Preterite vs. Imperfect BOTH used to talk about the past!

EL PRETÉRITO

Preterite Endings ER/IR AR é amos aste asteis ó aron í imos iste isteis ió ieron

When to use the PRETERITE Actions that are complete and can be viewed as single events. Example: Anoche, comí la pizza. Last night, I ate the pizza.

When to use the PRETERITE 2. Actions that were repeated a specific number of times. Example: Ayer, escribí tres cartas. Yesterday, I wrote three letters.

When to use the PRETERITE 3. Actions that occurred during a specific time period. Example: Vivimos alli por cuatro anos. We lived there for 4 years.

When to use the PRETERITE 4. Actions that were part of a chain of events. Example: Ella se levantó, se vistió, y salió. She woke up, got dressed, and left.

When to use the PRETERITE 5. To state the beginning or the end of an action. Example: Empezó a nevar a las ocho. It started to snow at 8:00.

EL IMPERFECTO

Imperfect Endings ER/IR AR aba ábamos abas abais aban ía íamos ías

When to use the IMPERFECT Actions that were repeated habitually in the past. (key word:todos) Example: Almorzábamos juntos todos los días. We ate lunch together every day.

When to use the IMPERFECT 2. Actions that “set the stage” or describe what was happening before another past tense event. Example: Yo leía cuando mi padre entró. I was reading when my father entered.

When to use the IMPERFECT 3. Telling time. Example: Eran las siete de la noche. It was 7:00 at night.

When to use the IMPERFECT 4. Stating age. Example: Ella tenía cinco años. She was 5 years old.

When to use the IMPERFECT 5. Physical/Emotional states. Example: Estaba enferma. I was sick. (depressed, hungry, tired, etc…)

When to use the IMPERFECT 6. Describe characteristics: SER Example: Ella era bonita e inteligente. She was pretty and smart.