Preterite Vs. Imperfect Rules

Preterite

Event that is viewed as a single event

Actions that don't have a definite end

Imperfect

Actions that "set the stage" for another action

Imperfect

Actions that are single events

Preterite

Stating someones age in the past

Imperfect

Ongoing actions from the past

Imperfect

Telling time in the past

Imperfect

Describe "incomplete actions" in the past

Imperfect

To indicate the beginning or the end of a process

Preterite

Describe completed actions in the past

Preterite

To give time, date, weather or season in the past

Imperfect

The action following "while"

Imperfect

Habitual past actions

Imperect

Common expression "the other day"

Preterite

Was/were ing

Imperfect

Expresses a series of completed events

Preterite

Yesturday, the day before yesturday

Preterite

Single event, it happened only once

Preterite

"Pasado" last

Preterite

Action was happening

Imperfect

Stopped the action that was happening

Preterite

WALT-MEP

Imperfect

Happened only once

Preterite

Happened many times

Imperfect