Preterite V. Imperfect

Complected actions/specific events (I ate an apple)

Preterite (Comí una manzana)

Actions with a clear begining or end (The movie started at eight)

Preterite (La pelicula empezó a las ochos)

A specific number of times or a strict time frame (I lived in Madrid for two years)

Preterite (Viví en Madrid durante dos años)

A chain of sequential events (I got up showered, and left)

Preterite (Me levanté, me duché y salí)

COMMON TRIGGER WORDS = ayer, anoche, el año pasado, de repente (suddenly)

Preterite

Habitual or repeated past actions (As a child, I used to play tennis)

Imperfect (De niño, jugaba al tenis)

Ongoing actions without a focus on end (I was reading while he has talking)

Imperfect (Leía mientras él hablaba)

Background info + descriptions of weather, time, age, appearance (It was three in the afternoon and it was very hot)

Imperfect (Era la una de la tarde y hacía mucho calor)

Mental states, feelings, or attitudes (I was very tired)

Imperfect (Estaba muy cansado)

COMMON TRIGGER WORDS = siempre, todos los días, a menudo, mientras

Imperfect