When do use imperfect and preterite

Lucky for you, there are also a bunch of words and phrases that tend to signal that a verb should be used in the imperfect! These past tense forms are often used to talk about an ongoing action or event that was interrupted.

Here, the interrupted action uses the imperfect tense, while the interrupting action uses the preterite. I was walking to the library when I met the love of my life. Juana and Alberto were talking about the meeting when I got to the office.

The rule of thumb for determining which tense to use is that the preterite talks about what you did, and the imperfect talks about what you were doing or what you used to do. Notice how the meaning changes for these verbs in the preterite vs the imperfect. To test your knowledge of when to use the preterite versus the imperfect, fill in the blank s by correctly conjugating the verbs in parenthesis. Looking for some more ways to study and practice with the past tense in Spanish?

Here are a few fun ideas:. Mastering Spanish grammar is tough! Here are a few examples. The imperfect tense is generally used for actions in the past that do not have a definite end. These can be actions that are not yet completed or refer to a time in general in the past. It can also be used to talk about:. Here are some helpful words and phrases that often signal that a verb should be used in the imperfect.

Learn Spanish. Sign in. Useful Phrases. Verbs That Are Always Preterite. Irregular Preterite Review. Estar, Ir, Dar Acabar de Volver a Ordinal Numbers Months, Seasons, and Dates Comparisons of Inequality Comparisons of Equality Superlatives Unit Four Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions Object Pronouns I Object Pronouns II Object Pronouns III Verbs Like Gustar Present Progressive Verbs with Irregular 1st Persons Unit Five Numbers: Telling Time Por and Para Comparatives Demonstratives Time Expressions With Hacer Possessive Pronouns Reflexive Verbs I Reflexive Verbs II Preterite I Imperfect I Preterite II Imperfect II II What's the time frame of this action?

Clearly the fishing took place in the past. However, we don't know anything more about the situation than that, do we? For example: did the fishing occur once or many times? To get across to the reader or listener important information such as when or how often this event occurred we have to add some extra information:.

In the first sentence we know that the fishing happened once. In the second we know it happened repeatedly. Most of the decision to use either the preterite or the imperfect boils down to the difference in the two example sentences above.

In Spanish, information as to whether the event happened once or went on for a while is "built in" to the conjugation you choose. Note: For this lesson imperfect conjugations will be indicated like this: imperfect conjugation. We mainly use the imperfect tense when talking about repeated, usual, or habitual actions in the past:.

On Saturdays I played with my neighbor. He usually arrived early. Mi madre siempre me preparaba desayuno. My mother would always prepare breakfast for me. Words such as "always," "frequently," "generally," "never," "often," "usually," "used to," and "would" clue us into the fact that we should use the imperfect. We use the imperfect to describe the setting or provide background information such as what people, places, or conditions were like at some unspecified time in the past:.

La ciudad era vieja y sucia. The city was old and dirty. The little mermaid was named Ariel and she had six sisters. Isabel was eight years old. It was one in the morning. Additionally, we use the imperfect to describe actions that were ongoing or in progress at some point in the past. This is roughly equivalent to using the imperfect progressive.

In these sentences, when the action began or ended is unimportant, it just happened to be occurring at that moment:. Rosa was doing her homework at I was drawing Monday morning. Because in English we only have one past tense conjugation, we often have to resort to adding words to get our exact meaning across.

Consider these sentences. All three English sentences could be translated the same way in Spanish, and any one of the English sentences might be the best translation of this one Spanish sentence, depending on context:. I walked on Sundays. I would walk on Sundays. I used to walk on Sundays. Note: For this lesson preterite conjugations will be indicated like this: preterite conjugation.

If the imperfect is primarily used to describe actions that happened over and over again, what is the preterite used for? You're right!