imperfecto vs preterite

Question 1

single, completed action (what someone did or didn’t do)

Answer 1

Preterite

Question 2

Marta dio una fiesta sorpresa para su marido.
(Marta gave a suprise party for her husband)

Answer 2

Preterite

Question 3

highlighted, main action

Answer 3

Preterite

Question 4

Tomás llegó a casa y entró.
(tomas arrived home and went in)

Answer 4

Preterite

Question 5

Beginning or conclusion of an event

Answer 5

Preterite

Question 6

A las 11:00 de la noche empezó a llover.
(At a 11 at night it began to rain)

Answer 6

Preterite

Question 7

Action that interrupts another action

Answer 7

Preterite

Question 8

Cuando Tomás entró en la sala…
(when tomas entered the room)

Answer 8

Preterite

Question 9

with verbs associated with time expressions, such as ayer, anteayer, anoche, una vez, dos veces, el mes pasado, and de repente (suddenly)

Answer 9

Preterite

Question 10

El mes pasado fuimos a Guatemala.
(Last month we went to Guatemala.)

Answer 10

Preterite

Question 11

habitual action or event (expresses the idea in English of something you used to do or would always do in the past)

Answer 11

Imperfecto

Question 12

Tomás y Marta siempre celebraban los cumpleaños.
(tomas and Marta used to always celebrate birthdays)

Answer 12

Imperfecto

Question 13

background action or description that sets the stage for main action (including time, location, age, weather, and physical and emotional states)

Answer 13

Imperfecto

Question 14

La noche de la fiesta hacía buen tiempo y Marta estaba muy contenta.
(The night of the party, the weather was nice and Marta was really happy)

Answer 14

Imperfecto

Question 15

middle of an event or emphasis on indefinite continuation of event

Answer 15

Imperfecto

Question 16

En la fiesta, algunos de los invitados hablaban mientras otros comían.
( In the party some of the guest were talking while others were eating)

Answer 16

Imperfecto

Question 17

ongoing event or action in the past or event that is interrupted

Answer 17

Imperfecto

Question 18

…los invitados cantaban
(the guest were singing)

Answer 18

Imperfecto

Question 19

past actions, conditions, and events that were anticipated or planned

Answer 19

Imperfecto

Question 20

Quería tomar un café, pero no tenía dinero.
(I wanted to have coffee, but I didn’t have money)

Answer 20

Imperfecto

Question 21

with verbs associated with time expressions such as todos los días, cada semana, siempre, frecuentemente, de niño(a), and de joven

Answer 21

Imperfecto

Question 22

Todos los veranos mi esposa y yo íbamos de vacaciones a un país extranjero.
(every summer my wife would go on a vacation to a foreign country)

Answer 22

Imperfecto