Buena Gente Episode 2 - Preterit vs. Imperfect Recap

Al principio del episodio, los chicos analizaban una nota que (encontrar) en la bolsita.
_{At the beginning of the episode, the people were analyzing a note that they found in the bag.}

• encontraron (pretérito)

• encontraban (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This is preterit because it is an ACTION that happened ONE time.

También en la bolsita (haber) un anillo.
_{There was also a ring in the bag.}

• hubo (pretérito)

• había (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This sentence is IMPERFECT because there was NO ACTION. It was just a description or background information.

La nota es para Diego. La persona que (escribir) la nota es la mamá de Diego.
_{The note is for Diego. The person who wrote the letter is Diego's mom.}

• escribió (pretérito)

• escribía (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This verb was PRETERIT because it was an action that only happened one time. Diego's mother wrote the note ONCE.

Mateo y Sofía (querer) devolver la nota la Diego.
_{Mateo and Sofia wanted to return the note to Diego.}

• quisieron (pretérito)

• querían (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This was IMPERFECT because nothing happened. They wanted to do something... but in this sentence, nothing actually hapened. It was an intention. Intentions in the past are always expressed in the imperfect.

Mateo y Sofía (necesitar) más información para poder devolverle el anillo y la nota a Diego.
_{Mateo and Sofia needed more information to be able to return the ring and the note to Diego.}

• necesitaron (pretérito)

• necesitaban (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This was IMPERFECT because nothing happened. They needed something... but in this sentence, nothing actually hapened. Since there was no action, this sentence is imperfect.

Mientras (buscar) más información alrededor del apartamento, encontraron muchas cosas, como clips, un lápiz, y una pluma.
_{While they were looking for more information around the apartment, they found a lot of things, like clips, a pencil, and a pen.}

• buscaron (pretérito)

• buscaban (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This was IMPERFECT because it follows the word MIENTRAS. Words that follow MIENTRAS are interpreted into English as "was/were -ING," which makes it a continuous action, which makes it imperfect.

Mateo (encontrar) un papelito.
_{Mateo found a little paper.}

• encontró (pretérito)

• encontraba (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This is PRETERIT because it is an ACTION that happened ONE TIME. ... "He FOUND the note." That happened. (It's implied that it happened once in this instance.) Preterit.

En el papelito, (haber) una dirección.
_{On the paper, there was an address.}

• hubo (pretérito)

• había (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This is IMPERFECT because there was NO ACTION. This is just giving us background information or a description of the note.

Todavía no (tener) suficiente información para devolverle los objetos a Diego.
_{They still did not have enough information to return the items to Diego.}

• tuvieron (pretérito)

• tenían (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This is IMPERFECT because there was NO ACTION. This is just giving us information.

(Decidir) buscar la dirección en Internet.
_{They decided to look up the address on the Internet.}

• Decidieron (pretérito)

• Decidían (imperfecto)

Answer explanation

This is PRETERIT because there was a one-time action. In this instance, they decided something. That happened.