Overview
This lecture provides key words, phrases, and rules to help distinguish between the Spanish preterite and imperfect past tenses, focusing on their typical uses and trigger words.
Imperfect Tense Triggers
- mientras (while)
- antes (before)
- siempre (always)
- normalmente (normally)
- generalmente (generally)
- todo el tiempo (all the time)
- todos los dÃas/meses/semanas, etc. (every day, month, week, etc.)
- a menudo (often)
- frecuentemente (frequently)
- a veces (sometimes)
- de vez en cuando (from time to time)
- mucho (a lot)
- Ser + hora (telling time)
- Tener + años (age)
Preterite Tense Triggers
- ayer (yesterday)
- un dÃa/mes/año/noche (one day, etc.)
- de repente, inmediato (suddenly, immediately)
- una vez, dos veces, muchas veces (one time, two times, many times)
- hace ___ años (___ years ago)
- por (time) (for ___ time)
- en 1970 (in a year)
- el mes/año pasado, la semana pasada (last month/year/week)
- en ese momento (at that moment)
- primero, segundo, luego, después (first, second, later, after)
- por fin (finally)
- A + hora (at a time)
- anoche (last night)
- anteayer (the day before yesterday)
When to Use the Imperfect
- To express "used to/would always" in the past.
- To indicate ongoing past actions (was/were doing).
- To describe scenery, age, date, time, or ongoing states.
- For anticipated future actions (ir + a + infinitive).
- For simultaneous actions (often with mientras).
When to Use the Preterite
- For completed actions with a clear end.
- For non-routine, one-time events.
- To show a change in state (mental, emotional, physical).
- For actions that interrupt.
- To state results, reactions, or consequences.
- For a sequence of actions advancing a story.
- With por + time or vez/veces for specificity.
Verbs with Different Meanings in Preterite vs Imperfect
- saber: P- found out, I- knew info
- conocer: P- met, I- knew someone
- querer: P- tried/refused, I- wanted/loved
- poder: P- managed/succeeded, I- was able/could
Key Terms & Definitions
- Preterite — Spanish past tense for completed, specific-time actions.
- Imperfect — Spanish past tense for habitual, ongoing, or descriptive actions.
- Trigger words — Words or phrases that signal which tense to use.
- Simultaneous actions — Actions occurring at the same time, usually using imperfect.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Memorize the listed trigger words for each tense.
- Practice distinguishing preterite and imperfect using sample sentences.
- Review irregular verb meanings in different tenses.