Imperfect vs Preterit

Question 1

When to use the imperfect

Answer 1

*actions that were repeated habitually (“used to”)
*actions that set the stage for another past tense event
*time of day in the past (eran las 10:30=it was 10:30)
a person’s age in the past (Yo tenía 12 años=I was 12 years old)
*characteristics (ella era una buena persona=she was a good person)
mental or physical states (Tú estabas cansada=you were tired)

Question 2

When to use the preterit

Answer 2

• Used for completed actions (actions that have definite beginning and end points.) La clase empezó a las 9 y terminó a las 10.
• one-time events: Yo fui al cine anoche.

common preterite verbs: 
graduarse
cumplir años
llegar
darse cuenta de	
morir
decidir	
nacer
descubrir
salir

Question 3

-AR Imperfect endings

Answer 3

-AR: -aba, -abas, -abas, -ábamos, -abais, -aban

Question 4

-ER & -IR imperfect endings

Answer 4

-ía, -ías,-ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían

Question 5

Imperfect Exceptions (only 3 :))

Answer 5

Ser: era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran

Ir: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, ibais, iban

Ver: veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veías

Question 6

I ate, I used to eat(pret and Imp)

Answer 6

comí, comía

Question 7

you studied, you were studying (pret and Imp)

Answer 7

estudiaste, estudiabas

Question 8

she danced, she used to dance (pret and Imp)

Answer 8

bailó, bailaba

Question 9

we lived, we were living (pret and Imp)

Answer 9

vivimos, vivíamos

Question 10

y’all thought, y’all used to think (pret and Imp)

Answer 10

pensasteis, pensabais

Question 11

they finished, they were finishing (pret and Imp)

Answer 11

terminaron, terminaban

Question 12

we used to practice

Answer 12

practicábamos

Question 13

It was raining (llover)

Answer 13

llovía

Question 14

It was 3:00 in the afternoon (ser)

Answer 14

Eran las 3:00 de la tarde

Question 15

I was working when you called

Answer 15

Yo trabajaba cuando llamaste.

Question 16

She was a happy child (ser)

Answer 16

Ella era una niña feliz.

Question 17

I used to see better before

Answer 17

Yo veía mejor antes.

Question 18

They used to go to the mall a lot

Answer 18

Ellos iban mucho a la galería.

Question 19

She graduated when she was 18 (has both)

Answer 19

Ella se graduó cuando tenía 18 años. (pret because of graduarse)

Question 20

He died at the age of 90

Answer 20

él murió a la edad de 90. (pret because of morir)

Question 21

I was born in august.

Answer 21

Yo nací en agosto. (pret because of nacer)

Question 22

They discovered the secret

Answer 22

Ellos descubrieron el secreto (pret because of descubrir_