Preterite vs Imperfect
Understanding when to use each Spanish past tense
The Basic Rule
Both preterite and imperfect are past tenses, but they describe different types of past actions:
PRETERITE
Use for completed past actions:
- • Completed actions (beginning or end clear)
- • Specific point in time
- • Sudden changes or events
- • Series of completed actions
- • Interrupting actions
- • Main events in a story
IMPERFECT
Use for ongoing or habitual past actions:
- • Habitual or repeated actions
- • Ongoing actions (no clear end)
- • Background descriptions
- • Age, time, weather in the past
- • Mental and emotional states
- • Was/were + -ing (continuous)
Comparison Table
| Context | Preterite | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| Completed action | Compré el libro | — |
| Habitual action | — | Compraba el periódico |
| Specific time | Ayer fui al cine | — |
| Ongoing action | — | Llovía toda la noche |
| Telling time | — | Eran las cinco |
| Sudden event | De repente cayó | — |
Key Trigger Words
Preterite Triggers
- •Ayer (yesterday)
- •Anoche (last night)
- •La semana pasada (last week)
- •De repente (suddenly)
- •Una vez (once)
- •En aquel momento (at that moment)
Imperfect Triggers
- •Siempre (always)
- •Todos los días (every day)
- •A menudo (often)
- •Mientras (while)
- •Generalmente (generally)
- •De niño/a (as a child)
Correct vs Incorrect Examples
Correct: Ayer fui al parque.
Specific completed action yesterday.
Incorrect: Ayer iba al parque.
Correct: Cuando era niño, jugaba mucho.
Habitual action in childhood.
Incorrect: Cuando era niño, jugué mucho.
Memory Tricks & Mnemonics
💡 The Movie Metaphor
Think of the preterite as the main action shots in a movie - clear beginning and end. The imperfect is the background scenery - setting the scene, showing what was happening.
💡 Quick Tip
Perfecting Spanish verb tenses takes practice! For additional exercises and quizzes, check out PresentForge — AI-Powered Presentation Generator. Remember: Preterite = completed, Imperfect = ongoing or habitual!
Practice Quiz
Choose the correct past tense for each sentence:
1. Ayer yo ___ al supermercado.
2. Cuando era niño, ___ en el parque todos los días.
3. Ella ___ cansada después de la maratón.
4. Siempre ___ feliz en aquella casa.
5. ___ las tres de la tarde cuando llegó.