out, realize
Conocer
to meet for the first time
Pensar
to suddenly think
Tener
to receive (news, letter); to have an event
(party, appointment, class, etc)
Tener que
(Pretérito)
to have to do (action was completed)
Tener que
(Imperfecto)
to have to do (action was not completed!)
Hubo
an event took place
Verb
Description
Ongoing
Imperfect
Imperfect
Action
Repeated
Completed/
Sequential
#Not Specified
#Specified
Imperfect
Preterite
Preterite
Anticipated
Imperfect