1. Preterit vs. Imperfect

2. The preterit
Uses of the preterit: S-P-I-C-Y S=specific, sudden occurrence, completed actions in the past, –ed endings (what happened/occurred) P=past actions that were part of a series of distinct instances, or actions repeated a series of times. (not to be confused with habitual) I=interrupting actions of an ongoing action in the imperfect. C=completed actions in the past. Beginning or end of an action. (time limit) Y="yesterday” (anoche y ayer)

3. Preterit
KEY WORDS
ayer
anoche
el año/mes pasado
la semana pasada

4. The imperfect The imperfect
T-O-A-D- S-T-E-W
T=thoughts or feelings (mental, emotional, physical states, attitudes, and beliefs)
O=other past actions that where (used to/habitual)
A=age
D=descriptions of people, places, situations and the physical state of an object.
S= setting or scene description (background information, such as thetime, the weather, and the location)
T=time/date
E=existing continuous action or circumstance in the past with no reference to its beginning or end. (was/were +
-ing form of verb.
W=weather

5. The imperfect
KEY WORDS Siempre todos los días cada semana/mes/año/verano los sábados a menudo muchas veces generalmente mientras

6. Conjugation forms for the preterit
To conjugate verbs in the preterit, simply drop the (-ar,-er,or -ir) ending and add one of the following:
-AR ER/-IR
é aste ó amos aron
í iste ió imos ieron

7. Conjugation Forms for The imperfect
To conjugate verbs in the imperfect, simply drop
the (-ar, -er, or –ir) ending and add the following:
-AR
-ER /-IR
aba abas aba ábamos aban ía
ías
Íamos
ían