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Preterite Indefinite vs. Preterite Imperfect

Is there anything more confusing to Spanish learners than the preterite indefinite and the imperfect (Ok, aside from the subjunctive!) Both are used to talk about the past, but which one do you use? Simple.

Ever been to a Broadway show?

I’m not trying make small talk here, but have you ever been to a Broadway show? A theater show? Your kid’s play? In over a decade of language teaching, the best analogy I’ve used to help my clients understand is to look at these grammar rules as a Broadway show: the imperfect sets stage and the piece (the setting, the lighting, the weather that day, the atmosphere); the actors’ actions on stage are the indefinite. Hamlet was devastated (crazy, confused, deluded, depending on whose interpretation you are relying) and imperfect. Hamlet reciting his famous ā€œTo be or not to beā€ soliloquy – another indefinite.

Preterite indefinite

When speaking about actions that took place at a specific point in time, use the indefinite. The indefinite is not to be used for habits.Ā 

Markers included: ayer, anteayer, anoche, anteanoche,  hace dos días, el año/mes pasado, la semana pasada, el lunes/martes/miércoles/jueves/viernes/fin de semana.

a) El jueves, Mauricio decidió quedarse en casa y no ir a trabajar – On Thursday, Mauricio decided to stay home and not go to work

b) El aƱo pasado no tomĆ© vacaciones – I didn’t take time off last year

Imperfect

The imperfect is used when speaking of other actions, such as habits, as well as for characteristics, descriptions, and emotions.

1. Habits

When referring to habits in the past, you’ll have to use the imperfect.

a) Cuando yo era niƱo, mi familia y yo viajĆ”bamos al extranjero – When I was a kid, my family and I would travel to foreign countriesĀ 

b) Ella siempre estudiaba mucho – She always studied a lot

2. Characteristics

When referring to someone’s characteristics or personality, use the imperfect.Ā 

a) Era un hombre muy inteligente y generoso – He was a very intelligent and generous man

b) Eran atletas muy altos y esbeltos – They were very tall and slim athletes

3. Descriptions

When describing the weather, time, ambience, or someone’s physical traits, or even what a person was wearing, use the imperfect.Ā 

a) Era un dĆ­a muy frĆ­o y nublado – It was a very cold and cloudy day

b) Eran las ocho y media de la noche – It was eight thirty in the evening

c) HabĆ­a mucha tensión en la reunión – There was a lot of tension at the meeting

d) TenĆ­a los ojos grandes y azules – He had big, blue eyes

e) ĀæNo te acuerdas de ella? Llevaba una camiseta rosa y unos pantalones amarillos muy chillones – You don’t remember her? She was wearing a pink T-shirt and really bright, yellow pants.

4. Emotions

Getting emotional? Drag the imperfect along.

a) Los estudiantes reprobaron la prueba. Estaban muy tristes – The students failed the test. They were very sad. Notice that in the first sentence I use the indefinite because they failed the exam. That is an action at a specific point in time.Ā 

b) Me fui a casa. No me sentĆ­a bien – I went home. I was not feeling well.Ā 

5. Ongoing actions interrupted by another action.Conjugating the preterite indefinite

An ongoing action in the imperfect is interrupted by the preterite indefinite.

a) La madre repasaba la tarea con su hijo cuando entró su marido – The mother was reviewing homework with her son when her husband arrived

b) Yo estudiaba cuando me llamaste – I was studying when you called me

Conjugating the preterite indefinite Ar verbs (estudiar, trabajar, bailar)

Yo estudiƩ

TĆŗ estudiaste

Ɖl/ella/usted estudió

Nosotros/nosotros estudiamos*

Vosotros/vosotrasĀ 

Ellos/ellas/ustedes

*the same conjugation as the presentĀ 

Er/ir (comer, beber, vivir)

Yo comĆ­

TĆŗ comiste

Ɖl/ella/usted comió

Nosotros/nosotros comimos

Vosotros/vosotras comisteis

Ellos/ellas/ustedes comieron

Exercises Conjugating the imperfect Ar verbs

Yo estudiaba

TĆŗ estudiabas

Ɖl/ella/usted estudiaba

Nosotros/nosotros estudiÔbamos 

Vosotros/vosotras estudiabais

Ellos/ellas/ustedes estudiaban

Er/ir verbs

Yo comĆ­a

TĆŗ comĆ­as

Ɖl/ella/usted comƭa

Nosotros/nosotros comĆ­amos

Vosotros/vosotras comĆ­ais

Ellos/ellas/ustedes comĆ­an

Great news! There are only THREE irregular verbs in the imperfect:

Ser (era/eras/era/Ʃramos/erais/eran)

Ir (iba/ibas/iba/Ć­bamos/ibais/iban)

Ver (veĆ­a/veĆ­as/veĆ­a/veĆ­amos/veĆ­ais/veĆ­an)

Exercises with the preterite indefinite and the imperfect

Now that you know the differences between preterite indefinite and the imperfect, try the following exercises.

  1. Me __________ (llamar, tĆŗ) muy tarde. Mi cumpleaƱos __________ (ser)Ā  el martes. – You called too late. My birthday was Tuesday. Ā 
  2. ĀæNo te gustan las sorpresas? ĀæPor quĆ© no me __________ (decir)? – You don’t like surprises? Why didn’t you tell me?q
  3. QuĆ© bien se ve Luis. ĀæSe __________ (cortar) el pelo? – Luis looks really good. Did he cut his hair?Ā 
  4. Ā”__________ (ser) las cinco de la maƱana cuando __________ (irse, Ć©l)! – It was five in the morning when he left.Ā 
  5. __________ (haber) mucha gente en la plaza – There were a lot of people at the plaza.Ā 
  6. ĀæPor quĆ© estĆ”n tan cansados? Āæ__________ (acostarse) muy tarde anoche? – Why are they so tired? Did they go to bed late?Ā 
  7. _________ (estar, Ć©l) muy feliz porque no __________ (tener) que trabajar – He was very happy because he didn’t have to work.Ā 
  8. ĀæMe __________ (comprar, tĆŗ) las cosas que te __________ (pedir)? – Did you buy me the things I asked for?Ā 
  9. Ɖl le __________ (enviar) flores a su novia por San ValentĆ­n – He sent flowers to his girlfriend because of Valentine’s Day.Ā 
  10. ĀæNo __________ (querer, ustedes) ir a la fiesta? – You didn’t want to go to the party?Ā 

Answers: 1. llamaste/era; 2. dijiste*; 3. cortó; 4. eran/se fue*; 5. había; 6. se acostaron; 7. estaba/tenía; 8. compraste/pedí; 9. envió; 10. querían *irregular 

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