{"id":13,"date":"2007-12-09T21:54:31","date_gmt":"2007-12-10T01:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/spanish\/?p=13"},"modified":"2014-07-11T09:57:02","modified_gmt":"2014-07-11T13:57:02","slug":"the-preterite-and-the-imperfect-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/spanish\/the-preterite-and-the-imperfect-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"The Preterite and the Imperfect: Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Ah, the dreaded past tense.Once the Spanish learner comes to terms with ser <\/i>and estar<\/i>, they are thrown the curve ball of preterite and imperfect.Here is a quick review of the main uses of each.However, keep in mind that as with any grammar \u201crule\u201d there are exceptions!<\/p>\n

\n

The preterite<\/b> is used when talking about:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Events that have been completed in the past.<\/td>\nCompr\u00e9 unos pantalones en el centro commercial ayer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A series of events.<\/td>\nVine, vi, conquist\u00e9.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Actions repeated a specific number of times.<\/td>\nHabl\u00e9 con \u00e9l tres veces.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Actions occurring for a specific period of time.<\/td>\nEscuch\u00e9 m\u00fasica durante media hora.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

The imperfect <\/b>is used when talking about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Habitual actions in the past (as in the English \u201cused to\u201d)<\/td>\nDe ni\u00f1o, yo jugaba con mis amigos despu\u00e9s de la escuela.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Describing or setting up a scene<\/td>\nLa habitaci\u00f3n era oscura. El viento soplaba, y las hojas del \u00e1rbol pegaban contra la ventana.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Characteristics of someone or something.<\/td>\nEl hombre era alto, guapo, y amable.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The time and weather<\/td>\nEran las ocho de la noche y hac\u00eda mucho viento.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Age<\/td>\nYo ten\u00eda siete a\u00f1os cuando naci\u00f3<\/b> mi hermanito.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mental states and physical sensations<\/td>\nEstaba enojada y ten\u00eda fr\u00edo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

One of the best ways to recognize when to use the preterite or the imperfect is to tune in to key words, or what I call \u201cred flag words\u201d.<\/p>\n

\n

Words referring to specific, completed time periods indicate that the preterite<\/b> should be used:<\/p>\n

\n

ayer\/anteayer\/anoche<\/b> \u2013 yesterday\/the day before yesterday\/last night<\/p>\n

el a\u00f1o\/mes\/semana pasado(a) <\/b>\u2013 last year\/month\/week<\/p>\n

por….segundos\/minutos\/horas\/d\u00edas<\/b> \u2013 for \u2026..seconds\/minutes\/hours\/days<\/p>\n

hace \u2026.a\u00f1os\/meses\/d\u00edas<\/b>— \u2026. years\/months\/days ago<\/p>\n

\n

Words that refer to vague, unspecific time or repetition indicate the imperfect <\/b>should be used:<\/p>\n

\n

todos los d\u00edas<\/b> \u2013 every day<\/p>\n

cada a\u00f1o\/mes\/viernes<\/b> \u2013 every year\/month\/Friday<\/p>\n

siempre<\/b> \u2013 always<\/p>\n

generalmente<\/b>\u2013 generally, usually<\/p>\n

frecuentemente<\/b>\u2013 frequently<\/p>\n

en aquella \u00e9poca<\/b> \u2013 at that time, in those days<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ah, the dreaded past tense.Once the Spanish learner comes to terms with ser and estar, they are thrown the curve ball of preterite and imperfect.Here is a quick review of the main uses of each.However, keep in mind that as with any grammar \u201crule\u201d there are exceptions! The preterite is used when talking about…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-grammar"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t