Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite • We use the imperfect to describe habitual or repeated events in the past. • We use the preterite to describe a particular or specific event.

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite • There are certain words that can help us decide: • The imperfect is often used with expressions like: • Siempre • Los sábados • Todos los días • A menudo **These all imply repetition Always On Saturdays Everyday Often

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite • The preterite is often used with expressions like: • Una vez • El sábado pasado • Un día • Esta mañana • Anoche **These imply the event happened once Once, one time Last Saturday One day This morning Last night

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite • We say “used to” + verb a lot in English, to express something happened repeatedly in the past. With this, we’d use the imperfect. • Ex: Carlos used to spend (pasar) the summer in Mexico. Carlos pasaba el verano en México. We used to play tennis. Jugábamos al tenis.

Uses of the pret. & imperf. • The preterite is used to describe a well-defined action or event which happened at a specific point in time. • The imperfect is used to describe ongoing actions or events. In English, we say “was (were) +…ing”.

Uses of the pret. & imperf. • Examples: Cuando Carlos llamó… …yo estudiaba.

Uses of the pret. & imperf. Carmen llegó… …mientras nos desayunábamos.

Uses of the pret. & imperf. Anita sacó una foto… …de unos niños que jugaban al fútbol.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • The preterite is used to describe actions in the past. • El año pasado mi hermano visitó México. • Vi una escuela grande. • Vi la escuela muy bien.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • The imperfect is used to describe specific circumstances: • Time • Era el diez de abril. • Eran las ocho de la noche. • Weather • Hacía mal tiempo. • Llovía.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • Location • Yo iba por la Avenida Libertad. • Yo estaba en la escuela. • Age • El profesortenía entre treinta y treinta y cinco años. • Physical Appearance • Era un hombre alto. • Llevaba un súeter gris.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • Emotional State • Estaba nervioso. • Attitude • Él quería aprender español. • Ella tenía ganas de conocer México.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • Note the past tense forms of hay: • Hubo una fiesta. There was a party. (specific action) • Había muchas personas. There were many people. (circumstance)

Preterite vs. Imperfect • When we speak in the past, it’s either a continuous or isolated action • We use the to describe ongoing actions (actions/events that were in progress during a certain period of time) • We use the to describe isolated actions (actions which occurred at a specific moment in time) imperfect preterite

Preterite vs. Imperfect • Translate the following sentences: • When I was a child, I didn’t speak Spanish. • Last night, I spoke Spanish with Ramón. • Julio had a CD player. Cuando era niño/a, no hablaba español. Anoche, yo hablé español con Ramón. Julio tenía un tocadiscos.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • Julio sold his CD player. • Anita was my best friend. • Anita left to live in México. Julio vendió su tocadiscos. Anita era mi mejor amiga. Anita se fue a vivir en México.

Preterite vs. Imperfect • In the summer we used to go to the beach. • Yesterday we didn’t go to the beach. En el verano, íbamos a la playa. Ayer, no fuimos a la playa.

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: Use: A specific action or event completed in the past. Yo visité Puerto Rico. Preterite

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: Use: The circumstances of a past action or event Cuando tenía 16 años… Imperfect

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: Use: An ongoing past action or event Mis primos vivía en San Juan entonces. Imperfect

Preterite vs. Imperfect To Describe: Use: A repeated past action or event Ellos me invitaban todos los veranos. Imperfect

Uses of the Imperfect & Preterite