Chapter 2 Grammar

Question 1

What does the preterite tense express?

Answer 1

The preterite tense expresses completed past actions (done and over with). This can include:

• An action completed in the past (action with a definite end)
• A series of completed actions in the past (definite end)
• A condition that is no longer in effect (such as emotions or physical states of being)

Question 2

Conjugate “estar” into the preterite indicative:

Answer 2

estar -

estuve
estuviste
estuvo

estuvimos
estuvisteis
estuvieron

Question 3

What does “estar” express in the preterite?

Answer 3

Much the same that it does in the present indicative. It is used for expressions of location, health, and changing moods or conditions.

Estuvimos en la escuela a las once esta manana.
We were in school at 11 this morning.

Mi amigo estuvo con gripe el mes pasado, pero esta bien hoy.
My friend was sick with the flu for the past month, but he is better today.

Estuviste de mal humor ayer?
Were you in a bad mood yesterday?

Question 4

Conjugate “ser” into the preterite indicative:

Answer 4

ser -

fui
fuiste
fue

fuimos
fuisteis
fueron

Question 5

What does “ser” express in the preterite?

Answer 5

It is mostly used for expressions of profession and identification.

Antonio fue medico de nuestro pueblo.
Tony was a doctor in our town.

Fue un buen hombre.
He was a good man.

Question 6

Preterite Ser vs. Estar: The Descriptive Judgement

Answer 6

For all intensive purposes, either “ser” or “estar” used in the preterite are both “correct.” However, there is technically a subtle difference, mainly having to do with the feeling of certainty on part of the speaker. “Ser” asserts a categorical judgement, while “estar” expresses a more nuanced understanding that judges a situation from a self-aware, circumstantial point of view.

Question 7

What does the imperfect tense express?

Answer 7

The imperfect tense expresses actions in the past that are not seen as “complete.” Such as:

• An action that “sets the stage” for another past action.
• An action that expresses a narration, background, or situation in the past.
• Repeated, habitual, and customary actions in the past.
• Continuous actions or actions in progress in the past.
• Description in the past.
• Point of origin in the past.
• Telling time in the past.
• Telling one’s age (with tener) in the past.

Question 8

Conjugate “estar” into the imperfect indicative tense:

Answer 8

estar -

estaba
estabas
estaba

estabamos
estabais
estaban

Question 9

What does “estar” express in the imperfect?

Answer 9

Location, health, changing mood or condition, personal opinion about food or appearances in a less definite way.

Los enamorados estaban a la sombra de un arbol.
The lovers were in the shade of a tree.

Las pacientes estaban en el hospital porque estaban enfermas.
The patients were in the hospital because they were sick.

La comida estaba buena.
The food was good.

Question 10

Conjugate “ser” into the imperfect indicative:

Answer 10

ser -

era
eras
era

eramos
erais
eran

Question 11

What does “ser” express in the imperfect?

Answer 11

Most past tense uses of ser occur in the imperfect (as opposed to the preterite). It is used for descriptions, point of origin, telling time, and identification in a more indefinite sense.

La casa era blanca.
The house was white.

El hombre era de Peru.
The man was from Peru.

Eran las cinco y Federico iba a la tienda por ultima vez.
It was five and Fred was going to the store for the last time.

Era un buen hombre.
He was a good man.

Question 12

What are the stem endings for a preterite -AR verb?

Answer 12

é
aste
ó

amos
asteis
aron

Question 13

What are the stem endings for a preterite -AR verb?

Answer 13

í
iste
ió

imos
isteis
ieron

Question 14

What is the preterite form of “haber”?

Answer 14

Hubo

Question 15

What are the stem endings for an imperfect -AR verb?

Answer 15

aba
abas
aba

ábamos
abais
aban

Question 16

What are the stem endings for an imperfect -ER or -IR verb?

Answer 16

ía
ías
ía

íamos
íais
ían

Question 17

What is the imperfect form of “haber”?

Answer 17

había

Question 18

Conjugate the verb “ir” into the imperfect indicative:

Answer 18

iba
ibas
iba

ibamos
ibais
iban

Question 19

Conjugate the verb “ver” into the imperfect indicative:

Answer 19

veía
veías
veía

veíamos
veíais
veían

Question 20

Conjugate the verb “ser” into the imperfect indicative:

Answer 20

era
eras
era

eramos
erais
eran

Question 21

What are the ideal differences between the preterite and the imperfect?

Answer 21

The preterite is used to express “completed and over” actions.

The imperfect is used to express actions and conditions in the past that are seen as habitual or ongoing.

Question 22

General guidelines for using the preterite against the imperfect:

Answer 22

1. Relates a completed past action or series of completed past actions.

Comimos en ese restaurante la semana pasada.
We ate in that restaurant last week.

2. Focuses on the beginning or end of a past event.

La cena comenzó a las nueve, pero no terminó hasta medianoche.
Dinner started at nine, but it didn’t end until midnight.

3. Relates a completed past condition that is viewed as completely over and done with at this point in time (usually gives a time period associated with the condition).

Manuel estuvo enfermo por dos semanas, después de comer en ese restaurante, pero ahora está bien.
Manuel was sick for two weeks after eating in that restaurant, but now he is well.

4. Relates an action that interrupted an ongoing action.

Ya comíamos el postre cuando por fin Miguel llegó al restaurante.
We were eating dessert when Miguel finally arrived at the restaurant.

Question 23

General guidelines for using the imperfect against the preterite:

Answer 23

1. Describes habitual or routine past actions.

Comíamos en ese restaurante todos las semanas.
We used to eat/ate in that restaurant every week.

2. Focuses on the duration of the event in the past, rather than its beginning or end.

Cenábamos desde las nueve hasta medianoche.
We were eating from 9 until midnight.

3. Describes past conditions (such as time, weather, emotional states, age, and location) that were ongoing at the time of description (no focus on the beginning of end of that condition).

El restaurante era famoso por su comida latinoamericana y estábamos muy contentos con los platos que pedimos.
The restaurant was famous for its Latin American food and we were very happy with the plates that we ordered.

4. Describes ongoing background events in the past that were interrupted by another action.

Ya comíamos el postre cuando por fin Miguel llegó al restaurante.
We were eating dessert when Miguel finally arrived at the restaurant.

Question 24

Here are some context words typically used with the preterite:

Answer 24

de repente - suddenly
por fin - finally
ayer - yesterday 
la semana pasada - last week
el mes pasado - last month
el año pasado - last year
una vez - once
dos veces - twice

Question 25

Here are some context words typically used with the imperfect:

Answer 25

generalmente - generally
por lo general - generally/usually
normalmente - normally
todos los días/meses/años - every day/month/year
todas las semanas - every week
frecuentemente - frequently 
típicamente - typically