1. Preterite
Versus
Imperfect

2. Preterite versus Imperfect
Standard Deviants Video Preterite vs Imperfect
Practice
Rules
Preterite vs Imperfect
Rules
2 Simultaneous Events

3. Preterite vs Imperfect
Continue
Index

4. Rules for Using Preterite Imperfect
One-Time, Completed action in the past
Ongoing, Repeated action in the past for a specific period of time
Main Action
Ongoing, Repeated action in the past
Was _________ing
Were ________ing
Used to ________
Description/Background/
Circumstantial Info.
Index

5. Rule P1: One-Time, Completed action in the past
Fui al mercado ayer.
I went to the market yesterday.
Index

6. Fui al mercado a menudo la semana pasada.
Rule P2: Ongoing, Repeated action in the past for a specific period of time
Fui al mercado a menudo la semana pasada. x x x x x
I went to the market often
last week.
Index

7. Mi perro comió mi tarea. My dog ate my homework. Rule P3: Main Action
Index

8. Rule I1: Ongoing, Repeated action in the past
Iba al mercado a menudo.
I went to the market often.
Index

9. Rule I2: Was _________ing Were ________ing
Ella cantaba. (Nosotros) bailábamos.
She was singing.
We were dancing.
Index

10. Rule I2: Used to ________
Ellos bailaban y cantaban.
They used to dance and sing.
Index

11. Rule I3: Description/Background/ Circumstantial Info.
El coche era rojo. Eran las nueve de la noche. Hacía calor.
The car was red.
It was 9:00 p.m.
It was hot.
Index

12. 2 Simultaneous Events
Two or more verbs can occur in the same sentence.
If this happens, one of three scenarios will occur for a sentence with two verbs.
1st Verb Preterite  2nd Verb Preterite
1st Verb Imperfect 2nd Verb Imperfect
1st Verb Preterite  2nd Verb Imperfect (or)
1st Verb Imperfect 2nd Verb Preterite
Index

13. 2 Simultaneous Events 1st Verb Preterite  2nd Verb Preterite
Fui a la tienda de música y compré un disco compacto.
Series of completed actions/events
Index

14. 2 Simultaneous Events 1st Verb Imperfect  2nd Verb Imperfect
Raúl estudiaba mientras escuchaba la música.
2 simultaneous actions/events that are equal in duration.
Index

15. 2 Simultaneous Events 1st Verb Preterite2nd Verb Imperfect
1st Verb Imperfect2nd Verb Preterite
El sol brillaba hasta que la nube lo cubrió.
Los niños empezaron a dormir mientras la música tocaba.
2 simultaneous actions/events that differ in length of duration. Typically one interrupts an ongoing action/event.
Index

16. Common Words Usually Indicative of
Preterite
ayer
anteayer
anoche
el _____ pasado
mes
la _____ pasada
semana
de repente
de pronto
una vez
Imperfect
A menudo
Muchas veces
Siempre
Verb + mucho
Todos los _______
días
Todas las _______
noches
Frequentemente/con frequencia
Usualmente/normalmente
Generalmente/por lo general
De vez en cuando
Index

17. Preterite versus Imperfect
Let’s Practice
Index

18. My father ran through the park yesterday.
Mi padre corrió por el parque ayer.
One-Time, Completed action in the past
Index

19. We always lived in the city.
(Nosotros) siempre vivíamos en la ciudad.
Ongoing, Repeated
action in the past
Index

20. The man and his son were tall and thin.
El hombre y su hijo eran altos y delgados.
Description/Background/
Circumstantial Info.
Index

21. A las diez de la mañana, empezó a llover.
At 10:00 a.m. it began to rain.
A las diez de la mañana, empezó a llover.
One-Time, Completed action in the past
Beginnings and Endings
Index

22. It was 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon.
Era la una de la tarde.
Description/Background/
Circumstantial Info.--Time
Index

23. It was cold and snowing. Hacía frío y nevaba. Description/Background/
Circumstantial Info.--Weather
Index

24. The boys opened the door.
Los chicos abrieron la puerta.
Main Action
Index

25. A child was reading in the library.
Un niño leía en la biblioteca.
Was _________ing
Were ________ing
Index

26. My mother used to cook dinner often.
Mi madre cocinaba (mucho) la cena (a menudo).
Used to ________
Index

27. I frequently ate dinner with my friends last week.
(Yo) comí la cena/cené con mis amigos con frequencia/ frequentemente la semana pasada .
Ongoing, Repeated action in the past
for a specific period of time
Index

28. My mom called me while I was sleeping.
Mi madre me llamó mientras (yo) dormía.
1st Verb: Interrupting action
(shorter in duration)
2nd Verb: Ongoing action
Index

29. While I was watching television, the phone rang.
Mientras miraba la tele, el teléfono sonó.
1st Verb: Ongoing action
2nd Verb: Interrupting action
(shorter in duration)
Index

30. My friends danced (were dancing) and sang (were singing).
Mis amigos bailaban y cantaban.
1st Verb: Ongoing action
2nd Verb: Ongoing action
Both of equal/unknown duration
Index

31. You ordered the taco and ate it.
(Tú) pediste el taco y lo comiste.
Series of completed actions/events
Index

32. Rules for Using Preterite Imperfect
One-Time, Completed action in the past
Ongoing, Repeated action in the past for a specific period of time
Main Action
Ongoing, Repeated action in the past
Was _________ing
Were ________ing
Used to ________
Description/Background/
Circumstantial Info.
Index