Uses of the Imperfect Preterite We use the

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 On Saturdays Todos los días Everyday A menudo **These all imply repetition Always Often

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite The preterite is often used with expressions like: Una vez Once, one time El sábado pasado Last Saturday Un día One day Esta mañana This morning Anoche Last night **These imply the event happened once

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 welldefined 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 cinco años. Physical Era Appearance un hombre alto. Llevaba un súeter gris.

Preterite vs. Imperfect Emotional Estaba State 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 imperfect to describe ongoing actions (actions/events that were in progress during a certain period of time) We use the preterite to describe isolated actions (actions which occurred at a specific moment in time)

Preterite vs. Imperfect Translate the following sentences: When I was a child, I didn’t speak Spanish. Cuando era niño/a, no hablaba español. Last night, I spoke Spanish with Ramón. Anoche, yo hablé español con Ramón. Julio had a CD player. Julio tenía un tocadiscos.

Preterite vs. Imperfect Julio sold his CD player. Julio vendió su tocadiscos. Anita was my best friend. Anita era mi mejor amiga. Anita left to live in México. Anita se fue a vivir en México.

Preterite vs. Imperfect In the summer we used to go to the beach. En el verano, íbamos a la playa. Yesterday we didn’t go to the beach. Ayer, no fuimos a la playa.

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: A specific action or event completed in the past. Yo visité Puerto Rico. Use: Preterite

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: The circumstances of a past action or event Use: Imperfect Cuando tenía 16 años…

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: An ongoing past action or event Use: Imperfect Mis primos vivía en San Juan entonces.

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: A repeated past action or event Use: Imperfect Ellos me invitaban todos los veranos.