Imp V Pret

Question 1

Completed action with definite beginning and end points

Answer 1

Preterite

Action can be
physical - eg went
or mental - decided, realised

Start and end defined by time phrase - eg last week, 3 years ago

Question 2

I went to the dance last night

Answer 2

Fui al baile anoche

Question 3

Triggering phrase

One time

Answer 3

Una vez
Preterite

Single event. Not repeated action.

Question 4

Triggering words
Yesterday
Last night
The day before yesterday 
Yesterday evening

Answer 4

Ayer
Anoche
Anteayer
Ayer por la tarde

Preterite

Single event. Not repeated action.

Question 5

Triggering phrases
Yesterday morning
This morning

Answer 5

Ayer por la mañana
Esta mañana

Preterite
Specific event, not repeated

Question 6

Triggering phrases
Last week
Last year
2 years ago

Answer 6

La semana pasada
El año pasado
Hace dos años

Preterite
Specific time frame related to an event assumed to be ended now

Question 7

Triggering phrase

For three centuries

Answer 7

Durante tres siglos

Preterite

Question 8

Triggering verb

To get married

Answer 8

Casarse

Preterite

Question 9

Triggering verb

To turn an age

Answer 9

Cumplir … años

Preterite

Question 10

Triggering verb

To realise

Answer 10

Darse cuenta de

Preterite

Question 11

Triggering verb

To decide

Answer 11

Decidir

Preterite

Question 12

Action repeated habitually

Answer 12

Imperfect

No definite end

Question 13

Actions that set the stage for another past tense event

Answer 13

Imperfect

No definite end

Question 14

Times and dates with no definite end

Answer 14

Imperfect

May still be continuing

Question 15

A person’s age in the past

incl general eg child, younger

Answer 15

Imperfect

State/description

Question 16

Characteristics

Answer 16

Imperfect

State/description

Question 17

State

Answer 17

Imperfect
No definite end

Can be physical - eg characteristics, description
Or mental - eg feeling, mood
as long as not temporary otherwise pos preterite

Question 18

Triggering phrase

Often

Answer 18

A menudo
Imperfect

Repetition of action indicated that may be continuing

Question 19

Triggering phrase

Rarely (3)

Answer 19

Rara vez. Raramente. Pocas veces
Imperfect

Repetition of action indicated that may be continuing

Question 20

Triggering phrase

Almost never

Answer 20

Casi nunca
Imperfect

Repetition of action indicated that may be continuing

Question 21

Different meanings
Yo pude
Yo podía

Answer 21

Yo pude = I succeeded
ie start of action
One time

Yo podía = state
I could do it

Question 22

Different meanings
Yo supe
Yo sabía

Answer 22

Yo supe - I found out (one time)

Yo sabía - I knew (state)

Question 23

Different meanings
Yo quise
Yo quería

Answer 23

Yo quise - I tried to (one time)
Yo quería - I wanted to (state)

No quise - I refused (one time)

Question 24

Different meanings
Yo tuve
Yo tenía

Answer 24

Yo tuve - I got (one time)

Yo tenía - I had (state)

Question 25

Different meanings
Yo conocí
Yo conocía

Answer 25

Yo conocí - I met (one time)

Yo conocía - I knew (state)

Question 26

Conocer
Saber
Poder 
Querer
Tener

Tense?

Answer 26

Verbs that are generally used in the imperfect as they take on a specific meaning when used in the preterite

Question 27

Always

My father always had a moustache

Answer 27

Mi padre siempre llevaba bigote

Repetition creating state indicated by always