Preterite vs. Imperfect

Question 1

Are preterite and imperfect normally interchangable?

Answer 1

no

Question 2

express actions or states that the speaker considers as completed

Answer 2

preterite

Question 3

express the beginning or end of a past action

Answer 3

preterite

Question 4

narrate a series of past actions

Answer 4

preterite

Question 5

to describe an ongoing past action without saying where it began or ended

Answer 5

imperfect

Question 6

express habitual past actions

Answer 6

imperfect

Question 7

describe mental, physical, and emotional states or conditions

Answer 7

imperfect

Question 8

to tell time in the past

Answer 8

imperfect

Question 9

first

Answer 9

primero

Question 10

in the beginning

Answer 10

al principo

Question 11

before

Answer 11

antes (de)

Question 12

after

Answer 12

después (de)

Question 13

while

Answer 13

mientras

Question 14

then

Answer 14

entonces

Question 15

next

Answer 15

luego

Question 16

always

Answer 16

siempre

Question 17

finally

Answer 17

al final

Question 18

the last time

Answer 18

la última vez

Question 19

imperfect querer

Answer 19

________ wanted to

Question 20

preterite querer

Answer 20

________ tried to

Question 21

preterite no querer

Answer 21

_______ refused to

Question 22

imperfect poder

Answer 22

_______ could do

Question 23

preterite poder

Answer 23

_______ succeeded in

Question 24

preterite no poder

Answer 24

________ could not

Question 25

imperfect saber

Answer 25

_______ knew

Question 26

preterite saber

Answer 26

_______ discovered

Question 27

imperfect conocer

Answer 27

______ already knew

Question 28

preterite conocer

Answer 28

______ met