Post on 26-Mar-2015
El pretérito y el imperfecto
El pretérito
1. A single action or a series of actions that are totally completed within a particular period of time in the past.
Ayer jugamos fútbol.
Yesterday we played soccer.
Metí un gol.
I scored a goal.
¡action!The preterite is used to express:
El pretérito
2. The begining or the end of an action in the past.
Empezó a llover.
It started to rain.
Se puso triste.
He became sad.
¡action!The preterite is used to express:
1. An action that went on for a period of time that is not specific.
Carlitos me miraba mientras yo trataba de estudiar.
Carlitos was looking at me while I was trying to study.
El imperfecto
continuing actionThe imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
2. A habitual or repeated action.
Los domingos jugaba golf.
On Sundays I used to play golf.
repeated action
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
3. Descriptions in the past.
Alberto era muy inteligente.
Alberto was very intelligent.
background info
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
4. Weather
Hacía mucho sol ayer.
It was sunny yesterday.
background info
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
5. Time
Eran las tres de la tarde.
It was three o’clock in the afternoon.
background info
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
6. Age
El maestro tenía 106 años.
The teacher was 106 years old.
background info
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
7. Emotion, mental state or physical state
Estaba cansado ayer.
I was tired yesterday.
background info
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
8. Ir + a + infinitivo
Iba a dar un paseo, pero me torcí el tobillo.
I was going to take a walk, but I sprained my ankle.
background info
The imperfect is used to express:
El imperfecto
generalmente
constantemente
siempre
todos los días
frecuentemente
normalmente
cada día
de costumbre
a menudo
a veces
con frecuencia
por lo general
regularmente
Common expressions with the imperfect
¡Ojo!
Some verbs have different meanings in the preterite and imperfect:
saber
imperfect: to know
Yo no sabía lo que pasó. I didn’t know what happened.
preterite: to find out
Pedro supo lo que pasó.Pedro found out what happened
Some verbs have different meanings in the preterite and imperfect:
conocer
imperfect: to know
Elena, ¿conocías a Carlos? Elena, did you know Carlos?
preterite: to meet
Lo conocí ayer.I met him yesterday.
¡Ojo!
Some verbs have different meanings in the preterite and imperfect:
poder
imperfect: to be able
Mis padres podían ir en tren. My parents could go by train.
preterite: to succeed in, manage to
Ayer no pudieron llegar a tiempo.Yesterday they didn’t manage to arrive on
time.
¡Ojo!
Some verbs have different meanings in the preterite and imperfect:
querer
imperfect: to want
¿Querías ir a la playa? Did you want to go to the beach?
preterite: tried or refused to (negative)
Carolina quiso (no quiso) ir conmigo.Carolina tried (refused) to go with me.
¡Ojo!
el fin
e l i m p e r f e c t o
el pretérito
Clipart courtesy of clker.com