1. PRETERIT AND IMPERFECT Preterit When talking about the beginning or end of an event. Talk about something that happened yesterday. Expressions: anoche; ayer; anteyer; anteanoche/antenoche; la semana pasada; el mes pasado; el ano pasado Yo comi la cena. Llegamos antenoche de vaje.

2. IMPERFECT Talk about the middle or on-going part of an event or customary or habitual actions in the past. Not perfected or completed in the past. Something that was happening; you used to do; say how old someone was; tell what time it was. Explain what used to happen- (on going) Repeated action in the past: Nosotros ibamos a la playa todos los dias. Express action that was in progress in the past: En esos momentos Juan hablaba con su hermana. Imperfect of estar + present participle (ando/iendo) to emphasize on- going activity: En esos momentos Juan estaba hablando con su hermana.

3. IMPERFECT Describe characteristics and conditions in the past. La casa era blanca, con techo rojo, y tenia dos dormitorios. Tell time in the past. Era la una. Tell age in the past. Ella tenia dieciocho anos. Apply both tense to talk about two overlapping events. Preterite: for action that occurred. Imperfect: for what was going on at the time.

4. IMPERFECT Expressions used with imperfect: mientras; a veces; siempre; generalmente; frecuentemente