Preterite vs Imperfect + Key words

preterite

1. narrates a series of completed actions or events

2. indicates a limit of the action or event (either the beginning or the end)

imperfect

1. describes a situation

2. indicates the continuance of an action or event (neither the beginning or the end)

3. in describing a situation or a scene, we use the imperfect

S

C

A

T

single

completed

action in the

past

PRETERITE

D

A

R

T

description

actions in progress

repeated actions

time

ayer

yesterday PRETERITE

anoche

last night PRETERITE

anteayer

Day before yesterday PRETERITE

la semana pasado

last week PRETERITE

una vez

once; one time PRETERITE

de repente

suddenly PRETERITE

en ese momento

At that moment PRETERITE

entonces

then, so PRETERITE

el otro día

The other day PRETERITE

por fin

finally PRETERITE

____ pasado

last; past PRETERITE

cuando

when PRETERITE

siempre

always IMPERFECT

a veces

sometimes IMPERFECT

menudo

Often IMPERFECT

generelmente

generally IMPERFECT

frequamente

frequently IMPERFECT

nunca

never IMPERFECT

cada

each; every IMPERFECT

un rato

a while IMPERFECT

todos ___

all ___ IMPERFECT

normalmente

normally IMPERFECT

Cuando and Mientras

It is hard to understand when to use these verbs

Cuando: When

Mientras: While

its situational really, so to better explain use this link!!

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/spanish/spanish-i/narration-in-the-past/preterite-imperfect-formulas