1. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
El pretérito y el imperfecto de verbos de estado

2. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
Stative verbs express situations or states of being rather than actions.
Stative verbs include:
SER
ESTAR
TENER when used in an idiomatic expression and not being used to talk about possession of things.

3. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
The imperfect is typically used to describe past situations or states.
In this case, the imperfect gives background information.

4. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
When the preterite is used, the change into or out of a state resembles an action and can require a different translation in English.
The preterite is also used to express the duration of past situations or states.

5. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
estar
was (for an unspecified period of time)
was (for a specified period of time)
ser
was (for an unspecified period of time)
was (sums up a situation or event that ended)
tener
had
“got” (suddenly had)
tener que
had to (but did not necessarily do it)
had to (and did)

6. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
Quería verte, pero no estabas.
Estuve en Perú en mayo.
I wanted to see you, but you weren’t there.
I was in Perú in May.
Mis padres eran muy trabajadores.
Su apoyo fue muy importante.
My parents were very hardworking.
Their support was very important.

7. Preterite and imperfect of stative verbs
Isa y yo teníamos la misma idea para el proyecto.
Leo tuvo una gran idea.
Isa and I had the same idea
for the project.
Leo got (suddenly had) a great idea.
Yo tenía que hacer la tarea pero lo dejé para mañana.
Como tuve que hacer la tarea, no salí.
I had to do my homework but I left it for tomorrow.
Since I had to do homework, I didn’t go out.

8. Could (possibly not yet accomplished)
Otros verbos cambian en el imperfecto y el pretérito:
IMPERFECT
PRETERITE
conocer
knew
met for the first time
saber
knew
found out
No querer
didn’t want to
refused to
poder
Could (possibly not yet accomplished)
was able to (and did)