The preterite and the imperfect Flashcards
Which tense should you use when: “Express actions that are viewed, but the speaker, as completed”
Preterite
ex. Sandra se rompió la pierna.
Fueron a Buenos Aires ayer.
Which tense should you use when: “Express the beginning or end of a past action”
Preterite
ex. La película empezó a las nueve.
Which tense should you use when: “Narrate a series of past actions or events”
Preterite
ex. Me di con la mesa, me caí y me lastimé el pie.
preterite trigger: “yesterday”
ayer
preterite trigger: “day before yesterday”
anteayer
preterite trigger: “once”
una vez
preterite trigger: “twice”
dos veces
preterite trigger: “Last year”
el año pasado
preterite trigger: “suddenly”
de repente
Which tense should you use when: “Express an ongoing past action with no reference to its beginning or end”
imperfect
ex. Sandra esperaba al doctor
Which tense should you use when: “Express habitual past actions and events”
imperfect
ex. Cuando era joven, jugaba al tenis.
Which tense should you use when: “Describe physical and emotional states or characteristics”
imperfect
ex. Ellos eran altos y tenían ojos verdes.
imperfect trigger: “as a child”
de niño/a
imperfect trigger: “every day”
todos los días
imperfect trigger: “while”
mientras
