Choosing when to use the correct past tense

By Jami Sipe

The preterite is used for

completed eventscompleted events in the past.

The imperfect is used for ongoing ongoing conditions conditions and repeated repeated

habitual actions habitual actions in the past.

When talking about the past, When talking about the past, use the preterite or the imperfect.use the preterite or the imperfect.

Remember: Remember:

Ejemplos:

Llovía cuando salí. = (It was raining when I went out.)

(imperfect) (preterite)

LlovíaLlovía is an ongoing condition,

salísalí is a completed action.

CaminabaCaminaba indicates a continuing action

or ongoing state, the background interrupted by an event with a

definite ending, such as me caíme caí.

Caminaba por la calle cuando me caí. =(I was walking was walking in the street when I fellI fell.)

Iba todos los díastodos los días, pero ese día ese día no fui. = (I used to go every day, but that day I didn’t go.)

Más…

Time expressions used with the imperfect, on the contrary, indicate habit, repetition or

long duration.

Time expressions used with the imperfect, on the contrary, indicate habit, repetition or

long duration.

The event in the preterite is often signaled by a very specific time expression, such as ese díaese día,

indicating a single completed action.

The event in the preterite is often signaled by a very specific time expression, such as ese díaese día,

indicating a single completed action.

Ejemplo:

habló = he talked, he did talk

hablaba = he was talking, he used to talk, he talked

The preteritepreterite is generally translated as the simple past in English.

The imperfect imperfect has several English equivalents:

Use the preterite for: Actions that are single events Actions that happened a stated number of

times Actions that were part of a series of events To state the beginning or end of an action

Review

Use the imperfectimperfect for: An ongoing or continuous past action Setting the scene Telling time Telling your age Physical and mental states Describing the characteristics of

people, things or situations

Review

Eran las doce de la noche y llovía. Un hombre abrió la puerta. Era viejo y muy delgado. Llevaba ropa negra y tenía la cara muy blanca. Lo miré por un segundo y corrí a mi casa. =

Ejemplo:

(It was midnight and it was raining. A man opened the door. He was old and very thin. He was wearing black and his face was very white. I looked at him for a second and ran to my home.)

Jugaba al Scrabble™ con Judy.Comían helado todos los días.Mi profesor me gritó hoy.¿Adónde fuiste después

de la escuela?

He was playing Scrabble™ with Judy. They ate ice cream every day.

My teacher yelled at me today. Where did you go after school?

Check Your Knowledge!Check Your Knowledge!

CreditsCredits

©2010 Teacher’s Discovery©2010 Teacher’s Discovery

Written by: Jami SipeWritten by: Jami Sipe

Additional Information by: Additional Information by: Suzanne Rutkowski Suzanne Rutkowski

Adriana MirettiAdriana Miretti

Order Today! Order Today! To get more of these Spanish To get more of these Spanish

grammar presentations, grammar presentations, go to: go to:

www.teachersdiscovery.com www.teachersdiscovery.com

Search: Grammar PowerPoints™Search: Grammar PowerPoints™