Tense Practice Flashcards
It rains a lot in Ireland
Llueve mucho en Irlanda
Present tense to indicate timeless or habitual events that still
occur
I smoke more than sixty a day
Fumo más de sesenta al día
Present tense to indicate timeless or habitual events that still
occur
Maria’s Venezuelan
María es venezolana
Present tense to indicate timeless or habitual events that still
occur
Sea-gulls eat fish
Las gaviotas comen peces
Present tense to indicate timeless or habitual events that still
occur
I don’t have a credit card
No tengo tarjeta de crédito
Eating on my own depresses me
Me deprime comer sola
Those who are believers have that
consolation
Los que son creyentes tienen ese consuelo
Why are you so sad?
Por qué estás tan triste?
state rather than action, therefore present, not continuous
. It’s cold
Hace frío
state not action, present, not continuous
She seems tired
Parece cansada
state, not action, present
Isn’t the moon bright!
Cómo brilla la luna
state not action, therefore present
She’s wearing a suit today
Hoy lleva traje de chaqueta
state rather than action, present
We acknowledge receipt of your letter of
January 3
Acusamos recibo de su carta del 3 de enero
It sounds unnatural to me
A mí me suena poco natural
The opposition considers a maneuvre, the
liberalization policy announced by the
regime
La oposición considera una maniobra el aperturismo anunciado por el régimen
Why are you getting involved in that
business?
Por qué te metes en ese asunto?
present because finite
what did you say?
Qué dices?
present, not an action
Can’t you hear the dogs?
No oyes los perros?
I’m drowning!
Que me ahogo!
present, unlikely that this person would be saying that they are mid process in drowning
I’m coming
Ya voy!
is about to happen, not in process
Wait while I put this in the oven
Espérate que meto esto en el horno
Merino passes the ball to Andreas
Merino pasa la pelota a Andreas
Shall I bring it for you?
Te lo traigo yo?
Present is used for permission
Shall I write to our grandparents to tell
them?
Escribo a los abuelos para decírselo?
present for permission
Shall I ring to see whether he’s come?
Llamo para ver si ha venido?
permission uses present
I was head of department (then stopped)
Yo fui jefe de departamento
‘I was head of department’ (at the time and may still be).
Yo era jefe de departamento
We had to cross two deserts to get to the oasis (and
we did)
Tuvimos que atravesar dos desiertos para llegar al oasis
We had (still) to cross two deserts to get to the oasis’.
Teníamos que atravesar dos desiertos para llegar al oasis
Yesterday I walked more than fifteen
kilometers
Ayer anduve más de quince kilómetros
preterite because completed (yday)
It was a mistake not to return the money
to him (we didn’t)
Fue un error no devolverle el dinero
The party was a success
La fiesta fue un éxito
party is over
First I was a carpenter, then I was a taxi
driver and then I was a lion tamer
Primero fui carpintero, después fui taxista, y
después fui domador de leones
I had measles when I was a child
Tuve el sarampión cuando era pequeño
When the coffee was ready she handed
him a small cup
Cuando el café estuvo listo Ie alcanzó una
tacita
the preterite may show that an event or process has reached completion
the girl advanced towards him, and when she reached his side, said to him. . .
La chica avanzó hacia él, y cuando estuvo a su lado le dijo
preterite may show that a process or event has reached completion
the conversation gradually petered out
La conversación se fue espaciando
preterite may show that a process or event has reached completion
My daughter was talking by eleven months
My daughter (started) talking at eleven months (using tense)
Mi hija hablaba a los once meses (imperfect, she is still talking)
Mi hija habló a los once meses
preterite to indicate the beginning of an action (inchoate), her beginning of this has ended
I was posted in Bilbao for two years
Estuve destinado en Bilbao dos años
preterite for a finite period of time
You’re forgetting the time you were
married
Te olvidas del tiempo que estuviste casado
preterite for a defined period of time
The dinosaurs reigned on Earth for
millions of years
Los dinosaurios reinaron sobre la tierra
durante millones de años
finite period therefore preterite
For years we could talk of nothing else
Durante años no pudimos hablar de otra cosa
finite period, preterite
As far as I’ve heard, I’ve known of two
cases in the whole of my life
Que yo haya oído, en toda mi vida supe de
dos casos
finite, preterite
‘He always used to sleep as his father (had) slept, with his gun hidden in
his pillowcas
Siempre dormía como durmió
su padre, con el arma escondida dentro de la funda de la almohada
preterite as the implied finite period is the lifespan
I always sought to have a good time
Siempre procuré pasarlo bien
implied finite period of the life span, preterite
‘I never really liked that man
Nunca me hizo gracia ese hombre
implied finite period of the life span, preterite
Every summer they spent their holidays/vacation in San
Sebastian
Todos los veranos veraneaban en San Sebastián
time is habitual, therefore imperfect is used
‘He watered the garden every morning
Todas las mañanas regaba el jardín
habitual time, imperfect
When I was little I saw him pass
nearly every day
Cuando yo era pequeño yo le veía pasar casi todos los días
habitual time, imperfect
That week he rose at seven, and breakfasted at eight
Aquella semana se levantaba/levantó a las siete, y desayunaba/desayunó a las ocho
period is specified but action is repeated and disconnected, either preterite or imperfect is possible (latter more common)
Last summer she went out with him every day
El verano pasado salía/salió todos los días con
él
specified time period, actions are repeated and discontinuous, either form is possible, imperfect most usual
‘He worked hard that year
Aquel año trabajaba/trabajó mucho
specified time period, action repeated and disconnected, either imperfect or preterite permitted
what is the meaning change of tener in the imperfect and preterite
preterite means to receive/to get
Imperfect means ‘had’ ‘was in my possession’
II got the impression that . . .
Tuve la impresión de que
preterite as the meaning is ‘receive’
I had the impression that . . .
Tenía la impresión de que
imperfect because the meaning is ‘had’
I got a letter
Tuve una carta
(preterite because the meaning is ‘receive’
When he got the chance to study, he
graduated as an engineer from the Open
University
Cuando tuvo ocasión de estudiar consiguío
con la universidad a distancia el título de
ingeniero
preterite because ‘receive’
what is the difference in meaning between preterite and imperfect of ‘meet’
conocer
Preterite - to meet for the first time
Imperfect - to be acquainted with
I met Antonia (for the first time)
Conocí a Antonia
preterite for the first time
I knew Antonia
Conocía a Antonia
imperfect to mean acquainted with
I got up and drew the curtains. It was a splendid day
Me levanté y descorrí las cortinas. Hacía un día espléndido
first two preterite as they are finite. Hacer is imperfect because it is the backdrop
Since the sky was clear we went to the
beach
Como el cielo estaba despejado fuimos a la playa
éstar is imperfect because its the background, ir is preterite because it is finite
I was coming back from the cinema when I saw Niso
Yo volvía del cine cuando vi a Niso
The monuments and statues that
adorned the avenues and squares were
pulverized
Los monumentos y estatuas que adornaban
los paseos y las plazas fueron triturados
I went back to the living room, but he was no longer there
Volví a la sala, pero él ya no estaba
Matias was a tall, bald, slightly roundshouldered man
Matías era un hombre aito, calvo y un poco
cargado de hombros
unspecified period, imperfect
These Mexican meals lasting four or five
hours exasperated him
Le exasperaban estas comidas mexicanas de cuatro o cinco horas de duración
imperfect, unspecified time
Dona Amalia, on the other hand, was
overweight, and refused to recognise
that greed was a worse sin
Doña Amalia, por otra parte, era obesa,
y se negaba a reconocer que la gula era
peor pecado
imperfect because unspecified
I was just leaving when you rang
Me marchaba ya cuando has llamado
imperfect expresses events felt to have already begun at the time of the completed event.
I was talking to the neighbours when the
firemen came
Yo hablaba con los vecinos cuando llegaron los bomberos
What would you like?
Qué deseaba?
imperfect for polite requests
Excuse me, I’d like a word with the
manager
Perdone, quería hablar con el director
imperfect for polite requests
it was a mistake to tell him (implication that the speaker commited the mistake)
Fue un error decírselo
preterite stresses direct relation between speaker and act.
It was a mistake to tell him (we may or
may not have committed it)
Era un error decírselo
imperfect loosens the relationship between speaker and act, more of a generality
The problem was difficult (but it doesn’t exist anymore)
EI problema fue difícil
The problem was difficult (at the time,
and perhaps still is)
EI problema era difícil
I had to talk to her (and did)
Tuve que hablar con ella
I had to talk to her (and may or may not
have done)
Tenía que hablar con ella
I was ill (and got better)
Estuve enfermo
I was ill/sick (at the time and may or may
not still be
Estaba enfermo
I went to ask (and did)
Fui a preguntar
I was going to ask
Iba a preguntar
He didn’t enjoy his meal (but he ate it)
No Ie gustó la comida
He didn’t like his meal (and mayor may
not have gone on to eat it)
No Ie gustaba la comida
I had a talk with her
Estuve hablando con ella
I was (in the process of) talking to her
Estaba hablando con ella
When I visited Cuba .. .
Cuando estuve en Cuba .. .
When I was in Cuba .. .
Cuando yo estaba en Cuba
I thought you were talking seriously
Creí que hablabas en serio
I thought/used to think you talked
seriously
Creía que hablabas en serio
We’ll see one another tomorrow at
the Palace for the prize-giving to Prof.
Bernstein, won’t we?
Nos veremos mañana en Palacio para el
premio al profesor Bernstein, no es cierto?
(provisional future, no other word makes future clear)
If it rains the match will be postponed
Si llueve se aplazará el partido
(provisional future, no other word makes future clear)
He gave me 10,000 ptas. I’ll manage with
that till next week, and then we’ll see
Me ha dado diez mil pesetas. Con esto tiraré
hasta la semana próxima, y luego veremos
(provisional future, no other word makes future clear)
In the remote future the sun will go out
En un remoto futuro el sol se apagará
(provisional future, no other word makes future clear)
This evening Juan and I will go/are going
to the cinema
Por la noche nos iremos al cine Juan y yo
(provisional future, no other word makes future clear, nos vamos possible here)
We’ll all be bald by then
Para entonces todos estaremos calvos
(provisional future, no other word makes future clear)
Tonight we’re going to the theatre
Esta noche vamos al teatro
(present used implying that this is certain)
Tonight, when we’ve got everything done, we’ll going to the theatre
Esta noche, cuando lo tengamos todo hecho, iremos al teatro
(intervening things make future tense more natural)
Have confidence in me. I won’t
disappoint you
Ten confianza en mí. No te decepcionaré.
(future used for promises, long-term ones, not prearrangements)
They shall not pass!
No pasarán!
(future used for promises, long-term ones, not prearrangements)
Today you’re Cinderella, but tomorrow you’ll be a princess
Hoy eres la Cenicienta, pero mañana serás una princesa
(future used for promises, long-term ones, not prearrangements)
A true revolution will never allow crimes to go unpunished
Una verdadera revolución no admitirá jamás la impunidad
(future used for promises, long-term ones, not prearrangements)
Don’t worry, I’ll give it back to you tomorrow
No te preocupes, te lo devuelvo
mañana
(short term promises use the present)
You will not leave this house until I allow
you to
No saldrás de esta casa hasta que yo no te lo
permita
(future used for v stern demands)
Maria’s about 20 years old
Maria tendrá unos veinte años
(suppositional future, expresses wonder, conjecture or incredulity)
Did anyone ever see such nonsense?!
Habráse visto semejante tontería!
(suppositional future, expresses wonder, conjecture or incredulity)
I wonder what this is
Qué será esto?
(suppositional future, expresses wonder, conjecture or incredulity)
I wonder what the time is
Qué hora será?
(suppositional future, expresses wonder, conjecture or incredulity)
Where’s your purse?’ ‘I must have left it at home
Dónde está tu monedero?
Me lo habré dejado en casa
(suppositional future, expresses wonder, conjecture or incredulity)
I wonder what she’s up to
Qué estará tramando ella?
(suppositional future, expresses wonder, conjecture or incredulity)
the train’s leaving tomorrow at 7
El tren sale mañana a las siete
present because departure is scheduled
We’re going to Spain next year
Vamos a España el año que viene
(future is made clear)
Who’s paying tomorrow?
Quién paga mañana?
(future made clear)
I’ll be down right away
En seguida bajo
(immediate future)
I’ll ring you tonight
Te llamo esta noche
(immediate future)
I’ll be at your house in a quarter of an
hour
Dentro de un cuarto de hora estoy en tu casa
If he comes round here, what shall I say?
Si viene por aquí, qué digo?
Tonight there’ll be a storm, you’ll see
Esta noche hay tormenta, verás
(certain future)
Goodbye/See you again
Nos vemos
Wait, I’ll do it in a moment
Espera, lo hago en un momenta
(marked future, certain)
‘If things go on like this
there will be no more trees left’.
Si las cosas continúan así, ya no habrá árboles
(uncertain future, so future)
I think there is no room
Me parece que no hay sitio
I think there won’t be room (2)
Me parece que no habrá sitio.
Me parece que no va a haber sitio.
(future needed to distinguish this from present)
Tomorrow the speech will be delivered by the president
Mañana el discurso será pronunciado por el presidente
(ser only used in the present to express the future in calendar statements)
tomorrow is Thursday
Mañana es jueves
(ser only used in the present to express the future in calendar statements)
If you marry me I’m going to make you
happy (intention)
Si te casas conmigo te voy a hacer feliz
Hurry! They’re going to close! (intention)
Deprisa, que van a cerrar!
If you marry me I shall make you
happy (promise)
Si te casas conmigo te haré feliz
Hurry! They’re shall close!
Deprisa, que cierran!
If things go on like this we won’t be able
to breath the air in the cities
Si las cosas continuan así, no podremos respirar el aire de las ciudades
(ir form possible here)
‘It’s absurd for you to come
tomorrow
Es absurdo que vengas mañana
(subjunctive because the header is in the present)
It would be absurd
for you to come tomorrow
Sería absurdo que vinieras (vinieses) mañana
(conditional triggers past subj)
It would be crazy to start it up with no
oil
Sería una locura ponerlo en marcha sin aceite
(conditional)
Another coup d’etat would be pointless
because it would only damage the
country
De nada serviría un nuevo golpe porque sólo
perjudicaría al país
(condition)
That day we must have walked more
than 50 km
Aquel día andaríamos más de cincuenta
kilómetros
(suppositions about the past, conditional)
He must have been about thirty
Tendría unos treinta años
(supposition about the past, conditional)
He was wearing a sports jacket which
must once have been navy blue
Llevaba un saco sport que en algún tiempo
habría sido azul marino
(supposition about the past, conditional)
I knew father would come down at 11
o’clock
Yo sabía que papá bajaría/bajaba/iba a bajar a
las once
(future in the past can be expressed by conditional, imperfect and imperfect ir future)
He said he’d do/was going to do it later
Dijo que lo haría/hacía/iba a hacer luego
(future in the past can be expressed by conditional, imperfect and imperfect ir future)
He shut the door carefully; his wife was
fast asleep. She would sleep until the sun
first showed at the window
Cerró la puerta con cuidado; su mujer dormía
profundamente. Dormiría hasta que el sol
hiciera su primera presencia en la ventana
(conditional to express future in the past)
He then had an adventure that was to
develop in three different stages
Entonces tuvo una aventura que se
desarrollaría en tres etapas diferentes
(conditional to express future in the past)
Soon everyone would go and take a
siesta
En un rato todo el mundo se iría a dormir la
siesta
(conditional to express future in the past)
Would anyone dare to say that
‘socialization’ has made newspapers
more free?
Alguien se atrevería a decir que la socialización ha hecho más libres a los diarios?
conditional to express rhetorical questions
When can the -ra subjunctive replace the conditional?
when it is used as a true conditional, not as a suppositional tense or future in the past
It would have been better (2)
Habría sido mejor.
Hubiera sido mejor.
I’d like to do it (2)
Yo querría hacerlo.
Yo quisiera hacerlo.
You should have done it (2)
Deberías haberlo hecho.
Debieras haberlo hecho.
it would seem that
pareciera que.
parecería que
I’ve already bought the tickets
Ya tengo compradas las entradas
(tener plus participle, which agrees, indicates successful acquisition, or fulfillment)
After the holidays/vacation I’ll have all
my homework done
Después de las vacaciones tendré hechos todos
mis deberes
(tener plus participle, which agrees, indicates successful acquisition, or fulfillment)
I had arranged an appointment with the
boss
Yo tenía concertada hora con el jefe
(tener plus participle, which agrees, indicates successful acquisition, or fulfillment)
That Thursday in December I had
planned to cross to the right bank
ese jueves de diciembre tenía pensado
cruzar a la orilla derecha
(tener plus participle, which agrees, indicates successful acquisition, or fulfillment)
I haven’t seen your mother this week
No he vis to a tu madre esta semana
(perfect, because the time period includes present)
In only two generations 43% of the
earth’s surface has been reduced to
desert
En sólo dos generaciones se ha desertizado
un 43% de la superficie terrestre
(perfect, time includes present)
We’ve been twice this month
Hemos ido dos veces este mes
(perfect, time includes present)
They’ve already arrived
Ya han llegado
(perfect, time includes the present)
I have always thought that . . .
Siempre he pensado que. . .
(perfect, time includes the present)
They haven’t arrived yet
Todavía no han llegado
(perfect, time includes present)
I saw your mother-in-law this morning
I have seen your mother-in-law this morning
Vi a tu suegra esta mañana.
He visto a tu suegra esta mañana
Someone’s smoked a cigarette here. I
can smell the smoke
Alguien ha fumado un cigarrillo aquí. Huelo
el humo.
perfect because it has relevance for the present
Who’s broken this window?
Quién ha roto esta ventana?
(perf relevance for the present)
I got up at six this morning (recent, distant)
Esta mañana me he levantado a las seis.
Esta mañana me levanté a las seis
Did you hear the explosion? (just then)
Has oído la explosión?
‘Who said that (just now)?’ it wasn’t me.
It was him
Quién ha dicho eso?
No he sido yo.
Ha sido él.
I saw her a moment ago
La he visto hace un momento
I couldn’t do it
No he podido hacerlo
I didn’t want to come earlier so as not to
cause bother
No he querido venir antes por no querer
molestar
I didn’t want to do it
No he querido hacerlo
(perf, recency)
Yesterday, at nightfall, when the big cliff
is the colour of cinnabar, I returned to
the island
Ayer, a la caída de la tarde, cuando el gran
acantilado es de cinabrio, he vuelto a la isla
(pret if the day before)
It involves an exercise which lost its
initiative months ago
Se trata de un ejercicio que ha perdido la
iniciativa hace meses
(pret, distant past)
Everything that has happened to me
happened yesterday, last night at the
latest
A mí todo lo que me ha sucedido
me ha sucedido ayer, anoche a más tardar
(pret because distant)
A few days ago a Danish pacifist was
accused of spying for Moscow
Hace pocos días, un pacifista danés ha sido
acusado de espionaje a favor de Moscú
(pret for distant past)
I haven’t seen you for years
Hace años que no te he visto (negative time phrases take perfect)
I had already realized that you weren’t
there
Yo ya me había dado cuenta de que ustedes
no estaban
We knew that he had already sold the
car
Sabíamos que ya hab[a vendido el coche
We’ll eat after
the rest arrive
Comeremos después de que lleguen los demás
subj because unfulfilled
We decided we would eat after the rest arrived
Decidimos comer después de que llegasen/llegaran los
demás
We ate after
the rest (had) arrived
Comimos después de que llegaron los demás
after the elder daughters (had)
helped her to put a bit of order in the
devastation left by the wedding
después de que las hijas mayores la
ayudaron a poner un poco de orden en los
estragos de la boda
after Victoriano Huerta killed Madero
después de que Victoriano Huerta
mató a Madero
We left after we had done
everything
Nos fuimos después de haber hecho todo
