Choosing Between the Preterite & the Imperfect

Test yourself

Choosing Between the Preterite and the Imperfect

The following rules will help you when trying to decide between using the preterite or the imperfect.

Single actions vs repeated actions

The preterite is used to express single actions in the past.
- Ayer, llegué tarde al trabajo.
  - Yesterday, I was late for work.
The imperfect is used to show repeated actions.
- Llegaba tarde al trabajo a menudo.
  - I was often late for work.

Completed actions vs in progress

We use the preterite when we refer to the action as a completed event even if it was a continuous or repetitive action:
- Aquella profesora enseñó biología el año pasado, pero nunca más.
  - That teacher taught biology last year, but not anymore.
When we refer to the action when it was in progress, and not as a finished completed event, we use the imperfect:
- Aquella profesora enseñaba biología cuando yo aprobé el test.
  - That teacher was teaching biology when I passed the test.

Exception vs normality

The preterite is used to express that an action is unique or an exception.
The imperfect is used to express that an action is normal.
- Ella amaba jugar al fútbol pero aquel día odió el fútbol.
  - She loved to play football but that day she hated it.

Actions happening at the same time

When two actions are taking place simultaneously, the preterite is used for the main action and the imperfect is used for ongoing actions.
- Mi madre cocinaba cuando yo estudiaba.
  - My mum was cooking when I was studying.

1Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

1.1Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

1.1.1Phonics

1.1.2Pronunciation

1.1.3Recognising Words

2You, Family & Home

2.1My Family & I

2.1.1Name & Age

2.1.2Colours

2.1.3Hair & Eyes

2.1.4Adjective Endings Match the Gender of the Noun

2.1.5Physical Appearance

2.1.6Personality

2.1.7Family Members

2.1.8Eldest, Youngest

2.1.9Other Family Members

2.1.10Family Life - Listening

2.1.11Describing Others

2.1.12Nationalities

2.1.13Being Polite

2.1.14Introductions

2.1.15Pets

2.1.16At The Post Office

2.1.17Letters

2.1.18Opinion Phrases

2.1.19End of Topic Test - My Family & I

2.2Time

2.2.1Numbers: 1-10

2.2.2Numbers: 11-20

2.2.3Numbers: 21-29

2.2.4Numbers: 30-100

2.2.5What Time Is It?

2.2.6Days of the Week

2.2.7Months of the Year

2.2.8Frequency & Timings

2.3Home

2.3.1Where Do You Live?

2.3.2My Village

2.3.3Daily Routine

2.3.4Chores

2.3.5Home - Listening

2.3.6End of Topic Test - Home

2.4Body & Illness

2.4.1The Head

2.4.2Body

2.4.3Body - Listening

2.4.4Illness

2.4.5Recovery

2.4.6Illness - Listening

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Body & Illness

2.5Relationships

2.5.1Important Verbs

2.5.2Relationships

2.5.3Estar

2.5.4Relationships Vocab - Spanish to English

2.5.5Relationships Vocab - English to Spanish

2.5.6Relationships - Translations

2.5.7Relationships - Listening

2.6Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

2.6.1Customs & Festivals

2.6.2Regular AR Verbs in the Preterite Tense

2.6.3Festivals Vocab - Spanish to English

2.6.4Festivals Vocab - English to Spanish

2.6.5Festivals - Translations

2.6.6Customs & Festivals - Listening

3School & Jobs

3.1School

3.1.1School Subjects

3.1.2Future Study

3.1.3School Routine

3.1.4In School

3.1.5In The Classroom

3.1.6School - Listening

3.1.7End of Topic Test - School

3.2Jobs

3.2.1Jobs

3.2.2Motivation

3.2.3Jobs - Listening

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Jobs

4Town, Shopping, Food, Drink

5Free Time

6Holiday

6.1Holiday

6.1.1Countries

6.1.2Going on Holiday

6.1.3Your Journey

6.1.4Activities on Holiday

6.1.5Bookings

6.1.6Accommodation

6.1.7Good Weather

6.1.8Bad Weather

6.1.9Holiday - Listening

6.1.10End of Topic Test - Holidays

7The World Around Us

7.1The World Around Us

7.1.1Volunteering

7.1.2Human Rights

7.1.3The Environment

8Present Tense

8.1Present Tense

8.1.1Regular AR Verbs

8.1.2Irregular AR Verbs

8.1.3Regular ER Verbs

8.1.4Irregular ER Verbs

8.1.5Irregular ER Verbs 2

8.1.6Regular IR Verbs

8.1.7Irregular IR Verbs

8.1.8Irregular IR Verbs 2

8.1.9Irregular IR Verbs 3

8.1.10Irregular IR Verbs 3

8.1.11To Be

8.1.12Uses of To Be

8.1.13Uses of To Be 2

8.1.14To Like

8.1.15To Have

9Past Tense

10Future Tense

10.1Immediate Future

10.1.1Immediate Future

10.2Future

10.2.1Regular AR Verbs

10.2.2Regular ER Verbs

10.2.3Regular IR Verbs

10.2.4Irregular Verbs

10.2.5Future - 'Hacer'

10.2.6Future - 'Decir'

11Conditional

11.1Conditional Tense

11.1.1Regular AR Verbs

11.1.2Regular ER Verbs

11.1.3Regular IR Verbs

11.1.4Conditional - 'Hacer'

11.1.5Conditional - 'Decir'

11.1.6Irregulars in the Conditional

12Grammar

12.1Articles

12.1.1Definite Article

12.1.2Uses of the Definite Article

12.1.3Indefinite Article

12.1.4Uses of the Indefinite Article

12.1.5Infinitives

12.2Adjectives

12.2.1Gender & Position

12.2.2The Position of Adjectives

12.2.3Adjectives that Change Endings

12.2.4Adjectives that Remain the Same

12.2.5Adjectives 2

12.2.6'Ser'

12.2.7'Estar'

12.2.8Grande & Bueno

12.2.9Plurals Ending in a Consonant

12.2.10Plurals Ending in a Vowel

12.2.11Possession

12.2.12Indefinite

12.2.13Complex Comparisons

12.3Nouns

12.3.1Common Noun Endings

12.3.2Other Noun Endings

12.3.3People & Animals

12.3.4Nouns that Stay the Same

12.3.5Nouns Used for Masculine or Feminine

12.3.6Masculine & Feminine Nouns

12.3.7Masculine Exceptions

12.3.8Feminine Exceptions

12.3.9Noun Endings that Are Usually Feminine

12.3.10Noun Endings that Are Usually Masculine

12.3.11Masculine Nouns

12.3.12Masculine & Feminine Nouns

12.3.13Plural Nouns that End in a Vowel

12.3.14Plural Nouns that End in a Consonant

12.4Imperative

12.4.1The Positive Imperative

12.4.2The Negative Imperative

12.4.3Irregular Imperatives

12.5Prepositions

12.5.1Common Prepositions

12.5.2'A' and 'De'

12.5.3'Para'

12.5.4'Por'

12.6Pronouns

12.6.1This, These

12.6.2Reflexive

12.7Negatives

12.7.1Negatives

12.7.2'Nada'

12.8Questions

12.8.1Asking Questions Without Question Words

12.8.2Question Words

12.8.3Question Words 2

12.9Conjunctions

12.9.1What Are Conjunctions??

12.9.2Some Common Conjunctions

12.9.3Connectors

12.10Adverbs

12.10.1Forming

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