WorksheetsPreterite vs. Imperfect Quiz
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Both the preterite AND imperfect are ____ moods.
present
past
future
tense
The preterite is used to express:
past feelings and emotions
past descriptions
past actions and events
ongoing actions in the past and into the present
Thh preterite is used to express:
repeated actions within a specified time frame
repeated actions over time
The imperfect expresses (pick 2):
one time completed actions
weather, age, date, time
ongoing during a specific time frame
emotions, desires, and conditions
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.
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.
Explain why this sentence is in the preterite (pick 2): En el 24 de marzo, mi sobrina nació.
The birth occured on a specific date.
My niece is beautiful.
Saying what day it was is a description.
My niece was born only once.
Explain why this sentence is in the imperfect: Todos los estudiantes trabajaban en las tareas de escuela.
All of the students were working on their homework.
All of the students finished working on their homework.
The students did not like their homework.
The students worked on their homework all day.
Explain why this sentence is in the imperfect: Cada viernes comíamos pizza.
It says "We used to eat pizza"
Cada viernes implies that every Friday has been continuous
We like to eat pizza.
We used to but now don't eat pizza on Fridays.
Explain why this sentence is in the imperfect (choose 2): Mis hermanas bailaban mientras (while) yo tocaba la guitarra.
bailaban and tocaba imply was/were dancing/playing guitar
These are two actions that both used to happen.
My siblings and I no longer do these activities together.
These are two actions that were simultaneously (at the same time) occuring
Choose: Ernesto de la Cruz fue / era un músico famoso.
fue (preterite)
era (imperfect)
Choose: Mama Imelda no le dio / daba permiso a Miguel a tocar la guitarra.
dio (preterite)
daba (imprefect)
Choose: Hector se murió / se moría a causa del veneno de Ernesto de la Cruz.
se murió (P)
se moría (I)
Choose: Mama Coco vivió / vivía con todo su familia por toda su vida en Santa Cecelia en México.
vivió (P)
vivía (I)
Choose: Miguel y Dante estuvieron / estaban amigos todo el tiempo.
estuvieron (P)
estaban (I)
Choose: Al final, la familia de los Reyes celebraron / celebraban el día de los muertos sin Mama Coco.
celebraron (P)
celebraban (I)
Which phrase indicates the preterite:
una vez
muchas veces
los veranos
a menudo
Which phrase indicates the preterite:
frecuentemente
los lunes
ayer
cada día
Which phrase indicates the imperfect?
anteayer
a menudo
Dos veces
Hace tres días
Which sentence matches this concept: I was working at home when my little sister screamed! (Think about what is going on in the background (imperfect) and what is interrupting this (preterite).
Estuve trabajando en casa cuando mi hermana gritaba.
Estaba trabajando en casa cuando mi hermana gritaba.
Estaba trabajando en casa cuando mi hermana gritó.
Estuve trabajando en casa cuando mi hermana gritó.
