Boquete Day 3 Preterite/Imperfect

Question 1

Preterite (simple)

Answer 1

Characteristics: 1. A single completed action 2. Highlighted main action-a unique action in the past 3. Has a beginning and an end 4. Used with verbs associated with time expressions. Examples: A las 11:00 de la noche empezo a llover. El mes pasado fuimos a Guatemala. Use with words like “ayer, anoche, anteayer, el ano pasada, el otro dia, el lunes

Question 2

Imperfect (sometimes called preterite imperfect)

Answer 2

Characteristics: 1. Describes a habitual action or event. 2. Something you used to do or would always do. 3. A background action, non-specific time, location or the middle of an event. 4. Often used with “non-specific” time expressions such as: todas los dias, cada dia, siempre.

Question 3

Specific rules when to use imperfect tense

Answer 3

1. La Edad ex: Tenia vente anos cuando case’. 2. La Hora ex: Eran las 4:00 de la manana cuando me deperte’. 3. El Tiempo (weather) Antes hacia menos calor en Boquete. 4. When contrasting a previous state to the present state ex: Antes estudiaba hasta la medianoche, ahora solo hasta las 10:00. 5. Description of a person, things, places, animals ex: Cuando era un nino, en la casa donde vivia hacia mucho calor. or Mi Hermana era bella y tenia el cabello negro. 6. When speaking of two different actions occurring simultaneously. ex: Comia mientras ella estudiaba espanol (using the words either while or during in the sentence mientras or durante. 7. Describe habits or actions that were repetitive in the past. ex: Cada verano mi familia y yo ibabmos a la playa. 8. To describe an emotional state in the past. ex: El estaba muy content. 9. Actions that are interrupted with other actions. The “action in progress” (imperfect) is interrupted by the “finished action (preterite). ex: Salia de mi casa, cuando me llamo’ mi mama’.

Question 4

Estar v. Hacer when describing weather

Answer 4

Estar: Esta or Estaba Soleado o lluvioso o nevado or nublado.
Hacer: Hace or Hacia Sol o Calor o Frio o Viento