SP2.3 El imperfecto vs. pretérito (triggers)

When you are describing the appearance or condition of something in the past, which tense do you use?

• Preterite

• Imperfect

To talk about past actions that occurred one time, which tense do you use?

• Preterite

• Imperfect

I used to eat...

• Yo comía

• Yo comí

They used to be friends.

• Eran amigos.

• Fueron amigos.

I got up at 7:00 every morning.

• Me levanté a las siete cada mañana.

• Me levantaba a las siete cada mañana.

Use the _____ to give background details (time, weather, age, characteristics)

• preterite

• imperfect

Use the _____ to express an action that was ongoing.

• preterite

• imperfect

yo estaba

• el pretérito

• el imperfecto

la clase fue

• el pretérito

• el imperfecto

tú pensabas

• el pretérito

• el imperfecto