Here's an example with the verb caminar to walk :. We do the same thing will verbs ending in -er and -ir. Here's an example with the verb comer to eat :. Of course, some verbs will have irregular conjugations in the preterite.
Some of the most common of these include: ser, ir, dar, hacer, estar, poner, tener, haber, querer, venir, andar, poder, and saber. You will need to memorize the six preterite forms for each of these irregular verbs.
The imperfect is used to denote an action that took place in the past, but the specifics of the timeframe are left up in the air.
We use the imperfect in English, too. They were eating dinner when I arrived. Using "were" plus the gerund denotes the imperfect past in English. Here, we know that the action of eating dinner took place in the past, but it does not have a definite beginning or end, nor does it matter for the sentence's purpose.
We don't know when they stopped eating dinner, but in this sentence it doesn't matter because we are more focused on the fact that they were eating. I used to go fishing with my dad. Again when using the imperfect we don't care so much about the details of what happened when I do, how did I, when did I stop going the important fact in this sentence is that there was a time when I would go but I no longer go anymore. When forming the imperfect for a regular -ar verb, drop the -ar just like in the preterite conjugation but this time we add the imperfect ending.
Here's an example using caminar again:. Here's an example using comer again:. For some verbs, using it in the preterite versus the imperfect can create a slightly different meaning. Compare the translations of these sentences in the preterite versus in the imperfect:. Comprehensive Review 3.
Comprehensive Review 4. Pair Work One way this pair of tenses is often used is to talk about an ongoing action or event that was interrupted in the past. I was walking downtown when I ran into my best friend's brother. Lourdes and Marco were talking about the test when I got to class. I walked to the market, bought some bananas, and returned home. Spanish English Spanish English una vez. Spanish English Spanish English casarse. Spanish English Spanish English a menudo. Looking for the old quiz?
Take Note: Since it has a clear ending and starting point, preterite does not describe or refer to past habits or routines. For these cases, you want to use the Spanish imperfect tense. In other words, we use this tense when talking about a string of actions that we performed at some point in the past.
Below there are some examples that will help you understand this concept more easily. Ya lavamos , planchamos y doblamos nuestra ropa We already washed, ironed and folded our clothes. Notice that example 3 uses reflexive verbs.
When learning past tense, many learners have issues conjugating these types of verbs. But aside from adding the right pronoun, you should follow the appropriate conjugation rules. As mentioned earlier, the preterite Spanish tense implies that there is a clear starting or ending point for the subject at hand.
As a result, this tense is commonly used when talking about or referring to specific dates or amounts of time. Although you could use numbers to refer to a date, you can also use time expressions with the same purpose. Here are some examples and a phrase structure. Ayer terminamos de trabajar a las 10 Yesterday we finished working at You might notice in Spanish conversations that people might place the date or time before the conjugated verb. Notice how the meaning changes for these verbs in the preterite vs the imperfect.
To test your knowledge of when to use the preterite versus the imperfect, fill in the blank s by correctly conjugating the verbs in parenthesis. Looking for some more ways to study and practice with the past tense in Spanish? Here are a few fun ideas:. Mastering Spanish grammar is tough! Practicing with another person who can give you feedback and constructive criticism is one of the most efficient ways to improve. Homeschool Spanish Academy offers flexible and fun Spanish classes for every level.
Our native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala are eager to assist you in communicating about the past, present, and future. Sign up now for a free trial to see how quickly you can gain Spanish fluency. It appears as if some of the written text in your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
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