preterite vs imperfect

The preterite and the imperfect are both: 

• past tenses
• present tenses
• future tenses

The imperfect is used for:

• specific completed actions

• enclosed period of time

• actions that interrupt

• unspecified times

The preterite is used for:

• emotion

• specific period of time

• unspecified time

• repetition

Preterite -ar endings: 

• é, aste, ó, amos, aron
• i, iste, ió, imos, ieron
• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, aban
• ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Preterite -er/-ir endings: 

• é, aste, ó, amos, aron
• í, iste, ió, imos, ieron
• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, aban
• ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Imperfect -er/-ir endings:  

• é, aste, ó, amos, aron
• í, iste, ió, imos, ieron
• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, aban
• ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Imperfect -ar endings: 

• é, aste, ó, amos, aron
• i, iste, ió, imos, ieron
• aba, abas, aba, ábamos, aban
• ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Preterite and imperfect have the same number of irregular verbs. 

• True
• False

On going past event (Continuous)

• preterite
• imperfect

Telling time in the past

• preterite
• imperfect