Preterite vs. Imperfect Review

These flashcards cover vocabulary, time markers, and grammatical usage for the Preterite and Imperfect tenses as presented in the lecture notes.

Todos los fines de semana

Every weekend; a phrase signaling a habitual past action which requires the Imperfect tense.

Tenía treinta años

She was $30$ years old; age in the past is expressed using the Imperfect tense.

Nació

S/he was born; a verb used for a specific completed action requiring the Preterite tense.

Era la una

It was $1$ o'clock; telling time in the past requires the Imperfect tense.

Terminó

It ended; signifies a completed action requiring the Preterite tense.

Caminabas / Te caíste

An example of an ongoing action (was walking - Imperfect) interrupted by a specific event (fell - Preterite).

El mes pasado

Last month; an indicator of a specific, limited time period requiring the Preterite tense.

Hubo

There was; the Preterite form of haber used to describe an event that took place, such as a party or an accident.

De pequeños

As children; an expression signaling habitual actions or 'would/used to' in the past (Imperfect).

Anteayer

The day before yesterday; a time marker indicating a completed action that requires the Preterite tense.

Llovía / Hacía frío

It was raining / It was cold; descriptions of weather in the past use the Imperfect tense.

Bata

A robe.

Cobija

A blanket.

Sonó

It rang; a specific completed action, such as an alarm sounding at $7:00$ AM, requiring the Preterite tense.

Jugábamos

We used to play; a habitual action in childhood expressed with the Imperfect tense.

Decidimos

We decided; a completed action or specific point in time requiring the Preterite tense.

Michelle

In the transcript, the elder sister who drove her sisters to the park and crashed into another car.

Chocó

S/he hit or crashed; used for a specific completed action in the Preterite tense (chocar).

Le dio miedo

It frightened her; a specific reaction or emotional event requiring the Preterite tense.

Supo

S/he found out; the meaning of the verb 'saber' when used in the Preterite tense.

Mientras

While; a conjunction often used to connect two simultaneous actions in the Imperfect or show background action.

Cuando

When; a conjunction often used to introduce an interrupting action in the Preterite tense.

Puerto Rico

The destination visited 'el verano pasado' in the practice questions.

Caminatas

Hikes; used in the phrase 'di muchas caminatas' (I took many hikes).

Conocí

I met; the specific meaning of the verb 'conocer' when used in the Preterite tense.

Toros de Chicago

The professional sports team mentioned in the practice sentence about meeting a famous player.

No quiso

S/he refused; the meaning of the verb 'querer' when used in the negative Preterite.

No querían

They did not want to; the use of 'querer' in the Imperfect to describe a mental state or desire.

Eola and Ogden

The names of the streets at the corner where an accident occurred in the practice sentences.

El diciembre pasado

Last December; a phrase indicating a limited time frame requiring the Preterite tense.