Trigger and Uses for Imperfect and Preterite

Question 1

Ayer

Answer 1

Yesterday, preterite

Question 2

Anoche

Answer 2

Last night, preterite

Question 3

Anteayer

Answer 3

The day before yesterday, preterite

Question 4

Esta mañana

Answer 4

This morning, preterite

Question 5

La semana pasada

Answer 5

Last week, preterite

Question 6

El año pasado

Answer 6

Last year, preterite

Question 7

El sábado

Answer 7

On Saturday, preterite

Question 8

Un día

Answer 8

A day, preterite

Question 9

El otro día

Answer 9

The other day, preterite

Question 10

Una vez

Answer 10

One time, preterite

Question 11

De repente/de pronto

Answer 11

Suddenly, preterite

Question 12

Y luego/Y entonces

Answer 12

And then, preterite

Question 13

Por fin

Answer 13

Finally, preterite

Question 14

En ese momento

Answer 14

In a moment, preterite

Question 15

Hace tres días

Answer 15

3 days ago, preterite

Question 16

Hace diez minutos

Answer 16

10 minutes ago, preterite

Question 17

Los sábados

Answer 17

Every saturday, imperfect

Question 18

Los veranos

Answer 18

Every summer, imperfect

Question 19

A veces / Algunas / unas veces

Answer 19

Sometimes, imperfect

Question 20

Muchas veces

Answer 20

Many times, imperfect

Question 21

Por lo general / Generalmente

Answer 21

Generally, imperfect

Question 22

Por un rato

Answer 22

For a while, imperfect

Question 23

Todos los días

Answer 23

Everyday, imperfect

Question 24

Todos los meses

Answer 24

Every month, imperfect

Question 25

Cada

Answer 25

Each, imperfect

Question 26

Frecuentemente/Con frecuencia

Answer 26

Frequently, imperfect

Question 27

Mientras

Answer 27

during, imperfect

Question 28

Siempre

Answer 28

always, imperfect

Question 29

Nunca

Answer 29

never, imperfect

Question 30

De vez en cuando

Answer 30

once in a while, imperfect

Question 31

Completed Action

Answer 31

Preterite

Question 32

Recent action in the past

Answer 32

Preterite

Question 33

Specific action in the past

Answer 33

Preterite

Question 34

An interruption (The action which interrupts the background setting, the ongoing action.)

Answer 34

Preterite

Question 35

Sequence of events (1st, 2nd, then, finally)

Answer 35

Preterite

Question 36

Ongoing/continuous action in the past.

Answer 36

Imperfect

Question 37

Distant past

Answer 37

Imperfect

Question 38

General action in the past (On Mondays, during the summers)

Answer 38

Imperfect

Question 39

Repetitive/habitual actions (more than once)

Answer 39

Imperfect

Question 40

Background info/Description (physical, personality description) age and time (most times weather)

Answer 40

Imperfect