Understanding the Preterite and Imperfect Tenses Flashcards

(56 cards)

1
Q

What is the primary use of the preterite tense?

A

For actions that are completed and have a definite time frame.

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2
Q

What does the imperfect tense describe?

A

Ongoing actions or states without a specific end.

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3
Q

Provide an example of a sentence in the preterite tense.

A

Juan estuvo enfermo por dos días.

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4
Q

Provide an example of a sentence in the imperfect tense.

A

Mi primer carro era azul.

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5
Q

In what context is the imperfect tense used for background descriptions?

A

For physical characteristics and emotional states.

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6
Q

Can the preterite and imperfect tenses be used interchangeably?

A

Yes, depending on the context.

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7
Q

What does ‘había’ indicate in the imperfect tense?

A

Background description.

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8
Q

What does ‘hubo’ indicate in the preterite tense?

A

A specific event.

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9
Q

What is the mnemonic to remember the difference between ‘por’ and ‘para’?

A

‘Por’ as a path (motion, cause) and ‘para’ as a destination (goal, recipient).

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10
Q

List three situations to use ‘por’.

A
  • Cause, reason, or motive
  • Motion or transit
  • Duration
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11
Q

List three situations to use ‘para’.

A
  • Purpose or goal
  • Destination
  • Recipient
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12
Q

What is the regular conjugation pattern for -AR verbs?

A
  • Yo: -o
  • Tú: -as
  • Él/Ella/Usted: -a
  • Nosotros: -amos
  • Vosotros: -áis
  • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: -an
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13
Q

Give an example of an irregular -AR verb.

A

Estar (to be).

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14
Q

What are the regular conjugation endings for -ER verbs?

A
  • Yo: -o
  • Tú: -es
  • Él/Ella/Usted: -e
  • Nosotros: -emos
  • Vosotros: -éis
  • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: -en
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15
Q

Define reflexive verbs.

A

Indicate actions that someone does to themselves.

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16
Q

What is the reflexive pronoun for ‘we’?

A

nos.

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17
Q

List three common reflexive verbs.

A
  • Despertarse
  • Vestirse
  • Lavarse
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18
Q

What is the difference between reflexive and non-reflexive verbs?

A

Reflexive verbs indicate actions done to oneself; non-reflexive indicate actions done to others.

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19
Q

What happens to stem-changing verbs in the present tense?

A

They undergo a spelling change in their stem.

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20
Q

Provide an example of an O → UE stem-changing verb.

A

Poder (to be able) - Puedo.

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21
Q

What is the present tense conjugation of ‘tener’?

A
  • Tengo
  • Tienes
  • Tiene
  • Tenemos
  • Tenéis
  • Tienen
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22
Q

What is the present tense conjugation of ‘venir’?

A
  • Vengo
  • Vienes
  • Viene
  • Venimos
  • Venís
  • Vienen
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23
Q

When do you use ‘saber’?

A

For facts, information, and knowing how to do something.

24
Q

When do you use ‘conocer’?

A

For knowing people, places, or being familiar with things.

25
What is the formula for the present progressive tense?
Estar (to be) + Present Participle (-ando / -iendo).
26
Give an example of a present progressive sentence.
Estoy hablando (I am talking).
27
What happens to -er and -ir verbs ending in a vowel in the present progressive?
They use -yendo instead of -iendo.
28
What is the personal 'a' used with?
With conocer when referring to a person.
29
When should you use 'mucho' instead of 'muy'?
When emphasizing expressions.
30
What does the preterite tense describe?
Completed actions in the past.
31
What is the conjugation pattern for regular -AR verbs in the preterite?
* -é * -aste * -ó * -amos * -asteis * -aron
32
Give an example of an irregular -AR verb in the preterite.
Buscar → busqué.
33
What is the preterite tense used for?
To describe completed actions in the past, often with a specific time frame.
34
What are the regular -ar verb conjugations in the preterite tense?
* canté * cantaste * cantó * cantamos * cantasteis * cantaron
35
What are the regular -er verb conjugations in the preterite tense?
* comí * comiste * comió * comimos * comisteis * comieron
36
What are the regular -ir verb conjugations in the preterite tense?
* viví * viviste * vivió * vivimos * vivisteis * vivieron
37
Fill in the blank: Ayer ______ al cine con mis amigos (I went to the movies with my friends yesterday).
fui
38
What is the formula for using 'hace' to indicate past time?
Hace + [amount of time].
39
What does 'ayer' mean in English?
Yesterday
40
True or False: 'Ser' and 'ir' have different conjugations in the preterite tense.
False
41
What are the irregular preterite conjugations for 'ser' and 'ir'?
* fui * fuiste * fue * fuimos * fuisteis * fueron
42
What are the irregular conjugations for 'dar' in the preterite tense?
* di * diste * dio * dimos * disteis * dieron
43
What special rule applies when a verb’s stem ends in a vowel in the preterite tense?
The third-person singular and plural forms change -ió and -ieron to -yó and -yeron.
44
Provide an example of a verb that changes its ending due to three vowels in a row.
oír (oyó, oyeron)
45
What is the conjugation of 'hacer' in the preterite tense?
* hice * hiciste * hizo * hicimos * hicisteis * hicieron
46
Fill in the blank: El verano pasado ______ a España (Last summer, we traveled to Spain).
viajamos
47
What is the conjugation for 'estar' in the preterite tense?
* estuve * estuviste * estuvo * estuvimos * estuvisteis * estuvieron
48
What context determines the use of 'ser' vs 'estar'?
Permanent characteristics vs temporary states.
49
What are common locations in Spanish related to leisure activities?
* el cine * la playa * el parque
50
What is the meaning of 'tomar el sol'?
To sunbathe
51
Fill in the blank: Ayer ______ un libro interesante (Yesterday, I read an interesting book).
leí
52
What are the common time expressions for past actions?
* Ayer * Anteayer * La semana pasada * Hace
53
What is the significance of accent marks in the conjugations of regular verbs?
To maintain proper pronunciation.
54
Fill in the blank: Hace ______ minutos (Five minutes ago).
cinco
55
What is the meaning of 'la semana pasada'?
Last week
56
What happens to verbs ending in -guir in the preterite tense?
They do not change the -i to -y because the 'u' is silent.