Preterite vs Imperfect

Front

I _{used to eat} candy. What tense is this?

Back

imperfecto

Answer explanation

used to -- implies repetition - (Imperfect)

Front

I ate 4 pieces of candy. What is the correct tense?

Back

pretérito

Answer explanation

Completed action - (speaker's intent). [There were four pieces of candy, I ate them all --action completed] - PRETERITE

Front

What is the tense of the verb in the sentence: She ran 5 miles yesterday?

Back

pretérito

Answer explanation

Completed Action - PRETERITE.

*key word - yesterday (action was completed and carried out / done)

Front

He ran a mile every morning. What is the correct tense?

Back

imperfecto

Answer explanation

Repetition - "every day" implies repetition (used to) without giving a specific number of times. IMPERFECT

Front

I was a happy child. Classify the verb tense: pretérito, imperfecto

Back

imperfecto

Answer explanation

Description in past - IMPERFECT

Front

When they were little, they liked jumping rope. What tense is used? Options: pretérito, imperfecto

Back

imperfecto

Answer explanation

Description (were little) - IMPERFECT

Used to / Repetition (liked)---another way you could translate this is "they used to like" - IMPERFECT

Front

He mowed the lawn. What is the correct tense?

Back

pretérito

Answer explanation

Completed Action - PRETERITE

With the infrmation given, we can assume the action was carried out and completed.

Front

He was mowing the lawn. What is the correct tense?

Back

imperfecto

Answer explanation

Was/were (+) -ing (Action in progress) - IMPERFECT

*This would be a sentence used to set the scene ---- What was going on to help set up a story.

Front

He started to cry during the movie. What tense is used?

Back

pretérito

Answer explanation

When the focus is on the exact START or END of an action, use PRETERITE

Front

What tense is used in the sentence: She woke up, got dressed, and went to school?

Back

pretérito

Answer explanation

PRETERITE:

*Completed actions

(or you can say)

*Sequence of events - (though it doesn't say "first", "then", "next", "finally" - it was implied.