Preterite and Imperfect Verbs …the tricky past is present The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there. - Lesley P. Hartley, The Go-Between, 1953

Uses for Preterite and Imperfect PreteriteImperfect Ccompleted actions: single actions or series of actions Ffocus on beginning of an action Ffocus on an actions coming to an end Pphysical or emotional states Hhabitual actions Aage Ttime Ccontinuing actions Oongoing situations Wweather

Other situations Something was happening, when an action ‘interrupted’ it.  The ongoing action is imperfect, and the action that ‘interrupts’ is preterite. In a long narrative.  The part that seems to be descriptive, background info is imperfect, while actions and specific events are preterite.

Practice While I was walking in Florida, I saw a gator (el caimán). Mientras caminaba en Florida, vi a un caimán. (interruption of an ongoing action)

Practice I left Florida, and went to Belize. It was sunny when I arrived! Salí de Florida, y fui a Belize. Hacía mucho sol cuando llegué. (action, weather, action)

Practice It was four o’clock when my mom sent me an . Eran las cuatro cuando mi madre me mandó un e- mail. She was sad, because she missed (echar de menos) me. Estaba triste, porque me echaba de menos. (time, action, emotion, emotion)

Imperfect Formation

Preterite Formation

Preterite and Imperfect - As you view this video of Yolanda’s surprising experience as a hotel receptionist, write down as many preterite and imperfect verbs as you hear. After the video, we will go through them together and discuss why they were used. Yolanda’s Scary Experience

More Practice Preterite and Imperfect Practice Grammar Help Preterite vs. Imperfect Online Verb Tutorial W e b R e s o u r c e s