IMPERFECT OR PRETERITE?

1. Imperfect or
Preterit

2. What’s the difference?
Both the PRETERIT and the
IMPERFECT are tense about
things that already happened,
so . . .what’s the difference??

3. Preterit Tense
1. One-time action
It happened, it’s over
I FELL down the stairs.
2. Definite beginning and definite ending
Starting time and ending time
I GOT DRESSED for school.
3. Narration (of what happened)
Telling a story/sequence of events
Then I WENT into the cafeteria.
4. Interrupting action
An action that interrupts another action in the past
He was doing his homework when I CALLED.

4. Imperfect Tense
1. Ongoing action
A past action in progress (was/were)
I WAS SLEEPING on my couch at 8:00.
2. Repeated action
Happened often (used to)
She USED TO PLAY with dolls.
3. No definite beginning or end
No start time and no real ending
When I WAS A CHILD, . . . .
4. Time/Date/Age/Feeling/Description
All of those . .
When I WAS 10 years old, I WAS skinny.
5. Interrupted activity
An action that gets interrupted
He WAS DOING his homework when I called.