Preterite And Imperfect Tense Flashcards
Preterite endings
- ar: -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -aron
- er/-ir: -í, -iste, -ío, -imos, -ieron
Imperfect endings
- ar: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -aban
- er/-ir -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -ian
How do you form the preterite and the imperfect?
Go to the infinitive, drop the ar/er/ir, add the endings
When do you use the imperfect?
Actions repeated habitually, “setting the stage” for another action, telling time, and stating one’s age.
Generally, PAST ACTIONS NOT SEEN AS COMPLETED.
When do you use the preterite?
Actions viewed as single events, actions repeated a certain number of times/occured during a specific time, chain of events, and beginning/end of an action.
Generally, COMPLETED PAST ACTIONS.
Irregular verbs in the preterite
Ser, ir, dar, hacer, decir, traer, ver
Irregular verbs in the imperfect
Ser, ir, ver
Stem changes in the preterite
Stem-changing -ir verbs in the present change their stems e:i or o:u in the third person singular and plural.
Rules for -car, -gar, and -zar verbs in the preterite
- gar: g to gu
- car: c to qu
- zar: z to c
Stem-changing verb endings in the preterite
-e, -iste, -o, -imos, -ieron
Venir, preterite yo form
vine
Ser, imperfect yo form
era
Ir, imperfect nosotros form
vayamos
Ver, imperfect tú form
veías
Andar, imperfect third person similar
anduvo
