Preterite vs. Imperfect

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Preterite vs. Imperfect

• The TWO Past Tenses

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Los objectivos

• Understand when to use the preterite tense
• Understand when to use the imperfect tense
• Understand how to use the preterite and imperfect
  in compound sentences

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Uses of the Preterite Tense

• Single, isolated actions
• Actions repeated a specific number of times
• Actions that occurred at a specific time
• Main actions and events
• what happened
• what actions occurred

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Uses of Imperfect Tense

• Repetitive actions
• Indefinite time period
• Background information
• Time
• Weather
• Age
• Appearance
• Feelings Emotions
• Beliefs
• what was happening
• what was going on at a certain time
• what used to be

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Examples

• Fui a mi cuarto.
• I went to my room.
• Mi cuarto era pequeño.
• My room was small.
• Nadé ayer.
• I swam yesterday.
• Nadaba mucho.
• I swam a lot.

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Preterite or Imperfect ???

• Anita drove for the first time.
• You sunbathe every day.
• On July 4th, you met the President.
• All of a sudden, Mario fell down.
• On weekends, we dance at the club.
• There was a lot of paella at dinner.

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Compound Sentences I

• In compound sentences, both the preterite and
  imperfect can appear
• The verb showing a specific or interrupting
  action will conjugate to the preterite
• The verb showing extended action or the action
  being interrupted will conjugate to the imperfect

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Examples

• I was sleeping when Lupe jumped on me.
• Dormía cuando Lupe me saltó.
• It started to snow while we were at the beach.
• Empezó a nevar mientras estábamos a la playa.
• While we were picnicking, a crazy bull charged
  us.
• Mientras merendábamos, un toro loco nos acargó.

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Compound Sentences II

• In compound sentences, it is also possible for
  both verbs to be conjugated into the same past
  tense.
• If the sentence has two single specific actions,
  both verbs conjugate into the preterite.
• If the sentence has two actions occurring at the
  same time without interrupting each other, both
  verbs conjugate into the imperfect.

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A Little Bit More Practice

• I studied while you slept.
• Estudiaba cuando dormías.
• This morning I met students who are visiting this
  country.
• Esta mañana encontró estudiantes que visitaban
  este país.
• We entered the room and they left.
• Entramos el cuarto y salieron.
• .

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Los objectivos

• When is the preterite tense used?
• When is the imperfect tense used?
• In compound sentences, how are preterite and
  imperfect used?

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• el fin