Pretérito vs. imperfecto

When speaking about the past, you can use Pretérito vs. imperfecto When speaking about the past, you can use either the preterite or the imperfect, depending on the sentence and the meaning you wish to convey. Compare: Este fin de semana tomé una clase de cerámica. Cuando era niño, tomaba clases de escultura.

• Use the preterite to tell about past actions Pretérito vs. imperfecto • Use the preterite to tell about past actions that happened and are complete. El sábado, la clase empezó a las 10 de la mañana.

• Use the imperfect to tell about habitual actions in the past. Pretérito vs. imperfecto • Use the imperfect to tell about habitual actions in the past. Cuando era niño, las clases empezaban a las 5 de la tarde.

• Use the preterite to give a sequence of actions in the past. Pretérito vs. imperfecto • Use the preterite to give a sequence of actions in the past. Cuando llegamos, la profesora sacó su pintura y sus pinceles y empezó a pintar.

• Use the imperfect to give background details Pretérito vs. imperfecto • Use the imperfect to give background details such as time, location, weather, mood, age, and physical and mental descriptions. Eran las dos de la tarde. Estábamos en el parque. Era un día de otoño. Todos estábamos muy contentos.

• Use the preterite and the imperfect together Pretérito vs. imperfecto • Use the preterite and the imperfect together when an action (preterite) interrupts another that is taking place in the past (imperfect). Estábamos en el taller cuando entró el profesor.

• Use the imperfect when two or more actions Pretérito vs. imperfecto • Use the imperfect when two or more actions are taking place simultaneouly in the past. Mientras los niños pintaban, el profesor observaba las pinturas.

Estar + participio Many adjectives in Spanish are actually past participles of verbs. Recall that to form a past participle you add -ado to the root of -ar verbs and -ido to the root of -er and -ir verbs.

Estar + participio • The past participle is frequently used with estar to describe conditions that are the result of a previous action. In those cases, the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number. El pintor está sentado. Las paredes estaban pintadas.

Estar + participio • Recall that there are a number of cases in which the past participle is irregular. abrir: abierto poner: puesto decir: dicho resolver: resuelto escribir: escrito romper: roto hacer: hecho ver: visto morir: muerto volver: vuelto