Spanish Preterite and Imperfect Tenses Overview

Poder in the preterite

managed to

Saber in the preterite

found out

Tener stem change in the preterite

u-stem

Hacer stem change in the preterite

i-stem

Decir stem change in the preterite

j-stem

Estar match

u-stem

Querer match

i-stem

Traer match

j-stem

Saber match

u-stem

Venir match

i-stem

Traducir match

j-stem

Conocer in the preterite

met (someone)

Querer in the preterite

tried (to)

No querer in the preterite

refused (to)

¿Cuál?

used when there is more than one possibility

¿Qué?

used when asking for a definition or explanation

Correct form after a preposition

conmigo

Correct form for 'para tú'

para ti

Pronouns after prepositions (except for 'mí' and 'ti')

the same as subject pronouns

Pronouns used with 'entre'

False — it's an exception

Con + yo

conmigo

Con + tú

contigo

Imperfect tense description

background information

Preterite tense description

completed actions, interruptions, specific time frames

Preterite clue words

ayer, anoche, el mes pasado

Imperfect clue words

mientras, siempre, todos los días

Tense for 'It was raining when he arrived'

raining = imperfect, arrived = preterite

Tense for 'She used to play soccer every Saturday'

imperfect

Tense for 'We went to the beach last summer'

preterite

Complete: Cuando era niño, yo siempre __________ (comer) helado.

comía

Complete: Ayer __________ (ir) al médico.

fui

Clue word for the imperfect tense

siempre

Clue word for the preterite tense

anoche

Se vende ropa

Passive voice using "se" — clothes for sale

Se me cayó un cliente

Use of "se" for unintentional action

Use of 'se' constructions

accidents, unintentional actions, passive voice

Adverb form of 'rápido'

rápidamente

Adverb form of 'frecuente'

frecuentemente

Adverbs in Spanish often end in

-mente

Adverbs modify

verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs

How to form most Spanish adverbs

Add -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective

Command form: (tú) hablar

tú habla

Command form: (tú) abrir

tú abre

Command form: (tú) cerrar

cierra

Command form: (tú) poner

pon

Command form: (tú) hacer

haz

Command form: (tú) salir

sal

Command form: (tú) ir

ve

Command form: (tú) tener

ten

Command form: (tú) ser

sé

Command form: (tú) venir

ven

Command form: (tú) decir

di

Por or Para: 'Trabajo ___ Google.'

para

Por or Para: 'Estudio ___ tres horas.'

por

Por or Para: 'Salimos ___ la escuela.'

para

Por or Para: 'Gracias ___ tu ayuda.'

por

Por or Para: 'Este regalo es ___ ti.'

para

Por or Para: 'Voy ___ el parque.'

por

Reciprocal reflexive: Ellos ___ (abrazarse) cada día.

se abrazan

Reciprocal reflexive: Mis padres ___ (besarse).

se besan

Reciprocal reflexives express

an action done to each other

Complete: Nosotros ___ (verse) en el café.

nos vemos

Long-form possessive adjective: my (emphatic)

mío/mía/míos/mías

Long-form possessive adjective: your (familiar)

tuyo/tuya/tuyos/tuyas

Long-form possessive adjective: his/her

suyo/suya/suyos/suyas

Long-form possessive adjective: our

nuestro/nuestra/nuestros/nuestras

Translate: The book is mine.

El libro es mío.

Translate: The cars are hers.

Los carros son suyos.

Translate: These shoes are ours.

Estos zapatos son nuestros.

Translate: Is the phone yours?

¿Es tuyo el teléfono?

Possessive pronouns must agree in

gender and number

Short answer: What is the preterite of 'estar'?

estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvieron

Short answer: What is the imperfect of 'ser'?

era, eras, era, éramos, eran

Short answer: What is the imperfect of 'ver'?

veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veían

Short answer: What is the preterite of 'tener'?

tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvieron

Short answer: What is the imperfect of 'ir'?

iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban

Short answer: Conjugate 'decir' in preterite (yo)

dije

Short answer: Conjugate 'venir' in preterite (él)

vino

Short answer: Conjugate 'hacer' in preterite (nosotros)

hicimos

Short answer: Conjugate 'poder' in preterite (ellos)

pudieron

Por expresses

cause or reason

Para expresses

destination or purpose

'Se cayó' means

he dropped it (accidentally)

'Se venden libros' is an example of

passive voice