Preterito vs. Imperfecto

When you are describing a single event that occurred 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 (1st verb) is interrupted by another action in the past (2nd verb), 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, tenía 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

Yo (CAMINAR) por la calle cuando (VER) un accidente. 

• caminé, vi
• caminé, veía
• caminaba, veía
• caminaba, vi