9.3: The preterite and the imperfect
- Page ID
- 173603
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The preterite and the imperfect.
There are two verb tenses in Spanish that express actions in the past: the preterite and the imperfect. Although they are both used to express the past, they have very different uses. The preterite is used for completed actions. The imperfect is used for habits, repeated actions, or actions that happened for a longer period of time.
The sayings SIMBA and WALTAPE can help us remember when to use the preterite and imperfect.
SIMBA can clarity for past, completed actions. This means that the preterite is used with: single actions, interruptions , main events, openings and openings , and arrivals or departures.
WALTAPE is used with the imperfect. This means that the imperfect is used with: weather , age , location , time and tenor expressions, physical description, and emotion.
In other words, the preterite and the imperfect have specific uses in the past, and it is important not to confuse their uses.
Some adverbs help us decide which tense to use because they help clarify if an action was completed or a repeated. These adverbs are:
a menudo often
anoche last night
anteayer the day before yesterday
ayer yesterday
con frecuencia with frequency
de repente suddenly
frecuentemente frequently
generalmente general
el/la ... pasado/pasada last ...
muchas veces many times
siempre always
todos los/las ... every ...
una vez one time
With practice, using the preterite and imperfect becomes easier. The fact that there are two verb tenses in Spanish to express past actions means that Spanish verbs can relay a lot of information. The preterite is used when an action is seen as completed. The imperfect is used when an action is seen as something that took place for a longer period of time. So, let's practice.
Práctica.
A. Conjugate the verbs in the indicated form in the preterite.
1. ir (tú)
2. jugar (yo)
3. leer (Uds.)
4. dormir (Juanito)
5. buscar (yo)
6. trabajar (nosotros)
7. poder (Ud.)
8. ver (yo)
9. ser (tú)
10. ir (los estudiantes)
B. Conjugate the verbs in the indicated form in the imperfect. Ud.
1. ir (tú)
2. jugar (yo)
3. leer (Uds.)
4. dormir (Juanito)
5. buscar (yo)
6. trabajar (nosotros)
7. poder (Ud.)
8. ver (yo)
9. ser (tú)
10. ir (los estudiantes)
C. Complete the paragraph with the appropriate form of the preterite or the imperfect.
1. (Ser) ____________ el sábado antes del examen final. Todos los estudiantes 2. (estar) _____________ nerviosos a causa de sus exámenes. Muchas personas
3. (pasar) ______________ muchas horas en la biblioteca con sus libros. De repente, 4. (llegar) ______________ un coche de Red Bull. Todos los estudiantes
5. (querer) ____________ una bebida gratis. La conductora del coche 6. (decir) _____________ que cada estudiante 7. (poder) _____________ una lata gratis.
Por muchas horas, los estudiantes 8. (gritar) ________________ y 9. (estar) ________________ muy alegres.
D. Complete each sentence with the preterite or the imperfect.
1. La estudiante estudiaba cuando ______________________________________________________.
2. Los atletas se sentían muy frustrados mientras __________________________________________.
3. Cuando la profesora llegó, los estudiantes ______________________________________________.
4. Cada verano mi familia _____________________________________________________________.
5. Una vez yo _______________________________________________________________________.
6. Cuando yo era joven yo siempre _______________________________________________________.
7. Cuando era joven una vez yo __________________________________________________________.
8. Cada fin de semana mi familia y yo siempre ______________________________________________.
9. Una vez mi familia __________________________________________________________________.
10. ¿ ____________________________________________________ tú frecuentemente?
E. Complete each sentence in a logical way with the preterite or the imperfect.
1. Cuando yo era joven, yo siempre
2. Una vez mi familia
3. Anoche mis padres
4. Con frecuencia mi familia y yo
5. Ayer la profesora
6. Antes de AU, a menudo yo
7. Muchas veces en el pasado la gente
8. El fin de semana pasada mis amigos
F. La música. The song Llegaste Tú by Jesse and Joy includes the preterite and imperfect verb tenses. The imperfect describes how life was until the person arrived. Listen to the song. Then, write the verbs that you hear in each verb tense.
F. What is the difference between the preterite and the imperfect? Which verb tense is easier for you to conjugate? Why? Give three examples in each verb tense.