Preterite vs. Imperfect

Preterite Refers to specific past actions performed at a fixed point in time. a specific number of times. during an enclosed amount of time. If you can pin-point when or how many times the action occurred, you will use the preterite.

Preterite uses Fixed point in time I called you at 3:00. Te llamé a las tres. He bought the car on Tuesday. Él compró el coche el martes. We saw the movie last night. Vimos la película anoche.

Preterite uses Specific number of actions I called you five times. Te llamé cinco veces. They ate ten sandwiches. Comieron diez sándwiches. She read the book twice. Leyó el libro dos veces.

Preterite uses Enclosed amount of time I worked for eight hours. Trabajé por ocho horas. The movie lasted two and a half hours. La película duró dos horas y media. He lived there for two years. Vivió allá por dos años.

Preterite uses Describe how a person reacted emotionally to a particular event I started to shout Me puse a gritar We felt happy at the party. Nos sentimos felices durante la fiesta.

Preterite uses In each of the preceding sentences, the action’s time is specific, measured in some way, either by the clock, the calendar, or number of times the action occurred. When the quantity is not stated, it is generally implied. (I went to John’s party. We ate at McDonald’s. The meeting was boring. )

Preterite uses A good way to determine if an action is preterite, is to consider if it is reasonable to ask “For how long?” or “When?” the action took place.

Preterite uses For example: if someone tells you, “John called me,” you can reasonably ask, “When?” and get a specific answer. However, if they say, “John used to call me several times a day,” you would be wasting your time asking when.

Special preterite meanings Conocer present = to know (person/place) preterite = met Saber present = to know (information/fact) preterite = found out Querer present = to want preterite = (affirm) tried to do something, (neg) refused to do something

Preterite Key Words Ayer-yesterday Anoche-last night Esta mañana, tarde, noche, martes, etc.-this morning, afternoon, night, Tuesday La semana pasada, el mes pasado, etc.-last week, month, etc. Hace _______(omit) Ayer por la mañana/tarde/noche-yesterday morning, afternoon, evening Por tres horas, cinco días, tres años, etc.-for three hours, five days, three years, etc.

Imperfect Refers to past actions that are repeated/continuous basic descriptions ‘ing’ in the past mental/emotional action physical sensation “would/could” clock time and age indirect discourse

Imperfect uses Habitual or continuous actions in the past In English we often use the phrase “used to.” I used to live in St. Louis. Vivía en St. Louis. They used to live in Texas. Vivían en Texas. There is no indication of when or how many times this action occurred…or for how long.

Imperfect uses Basic description Refers to what things were like, rather than what happened. The car was red. El coche era rojo. Ana was married. Ana estaba casada.

Imperfect uses “ing” in the past If you have an ‘ing’ statement in the past, and a specific period of time is not indicated, use imperfect. I was working. Trabajaba. We also use this format when talking about two things simultaneously going on. I was playing the guitar and Juan was singing. Tocaba la guitarra y Juan cantaba.

Imperfect uses Mental or emotional action or physical sensation. Use the imperfect when not bound by time or number of occurrences. I waited for the bus. Yo esperaba el bus. Romeo loved Juliet a lot. Romeo amaba mucho a Julieta.

Imperfect uses “Would” and “Could” in the past These are markers for both the imperfect and conditional tenses in English. I would go to the movies but I don’t have time. Conditional; it refers to an action that would take place if a certain condition were met. I would go the movies every weekend as a child. Imperfect; It refers to an action that took place many times in the past. This is basically the same as saying I used to go to the movies.

Imperfect uses Clock time and age ALWAYS use the imperfect Use ser for clock time Era la una. Eran las siete y media cuando llegué. Use tener for age Cuando tenía diez años, me gustaba columpiarme. No conocía a Juan cuando teníamos ocho años.

Preterite with Imperfect Indirect discourse To report what someone said, wrote, etc., use the imperfect (The action of said, wrote, etc. is expressed in the preterite.) Laura told me that Pablo was coming to my party. Laura me dijo que Pablo venía a mi fiesta. I wrote to them that I was traveling. Les escribí que viajaba.

Imperfect Key Words a menudo - often a veces - at times, sometimes cada día (año, etc.) – each day, (year, etc.) con frecuencia - frequently **change this to mientras!! - while de vez en cuando – from time to time frecuentemente - frequently

Imperfect Key Words muchas veces – many times nunca - never por un rato – for a while siempre - always tantas veces – so many times toda la vida – all through life todo el día/tiempo – all day/ all the time varias veces – several times

The stage is set… When you’re trying to determine whether to use the preterite or imperfect, and there are multiple verbs in a sentence, think of a stage. The imperfect is anything that is scenery or that takes place in the background. The preterite is any action that is carried out by the actors on the stage.

Preterite or Imperfect? Juan entered and Maria left. Juan entró y María salió. It was raining when they arrived. Llovía cuando llegaron. Maria danced while Juan sang. María bailaba mientras Juan cantaba. The kids were playing when Juan fell. Los niños jugaban cuando Juan se cayó.

Preterite or imperfect? nadaban Unos amigos _________ mientras los otros _________ el sol. (nadar, tomar) María _______ con su madre cuando yo ________. (hablar, entrar) Yo ______ cuando ______ el teléfono. (dormir, sonar) Cuando yo _______ tres años, ____________ a las siete. (tener, levantarme) tomaban hablaba entré dormía sonó tenía me levantaba