1. El pretérito y cómo se usa The uses of one of the two past tenses in Spanish

2. When to use the Preterit

3. Definite Beginning

4. La bebé empezó a llorar. There was a definite starting point when the baby started to cry.

5. Finished action in the past

6. La pelota le pegó en la cara. The ball hit him and then the action was done (rather than it happening over and over again). The ball hit him and then the action was done (rather than it happening over and over again).

7. An interrupting action

8. El chico hablaba cuando su amigo le asustó y el chico le pegó. There was an action going on (the guy talking), and it was interrupted by the scaring and the hitting.

9. Specific amount of time

10. El perro bailó por 10 segundos. The action happened for a specific amount of time.

11. Definite ending

12. Katy Perry dejó de tocar la flauta. We know just when the action stopped.

13. Un Repaso de los usos

14. Preterit Definite beginning Finished action in the past An action that interrupted another action A specific amount of time Definite ending