Preterite vs. Imperfect Flashcards
Ayer
yesterday; PRETERITE
Anoche
last night; PRETERITE
El año pasado
last year; PRETERITE
Hace dos semanas
2 weeks ago; PRETERITE
Una vez
one time; PRETERITE
El sábado por la noche
last Saturday night; PRETERITE
………cuando…………
IMPERFECT……cuando………PRETERITE
Radical 12, flip flop, darth vader, ir/ser, etc.
PRETERITE
Single events at a specific time in the past
PRETERITE
Sequential action(moves the plot along)
PRETERITE
Specific beginning and end
PRETERITE
Interrupting Action
I was sleeping when SHE CALLED ME.
(Yo dormía cuando se llamó.)
PRETERITE
It started…(empezó)
PRETERITE
ends in ED
PRETERITE
The date( la fecha fue el doce de abril)
PRETERITE
deciding something(one time action)
PRETERITE
Do you know when the action began?
PRETERITE
Do you know it is a completed action?
PRETERITE
enclosed time
PRETERITE
Can you measure the time?
PRETERITE
No stem changers
IMPERFECT
Todos los días
everyday; IMPERFECT
Generalmente
generally; IMPERFECT
Siempre
always; IMPERFECT
Nunca
never; IMPERFECT
Cada día, cada mes, cada año
everyday, every month, every night; IMPERFECT
Los lunes, los domingos…..
Mondays, Sundays; IMPERFECT
de vez en cuando
once in a while; IMPERFECT
Mientras…..
While….; IMPERFECT
Muchas veces
many times; IMPERFECT
A menudo
often; IMPERFECT
was/were happening(activity in progress)
IMPERFECT
used to…(repeated/habitual)
IMPERFECT
while/mientras
IMPERFECT
InterruptED action
Yo DORMíA cuando ella se llamó.
IMPERFECT
Not clear when it started or stopped
IMPERFECT
simultaneous activities
IMPERFECT
the date(was important)
IMPERFECT
Ends in ‘ING”
IMPERFECT
Head verbs(pensar, creer, considerer)
IMPERFECT
Heart vebs(querer, amar, sentir, esperar)
IMPERFECT
S W E A T H O G
Setting the scene(background info and descriptions) Weather(hacer) Emotions Age(tener) Time(Ser) Habitual actions; repeated actions Ongoing actions; simultaneous Growing up
SWEAT HOG
IMPERFECT
Los exámenes (terminar) la semana pasada.
The examinations ended last week.
TERMINARON
PRETERITE
La puerta (estar) abierta cuando (vener).
The door was open when we came.
ESTABA; VENIMOS
IMPERFECT; PRETERITE
Todos los tardes el gerente (firmar) cartas.
Every afternoon, the manager signs the letters.
FIRMABA
IMPERFECT
A menudo (ir) a su casa.
We often went to her house.
ÍBAMOS
IMPERFECT
El cielo (ser) Azul.
The sky was blue.
ERA
IMPERFECT
Sin pedir permiso, (comenzar) a expresar su opinion.
Without asking permission, he began to express his opinion.
COMENZÓ
PRETERITE
A las tres en punto (cesar) de llover.
At three o’clock sharp, it stopped raining.
CESÓ
PRETERITE
Siempre (leer) el periódico por la noche.
He always read the newspaper at night.
LEÍA
IMPERFECT
Ella (ser) rubia y (tener) ojos verdes.
She was blonde and had green eyes.
ERA; TENÍA
IMPERFECT
