1. Pretérito vs. imperfecto

2. 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.

3. • 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.

4. • 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.

5. • 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.

6. • 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.

7. • 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.

8. • 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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