Preterite vs. Imperfect

Preterite vs. Imperfect

Why should I use the preterite tense?

​If my sentence has:

• ​a verb that ends in -ed (or the Spanish equivalent)

• ​a verb that translates to "did" that verb

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• ​a sentence that expresses a definite beginning or ending

• ​a sentence that has an event that occurred once

• ​a sentence that has an interrupting action/event

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• ​key words include specific time frames: ayer, anoche, el año pasado

Why should I use the imperfect tense?

​If my sentence has:

• ​a verb that ends in -ing (or the Spanish equivalent)

• ​a verb that translates to "used to do" that verb

  _____________________________________________

• ​a sentence that describes a person or thing

• OH SWEATER

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• ​key words include non-specific time frames: todos los días, siempre, cada día

Multiple Choice

Both the preterite AND imperfect are ____ moods.

• present

• past

• future

• tense

Multiple Select

Which are preterite endings? (Select all that apply)

• o, as, a, amos, áis, an

• é, aste, ó, amos, asteis, aron

• o, es, e, emos, éis, en

• aba, abas, ábamos, abais, aban

• í, iste, ió, imos, isteis, ieron

Multiple Select

Which are imperfect endings? (Select all that apply)

• o, es, e, imos, ís, en

• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban

• ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían

• o, as, a, amos, áis, an

• í, iste, ió, imos, isteis, ieron

Multiple Choice

Would you use the preterite or the imperfect tense?

I ran after the bus yesterday.

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

Would you use the preterite or the imperfect tense?

We used to eat tacos on Tuesdays.

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

Would you use the preterite or the imperfect tense?

They always made dinner at home.

• preterite 

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

Would you use the preterite or the imperfect tense?

You used to be a doctor.

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

The action being interrupted is...

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

The interrupting action is...

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

We use preterite to talk about past events...

• that have a definite ending

• that are ongoing

Multiple Choice

Identify if the sentence is written in the preterite or the imperfect.

Katya fue al cine con Kimberly ayer.

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

Identify if the sentence is written in the preterite or the imperfect.

Alejandra iba al parque cada día.

• preterite

• imperfect

Multiple Choice

Choose: Ernesto de la Cruz fue / era un músico famoso.

• fue (preterite)

• era (imperfect)

Multiple Choice

Choose: Hector se murió / se moría a causa del veneno de Ernesto de la Cruz.

• se murió (P)

• se moría (I)

Multiple Choice

Choose: Miguel y Dante estuvieron / estaban amigos todo el tiempo.

• estuvieron (P)

• estaban (I)