Preterite vs. Imperfect Quiz

Choose: Ernesto de la Cruz fue / era un músico famoso.

• fue (preterite)

• era (imperfect)

Explain why this sentence is in the preterite: Los estudiantes hicieron el trabajo de escuela.

• The students did their work during a specific time.

• The students were working for a while on their work.

• The students finished doing their work.

• The students continued to finish their work.

Choose: Hector se murió / se moría a causa del veneno de Ernesto de la Cruz.

• se murió (P)

• se moría (I)

Which tense would you use to imply that something "used to" happen.

• Preterite

• Imperfect

Explain why this sentence is in the preterite: Ayer, yo fui al supermercado para hacer las compras.

• I finished all of my shopping.

• Yesterday implies that it is over and completed.

• Shopping implies that it is ongoing.

• "ir" is irregular in the preterite.

Which phrase indicates the preterite:

• una vez

• muchas veces

• los veranos

• a menudo

Choose: Mama Imelda no le dio / daba permiso a Miguel a tocar la guitarra.

• dio (preterite)

• daba (imprefect)

Which phrase indicates the imperfect?

• anteayer

• muchas veces

• Dos veces

• Hace tres días

Choose: Mama Coco vivió / vivía con todo su familia por toda su vida en Santa Cecelia en México.

• vivió (P)

• vivía (I)

The preterite is used to express:

• past feelings and emotions

• past descriptions and background information

• specific past actions and events

• habitual or ongoing actions in the past