Question

Could someone please explain to me- imperfect and preterit verbs? I have a test tuesday and I need to pass! Thanks!

Answer 1

Spanish has two past tenses: preterite and imperfect. Most verbs can be put into either tense, depending upon the meaning. In this lesson, you will learn to conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterite and the imperfect. You will also learn the basic difference between the preterite and the imperfect, so that you can begin using them correctly.



To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

é
aste
ó
amos
asteis
aron



To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the imperfect, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

aba
abas
aba
ábamos
abais
aban



Compare the verb "hablar" conjugated in the preterite and the imperfect.

Preterite Imperfect
hablé hablaba
hablaste hablabas
habló hablaba
hablamos hablábamos
hablasteis hablabais
hablaron hablaban


The preterite is used for actions in the past that are seen as completed. Use of the preterite tense implies that the past action had a definite beginning and definite end.

Juan habló de la una hasta las dos.
Juan spoke from one until two o'clock.
(clearly stated beginning and end)



It is important to realize that the beginning and the end may not always be clearly stated.

Juan habló dos horas.
Juan spoke for two hours.
(implied beginning and end)

Juan habló con la estudiante.
Juan spoke with the student.
(implied beginning and end)



The imperfect is used for actions in the past that are not seen as completed. Use of the imperfect tense implies that the past action did not have a definite beginning or a definite end.

Las chicas hablaban en inglés.

The girls used to speak in English.
(no definite beginning or end)



You have now learned the basic difference between the preterite and the imperfect:

The preterite tells us specifically when an action took place.
The imperfect tells us in general when an action took place.

Answer 2

Expressions that signal use of preterite

ayer
(yesterday)
la semana pasada
(last week)
anoche
(last night)
el mes pasado
(last month)
el otro día
(the other day)
el año pasado
(last year)
entonces
(then)
hace dos días, años
(two days, years ago)
esta mañana
(this morning)
ayer por la mañana
(yesterday morning)

Expressions that signal use of imperfect

a menudo
(often)
generalmente
(usually)
a veces
(sometimes)
muchas veces
(many times)
cada día
(every day)
siempre
(always)
cada año
(every year)
todo el tiempo
(all the time)
de vez en cuando
(from time to time)
varias veces
(several times)