Rules for Preterit vs Imperfect

Question 1

Preterit Rules

Answer 1

• Reports past actions that the speaker views as finished and completed
• Sums up a condition of state viewed as a whole (and no longer in effect)

Question 2

Imperfect Rules

Answer 2

• Describes past actions in the process of happening, with no reference to their beginning or end
• Refers to repeated or habitual actions of events: used to…
• Describes a physical, mental, or emotional state or condition in the past
• Expresses time in the past
• Is generally used in indirect discourse
• Described age in the past
• Describes or sets the stage in the past
• When cuando is involved it is usually imperfect