Preterit vs. imperfect sentence parts

Imperfect and preterit are both past tenses. But imperfect is used to

• tell about childhood and repetitive actions in the past

• set the scene for a story, including general weather conditions and time

• talk about people's physical, mental, and emotional states in the past

• talk about all of the above

Select which portion of the sentence is PRETERIT.

El señor Osorio estaba en su cama cuando, de repente, su perra empezó a ladrar (bark).

• El señor Osorio estaba en su cama

• su perra empezó a ladrar

Preterit is used to talk about

• the moment an action started or stopped

• sudden events or events that interrupted ongoing actions

• "one and done" actions that have been completed

• all of the above

Select which portion of the sentence is PRETERIT.

Diego estaba cerca del edificio cuando hubo una explosión.

• Diego estaba cerca del edificio

• hubo una explosión

To tell how old you were when something happened, use the preterit tense.

• Cierto (true)

• Falso (false)

Select which portion of the sentence is PRETERIT.

Yo tenía dos años cuando aprendí a caminar.

• Yo tenía dos años

• aprendí a caminar

Select which portion of the sentence is PRETERIT.

Eran las cinco de la mañana cuando comenzó a llover.

• Eran las cinco de la mañana

• comenzó a llover

What tense would you use to describe the scene BEFORE a major natural disaster?

• preterit

• imperfect

Select which portion of the question is PRETERIT.

¿Tenías mucho sueño cuando te levantaste?

• ¿Tenías mucho sueño

• te levantaste?

What tense would you use to tell what time it was when telling a story?

• preterit

• imperfect