The preterite tense v. the imperfect tense

Describe actions or states of being that began or were completed at a definite time in the past

Preterite

To express actions or states viewed by the speaker as completed

Preterite

To express the beginning or end of a past action

Preterite

To narrate a series of past actions

Preterite

To describe an ongoing past action without reference to beginning or end

Imperfect

To express habitual past actions

Imperfect

To describe mental, physical, and emotional states or conditions

Imperfect

To tell time

Imperfect

Indicates how things were or what was happening at a certain time in the past

Imperfect