17.3.3

Choosing Between the Preterite & the Imperfect

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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

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

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

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

1.1

Phonics / Alphabet / Spellings

1.1.1Phonics1.1.2Pronunciation1.1.3Recognising Words
2

My Family & I

2.1

My Family & I

2.1.1Name & Age2.1.2Colours2.1.3Hair & Eyes2.1.4Adjective Endings Match the Gender of the Noun2.1.5Physical Appearance2.1.6Personality2.1.7Family Members2.1.8Eldest, Youngest2.1.9Other Family Members2.1.10Family Life - Listening2.1.11Describing Others2.1.12Nationalities2.1.13Being Polite2.1.14Introductions2.1.15Pets2.1.16At The Post Office2.1.17Letters2.1.18Opinion Phrases2.1.19End of Topic Test - My Family & I
2.2

My Family & I - Vocabulary

2.2.1Name & Age - English to Spanish2.2.2Name & Age - Spanish to English2.2.3Family - English to Spanish2.2.4Family - Spanish to English2.2.5Describing Yourself - English to Spanish2.2.6Describing Yourself - Spanish to English
3

Time

3.1

Time

3.1.1Numbers: 1-103.1.2Numbers: 11-203.1.3Numbers: 21-293.1.4Numbers: 30-1003.1.5What Time Is It?3.1.6Days of the Week3.1.7Months of the Year3.1.8Frequency & Timings
4

Home

4.1

Home

4.1.1Where Do You Live?4.1.2My Village4.1.3Daily Routine4.1.4Chores4.1.5Home - Listening4.1.6End of Topic Test - Home
4.2

Home - Vocabulary

4.2.1Home - English to Spanish4.2.2Home - Spanish to English
5

Body & Illness

5.1

Body & Illness

5.1.1The Head5.1.2Body5.1.3Body - Listening5.1.4Illness5.1.5Recovery5.1.6Illness - Listening5.1.7End of Topic Test - Body & Illness
5.2

Body & Illness - Vocabulary

5.2.1Body & Illness - English to Spanish5.2.2Body & Illness - Spanish to English
6

Relationships

6.1

Relationships

6.1.1Important Verbs6.1.2Relationships6.1.3Estar6.1.4Relationships Vocab - Spanish to English6.1.5Relationships Vocab - English to Spanish6.1.6Relationships - Translations6.1.7Relationships - Listening
6.2

Relationships - Vocabulary

6.2.1Relationships - English to Spanish6.2.2Relationships - Spanish to English
7

Customs & Festivals

7.1

Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

7.1.1Customs & Festivals7.1.2Regular AR Verbs in the Preterite Tense7.1.3Festivals Vocab - Spanish to English7.1.4Festivals Vocab - English to Spanish7.1.5Festivals - Translations7.1.6Customs & Festivals - Listening
7.2

Customs & Festivals - Vocabulary

7.2.1Festivals - English to Spanish7.2.2Festivals - Spanish to English
8

School

8.1

School

8.1.1School Subjects8.1.2Future Study8.1.3School Routine8.1.4In School8.1.5In The Classroom8.1.6School - Listening8.1.7End of Topic Test - School
8.2

School - Vocabulary

8.2.1School - English to Spanish8.2.2School - Spanish to English8.2.3School Subjects - English to Spanish8.2.4School Subjects - Spanish to English8.2.5School Routine - English to Spanish8.2.6School Routine - Spanish to English
9

Jobs

9.1

Jobs

9.1.1Jobs9.1.2Motivation9.1.3Jobs - Listening9.1.4End of Topic Test - Jobs
9.2

Jobs - Vocabulary

9.2.1Jobs & Careers - English to Spanish9.2.2Jobs & Careers - Spanish to English
10

Town & Shopping

10.1

Town

10.1.1Geography10.1.2Shops10.1.3Places in Town10.1.4Directions10.1.5Near, There10.1.6Town - Listening10.1.7Cities in Spain10.1.8Dialects in Spain10.1.9End of Topic Test - Town
10.2

Shopping

10.2.1Clothes10.2.2How Much?10.2.3Shopping - Listening
10.3

Town - Vocabulary

10.3.1Places in Town - English to Spanish10.3.2Places in Town - Spanish to English10.3.3Shops - English to Spanish10.3.4Shops - Spanish to English10.3.5Directions - English to Spanish10.3.6Directions - Spanish to English
11

Food & Health Life

11.1

Food

11.1.1Vegetables11.1.2Fruit11.1.3Meat11.1.4Fish11.1.5Drinks11.1.6Snacks11.1.7Dairy11.1.8Other Food11.1.9Eating Out11.1.10Food - Listening11.1.11End of Topic Test - Food
11.2

A Healthy Life

11.2.1A Healthy Life11.2.2Unhealthy Lifestyle11.2.3Healthy Life Vocab - Spanish to English11.2.4Healthy Life Vocab - English to Spanish11.2.5Healthy Life Vocab - Translations11.2.6Healthy Life - Listening
11.3

Food - Vocabulary

11.3.1Meat & Fish - English to Spanish11.3.2Meat & Fish - Spanish to English11.3.3Fruit & Veg - English to Spanish11.3.4Fruit & Veg - Spanish to English11.3.5Eating Out - English to Spanish11.3.6Eating Out - Spanish to English
12

Free Time

12.1

Free Time

12.1.1Sport12.1.2Instruments12.1.3Music12.1.4Cinema12.1.5TV12.1.6Books12.1.7Making Plans12.1.8Free Time - Listening12.1.9End of Topic Test - Free Time
12.2

Free Time - Vocabulary

12.2.1Sport - English to Spanish12.2.2Sport - Spanish to English12.2.3Music - English to Spanish12.2.4Music - Spanish to English12.2.5Cinema & TV - English to Spanish12.2.6Cinema & TV - Spanish to English
13

Social Media

13.1

Social Media

13.1.1Social Media13.1.2Social Media 213.1.3Social Media Vocab - Spanish to English13.1.4Social Media Vocab - English to Spanish13.1.5Social Media Vocab - Translations13.1.6Positives of Social Media13.1.7Negatives of Social Media13.1.8'No'13.1.9Mobile Technology13.1.10Your Devices13.1.11Mobile Tech Vocab- Spanish to English13.1.12Mobile Tech Vocab- English to Spanish13.1.13Mobile Tech Vocab- Translations13.1.14Social Media - Listening
13.2

Social Media - Vocabulary

13.2.1Social Media - English to Spanish13.2.2Social Media - Spanish to English
14

Holiday

14.1

Holiday

14.1.1Countries14.1.2Going on Holiday14.1.3Your Journey14.1.4Activities on Holiday14.1.5Bookings14.1.6Accommodation14.1.7Good Weather14.1.8Bad Weather14.1.9Holiday - Listening14.1.10End of Topic Test - Holidays
14.2

Holiday - Vocabulary

14.2.1Holidays - English to Spanish14.2.2Holidays - Spanish to English14.2.3Booking - English to Spanish14.2.4Booking - Spanish to English14.2.5Weather - English to Spanish14.2.6Weather - Spanish to English
15

The World Around Us

15.1

The World Around Us

15.1.1Volunteering15.1.2Human Rights15.1.3The Environment
15.2

The World Around Us

15.2.1Volunteering - English to Spanish15.2.2Volunteering - Spanish to English15.2.3Environment - English to Spanish15.2.4Environment - Spanish to English
16

Present Tense

16.1

Present Tense

16.1.1Regular AR Verbs16.1.2Irregular AR Verbs16.1.3Irregular AR Verbs - O-> UE16.1.4Irregular AR Verbs - Exceptions16.1.5Regular ER Verbs16.1.6Common ER Verbs16.1.7Irregular ER Verbs -E -> IE16.1.8Irregular ER Verbs O - UE16.1.9First Person Stem Changing ER Verbs16.1.10Regular IR Verbs16.1.115 Common Regular IR Verbs16.1.12Irregular IR Verbs16.1.13Irregular IR Verbs 216.1.14Irregular IR Verbs 316.1.15Irregular IR Verbs 416.1.16Verbs That End in UIR16.1.17Adding an Accent16.1.18To Go16.1.19To Like16.1.20To Have16.1.21To Be16.1.22Uses of To Be16.1.23Uses of To Be 2
17

Past Tense

17.1

Preterite Tense

17.1.1Regular AR Verbs17.1.2Irregular AR Verbs17.1.3Irregular AR Verbs 217.1.4Regular ER Verbs17.1.5Irregular ER Verbs - Ser17.1.6Irregular ER Verbs - Ver & Tener17.1.7Irregular ER Verbs - Vowel Changes17.1.8Irregular ER Verbs - Adding to the Stem17.1.9Regular IR Verbs17.1.10Irregular IR Verbs - Preterite17.1.11Irregular IR Verbs 217.1.12Decir & Venir - Preterite17.1.13Ir - Preterite
17.2

Imperfect Tense

17.2.1Regular IR Verbs - Imperfect17.2.2Regular ER Verbs - Imperfect17.2.3Regular AR Verbs - Imperfect17.2.4Ver - Imperfect17.2.5Ir - Imperfect17.2.6Ser - Imperfect
17.3

Imperfect v Perfect

17.3.1Uses of the Preterite Tense17.3.2Uses of the Imperfect Tense17.3.3Choosing Between the Preterite & the Imperfect
17.4

Infinitive Phrases

17.4.1Infinitive Phrases
18

Future Tense

18.1

Immediate Future

18.1.1Immediate Future
18.2

Future

18.2.1Regular AR Verbs18.2.2Regular ER Verbs18.2.3Regular IR Verbs18.2.4Irregular Verbs18.2.5Future - 'Hacer'18.2.6Future - 'Decir'
19

Conditional

19.1

Conditional Tense

19.1.1Regular AR Verbs19.1.2Regular ER Verbs19.1.3Regular IR Verbs19.1.4Conditional - 'Hacer'19.1.5Conditional - 'Decir'19.1.6Irregulars in the Conditional
20

Grammar

20.1

Articles

20.1.1Definite Article20.1.2Uses of the Definite Article20.1.3Indefinite Article20.1.4Uses of the Indefinite Article20.1.5Infinitives
20.2

Adjectives

20.2.1Gender & Position20.2.2The Position of Adjectives20.2.3Adjectives that Change Endings20.2.4Adjectives that Remain the Same20.2.5Adjectives 220.2.6'Ser'20.2.7'Estar'20.2.8Grande & Bueno20.2.9Plurals Ending in a Consonant20.2.10Plurals Ending in a Vowel20.2.11Possession20.2.12Indefinite20.2.13Complex Comparisons
20.3

Nouns

20.3.1Common Noun Endings20.3.2Other Noun Endings20.3.3People & Animals20.3.4Nouns that Stay the Same20.3.5Nouns Used for Masculine or Feminine20.3.6Masculine & Feminine Nouns20.3.7Masculine Exceptions20.3.8Feminine Exceptions20.3.9Noun Endings that Are Usually Feminine20.3.10Noun Endings that Are Usually Masculine20.3.11Masculine Nouns20.3.12Masculine & Feminine Nouns20.3.13Plural Nouns that End in a Vowel20.3.14Plural Nouns that End in a Consonant
20.4

Imperative

20.4.1The Positive Imperative20.4.2The Negative Imperative20.4.3Irregular Imperatives
20.5

Prepositions

20.5.1Common Prepositions20.5.2'A' and 'De'20.5.3'Para'20.5.4'Por'
20.6

Pronouns

20.6.1This, These20.6.2Reflexive
20.7

Negatives

20.7.1Negatives20.7.2'Nada'
20.8

Questions

20.8.1Asking Questions Without Question Words20.8.2Question Words20.8.3Question Words 2
20.9

Conjunctions

20.9.1What Are Conjunctions??20.9.2Some Common Conjunctions20.9.3Connectors
20.10

Adverbs

20.10.1Forming

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  1. 1
    How do you say 'when he was ten years old, he was very big' in Spanish?Multiple choice
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Uses of the Imperfect Tense

Infinitive Phrases