Spanish 2 Preterite v Imperfect (Beauty & the Beast)

Reminder: The verbs appear in the same order throughout this activity--imperfect on the left, then preterite on the right.

(IMPERFECT / PRETERITE)

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Érase una vez (vivía / vivió) una doncella hermosa que (se llamaba / se llamó) Bella.

• vivía

• vivió

• se llamaba

• se llamó

Answer explanation

Translation:

Once upon a time there lived a beautiful maiden named Belle.

This is all background information and requires the IMPERFECT.

Bella (era / fue) muy hermosa e inteligente.

• era

• fue

Answer explanation

Translation:

Belle was very beautiful and smart.

This is a description and requires the IMPERFECT.

A Bella siempre (le gustaba / le gustó) leer libros.

• le gustaba

• le gustó

Answer explanation

Translation:

Belle always liked to read books.

This is a habitual / reapeated action. She didn't just like it once, and then stop liking it.

Key Word: "siempre" - goes with IMPERFECT!

Bella (vivía / vivió) con su padre, Maurice. Él (era / fue) inventor.

• vivía

• vivió

• era

• fue

Answer explanation

Translation:

Belle lived with her dad. He was an inventor.

Belle living with her dad is not a single completed action. It didn't happen once and then was over! It was ongoing! IMPERFECT!

Stating that her dad was an inventor is not an action--it is a description. IMPERFECT!

Un día su padre (salía / salió) para una feria de inventos.

• salía

• salió

Answer explanation

Translation:

One day her dad left for the inventions fair.

This expresses a completed action--"he left". One and done! PRETERITE!

Mientras (viajaba / viajó) a la feria, Maurice (se perdía / se perdió) en el bosque (forest).

• viajaba

• viajó

• se perdía

• se perdió

Answer explanation

Translation:

While he was traveling to the fair, Maurice got lost in the forest.

Key Word: Mientras (while)- takes the imperfect and tells us that the action is not yet complete--while he was traveling. IMPERFECT!

He got lost is a single completed action. PRETERITE!

El próximo día, el caballo Phillipe (volvía / volvió) a la casa sin (without) Maurice. Bella (estaba / estuvo) muy preocupada (worried).

• volvía

• volvió

• estaba

• estuvo

Answer explanation

Translation:

The next day, Phillipe the horse returned home without Maurice. Belle was very worried.

"He returned home" is a single completed action. PRETERITE!

"Belle was very worried" is feeling. IMPERFECT!

Bella (salía / salió) para buscar a su padre.

• salía

• salió

Answer explanation

Translation:

Belle left to look for her dad.

This expresses a single completed action. PRETERITE!

Pronto Bella (llegaba / llegó) a un palacio misterioso.

• llegaba

• llegó

Answer explanation

Translation:

Soon Belle arrived at a mysterious palace.

This expresses a single completed action. PRETERITE!