Preterite vs Imperfect Tense

Question 1

To express a habitual or repeated action in the past that took place during a non-specific time period do you use:
a. imperfect tense
b. preterite tense

Answer 1

a. imperfect tense (-aba, -ía)

Question 2

Repeated actions in the past that conclude in a specific time period are expressed using:
a. imperfect tense
b. preterite tense

Answer 2

b. preterite tense (-é, -í,)

Question 3

What tense describes a situation in the past without referring to the beginning, the end or the result of that situation?

Answer 3

imperfect tense (aba, ía)

Question 4

What tense expresses the initial state, the point of view of the speaker, the result, resolution or end of a situation in the past

Answer 4

preterite tense (é, í)

Question 5

What is the difference meaning in the word ‘conocer’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 5

conocía = I knew
conocí = I met/got to know

Question 6

What is the difference meaning in the words ‘no querer’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 6

no quería = I was unwilling/I didn’t want to (might still have happened)
no quise = I didn’t want to so I didn’t do it

Question 7

What is the difference meaning in the words ‘no poner’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 7

no podía = I was unable/I lacked the ability
no pude = I couldn’t I tried but failed

Question 8

What is the difference meaning in the word ‘costar’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 8

costaba = it cost so much/bore a price
costó = it cost so much - a purchase was made

Question 9

What is the difference meaning in the words ‘no saber’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 9

no sabía = I didn’t know/was unaware
no supe = I didn’t have the knowledge/didn’t know till later

Question 10

What is the difference meaning in the word ‘estar’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 10

estaba = I was already located somewhere/already in a certain state
estuve = I got there at a specific time

Question 11

What is the difference meaning in the word ‘pensar’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 11

pensaba = I thought/was under the impression/held a certain impression
pensé = I thought/that is/I got the impression or feeling

Question 12

What is the difference meaning in the words ‘tener miedo’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 12

tenía miedo = I was afraid/in a state of fear
tuve miedo = I became afraid/I got scared

Question 13

What is the difference meaning in the words ‘hacer calor’ when used in imperfect or preterite tense?

Answer 13

hacía calor = it was (descriptive) hot
hizo calor = it got (it started/ended up being) hot

Question 14

Does the imperfect or preterite describe a scene in the past?

Answer 14

imperfect

Question 15

Does the imperfect or preterite narrate an action that occurred in the past

Answer 15

preterite

Question 16

When an action in the past gets interrupted what tense is used to describe the original situation?

Answer 16

imperfect then preterite is used to describe the action that was the ‘interruptor’

Question 17

In imperfect past what sort of point of view is used to describe events?

Answer 17

contemporary with point of view ‘live’ as such

Question 18

In preterite past what sort of point of view is used to describe events?

Answer 18

point of view is external to facts, being seen from ‘outside’
speaker considers actions as completed

Question 19

If a specific time period is given what tense can not be used?

Answer 19

Imperfect