2. Preterite in context
We use the preterite to express a single action in the
past. Such as:
La semana pasada fuí a la playa.
Cuando fuí a la casa de mi abuela el mes pasado
nosotros fuimos al cine.
Nosotros jugamos al fútbol la semana pasada.
Ellas cocinaron para la cena del Día de Gracias.
Mi hermano y yo compramos los regalos ayer.
3. Imperfect in context
The imperfect tense is used when you want to express
a continuous action in the past. (comparable to the use
of “used to…” and “were…” in the English language.
For example:
I used to play football
Yo jugaba al fútbol.
We used to go to the beach in the summer
Nosotros ibamos a la playa en el verano
She used to sing and dance
Ella cantaba y bailaba
4. Preterite and Imperfect in context
Mientras María jugaba con Juan, yo me caí del arbol.
( jugaba implies a continuos action while me caí (I fell)
Indicates a single action event)
Cuando yo era niño, fuí con mi familia al museo de arte.
(again, using the imperfect tense “era” implies a continuos
action (childhood) and during that time we have a single
action event “fuí”)
5. Práctica
You try it!
While John and Mary were playing, I spoke to my
mother.
___________________________________________
While they were talking, I wrote the letter.
____________________________________________
When I was a child, we used to go to the beach and there
I learned to swim.
_____________________________________________
6. Respuestas:
Mientras Juan y María jugaban, yo hablé con mi madre.
Mientras ellos hablaban, yo escribí la carta.
Cuando era niño ibamos a la a playa y allí aprendí a
nadar.
7. Using the preterite and imperfect
in context
I hope this explanation on the two past tenses will help
you understand their use in oral and written
expression!
Now, to become proficient we need practice!
I encourage you to used them!
Gracias!
