Preterite vs. Imperfect Rules

A completed action in the past-- A specific point in time.

preterite

To describe a person mentally, emotionally and physically in the past

imperfect

Habitual actions in the past

imperfect

To express age in the past

imperfect

To express feelings, thoughts and emotions in the past

imperfect

Weather...unless a specific time or date is given

imperfect

Narration in the past

imperfect

Time in the past

imperfect

An ongoing action (wave) interrupted by another action

imperfect

was-ing and were-ing

imperfect

Actions that happened a specific number of times

preterite

Actions that happen suddenly or immediately

preterite

Actions that interrupted a continuous action (slash)

preterite

Actions that are seen as single events

preterite

Actions that are seen as part of a chain of events/sequence of actions

preterite

State the beginning or the end of an action

preterite

Actions in the past that are not seen as completed (no definite beginning or end).

imperfect

ayer, anteayer, anoche

la semana pasada, el mes pasado, el año pasado

una vez

hace dos días, años

preterite

a menudo, a veces, cada día, mes, año

con frecuencia, frecuentemente, generalmente

muchas veces, varias veces

todas las semanas, todos los días, todo el tiempo

siempre, de vez en cuando

imperfect

mientras

imperfect;

while

repeated or habitual actions in the past

imperfect

describing a person's physical appearance in the past

imperfect

una vez

preterite

once (one time)

muchas veces

imperfect--USUALLY (not always)

many times, often

Todos los días (semanas, meses, años)

imperfect-- USUALLY (not always)

Every day (weeks, months, years)

la semana pasada (el mes pasado, el año pasado)

preterite--USUALLY (Not always)

last week (month, year)

The action following "mientras"

imperfect

while .....

More general--not a specific time

imperfect