preterite vs imperfect the Spanish past tense preterite

preterite vs imperfect the Spanish past tense…

preterite ¡ ¡ backbone of the story moves things forward tells when things began and ended moves the story forward in time imperfect ¡ ¡ descriptive filler flesh of the story does not introduce new events stops the story to fill in details and descriptions

Picture It preterite (events) imperfect (details/descriptions)

preterite ¡ ¡ ¡ he he he woke up ate breakfast brushed his teeth left the house arrived at school imperfect ¡ ¡ ¡ these are all specific events ¡ it was sunny he was hungry he was happy the toothpaste was blue his friend was waiting these are all details/descriptions

some more pictures that may help you… beginning preterite ______ preterite end _ _ ______ preterite beginning and end ________ imperfect middle _ _ _ _____ _ _

verb of action 1. 2. Is it a verb of action? Is the action… ¡ ¡ ¡ habitual? interrupted? descriptive? yes to any = use imperfect no to all = use preterite

verb of action preterite is the rule ¡ imperfect is the exception ¡ l l use preterite if the action is the beginning or the end, or if the action is completed use imperfect if the focus is on the middle of the acion or if the action is habitual, interrupted, or descriptive

verb of state imperfect is the rule ¡ preterite is the action ¡ l l use imperfect if there is no change, action, reaction, or time limitation use preterite if there is a sudden change, reaction, or time limitation

copy down these examples to know when to use the preterite 1. 2. 3. 4. De repente ella empezó a llorar. Hoy me levanté a las ocho y media. Ellos durmieron muy bien anoche. Yo hablaba por teléfono cuando mi padre gritó.

copy these examples and study them to know when to use the imperfect 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Maria y Juan se veían todos los martes. Yo quería ir a Puerto Rico. Yo tenía trece anos cuando fui a Nevada. Ella tenía calor en la casa. Nosotros charlábamos mientras ellos contaban chistes.