The document discusses the uses of the imperfect and preterite tenses in Spanish. The imperfect is used to describe habitual or repeated past actions, while the preterite describes specific or singular past events. Certain words like "always" or "on Saturdays" indicate the imperfect, while words like "once" or "last Saturday" indicate the preterite. The imperfect also describes ongoing circumstances in the past.

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.
Carlo s pasaba e lve rano e n Mé xico .
We used to play tennis.
Jug ábam o s alte nis.

5. 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”.

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

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

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

13. Preterite vs. Imperfect
 Note the past tense forms of hay:
 Hubo una fiesta.
The re was a party. (specific action)
 Había muchas personas.
The re we re m any pe o ple . (circumstance)

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

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

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

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

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