Imp V Pret Flashcards
Completed action with definite beginning and end points
Preterite
Action can be
physical - eg went
or mental - decided, realised
Start and end defined by time phrase - eg last week, 3 years ago
I went to the dance last night
Fui al baile anoche
Triggering phrase
One time
Una vez
Preterite
Single event. Not repeated action.
Triggering words Yesterday Last night The day before yesterday Yesterday evening
Ayer
Anoche
Anteayer
Ayer por la tarde
Preterite
Single event. Not repeated action.
Triggering phrases
Yesterday morning
This morning
Ayer por la mañana
Esta mañana
Preterite
Specific event, not repeated
Triggering phrases
Last week
Last year
2 years ago
La semana pasada
El año pasado
Hace dos años
Preterite
Specific time frame related to an event assumed to be ended now
Triggering phrase
For three centuries
Durante tres siglos
Preterite
Triggering verb
To get married
Casarse
Preterite
Triggering verb
To turn an age
Cumplir … años
Preterite
Triggering verb
To realise
Darse cuenta de
Preterite
Triggering verb
To decide
Decidir
Preterite
Action repeated habitually
Imperfect
No definite end
Actions that set the stage for another past tense event
Imperfect
No definite end
Times and dates with no definite end
Imperfect
May still be continuing
A person’s age in the past
incl general eg child, younger
Imperfect
State/description
Characteristics
Imperfect
State/description
State
Imperfect
No definite end
Can be physical - eg characteristics, description
Or mental - eg feeling, mood
as long as not temporary otherwise pos preterite
Triggering phrase
Often
A menudo
Imperfect
Repetition of action indicated that may be continuing
Triggering phrase
Rarely (3)
Rara vez. Raramente. Pocas veces
Imperfect
Repetition of action indicated that may be continuing
Triggering phrase
Almost never
Casi nunca
Imperfect
Repetition of action indicated that may be continuing
Different meanings
Yo pude
Yo podía
Yo pude = I succeeded
ie start of action
One time
Yo podía = state
I could do it
Different meanings
Yo supe
Yo sabía
Yo supe - I found out (one time)
Yo sabía - I knew (state)
Different meanings
Yo quise
Yo quería
Yo quise - I tried to (one time)
Yo quería - I wanted to (state)
No quise - I refused (one time)
Different meanings
Yo tuve
Yo tenía
Yo tuve - I got (one time)
Yo tenía - I had (state)
Different meanings
Yo conocí
Yo conocía
Yo conocí - I met (one time)
Yo conocía - I knew (state)
Conocer Saber Poder Querer Tener
Tense?
Verbs that are generally used in the imperfect as they take on a specific meaning when used in the preterite
Always
My father always had a moustache
Mi padre siempre llevaba bigote
Repetition creating state indicated by always
