Preterito vs. Imperfecto

When you are describing something in the past, which tense do you use?

• Preterite

• Imperfect

To talk about past actions that are complete, which tense do you use?

• Preterite

• Imperfect

When you are listing a sequence of events in the past, which tense(s) do you use? (Ex: I went to art class, I sat in my chair, and I painted a portrait.)

• Imperfect

• Preterite

• It depends

Generalmente, mis padres (VISITAR) los museos los fines de semana. 

• visitaban

• visitaron

(SER) las dos de la tarde cuando ellos (LLEGAR) a la clase. 

• eran, llegaban

• fueron, llegaron

• eran, llegaron

• fueron, llegaban

When one action is interrupted by another action in the past, which tense(s) do you use? (Ex: I was doing my homework when the power went out.)

• Both verbs = Imp

• Both verbs = pret

• 1st = pret; 2nd = imp

• 1st = imp; 2nd = pret

Cuando yo (SER) joven, tenia muchos animales. 

• era

• fui

To talk about repeated actions in the past, which tense do you use?

• Imperfect

• Preterite

Cuando era niña (TOMAR) clases de arte. 

• tomaba

• tomé

Cada clase, el profesor (ENSEÑAR) los estudiantes (TOMAR) apuntes. 

• enseñaba, tomaban

• enseñó, tomaron

• enseñaba, tomaron

• enseñó, tomaban