Preterite vs. Imperfect

The Preterite tense is generally used for actions that are considered completed, and the action has defined start and end points. The Imperfect tense is used for ongoing, habitual actions in the past or descriptions that set the background scene.

When to Use Preterite

1. Completed Actions

   • For actions that have a clear beginning and end.

   "Terminé mi tarea a las ocho de la noche."
   (I finished my homework at eight o'clock.)

2. Single Events

   • For events that occurred at a specific point in time.

   "La clase empezó a las nueve."
   (The class started at nine.)

3. Sequences of Events

   • To tell a story or list of events in chronological order.

   "Me levanté, me vestí y salí para la escuela."
   (I got up, got dressed, and went to school.)

When to Use Imperfect

1. Habitual Actions

   • For actions that were repeated over a period of time.

   "Iba al cine todos los viernes."
   (I used to go to the movies every Friday.)

2. Descriptions

   • To describe characteristics, conditions, or settings in the past.

   "La casa era grande y blanca."
   (The house was big and white.)

3. Ongoing Actions

   • Actions occurring at the same time as another event.

   "Estudiaba cuando mi hermano entró."
   (I was studying when my brother came in.)

Conjugation Patterns

• Preterite Conjugation for 'Hablar' (to speak):

  • Yo hablé, tú hablaste, él habló, nosotros hablamos, vosotros hablasteis, ellos hablaron

• Imperfect Conjugation for 'Hablar':

  • Yo hablaba, tú hablabas, él hablaba, nosotros hablábamos, vosotros hablabais, ellos hablaban

Example Sentences

• Preterite:

  "Cerré la puerta a las siete."
  (I closed the door at seven.)
  Context: The action of closing the door is seen as a single, completed event.

• Imperfect:

  "Mi abuela siempre cocinaba los domingos."
  (My grandmother always cooked on Sundays.)
  Context: Indicates a habitual action that occurred regularly over a period.

Key Tips for Choosing the Right Tense

• Use Preterite for actions that can be clearly pinpointed to have occurred at specific times, were completed within a set period, or were part of a chain of events.
• Use Imperfect for actions without a specified timeframe, ongoing conditions, or to describe repeated/habitual actions.