Imperfect vs Preterite

Imperfect AR Endings — aba, abas, aba, ábamos, aban

Imperfect ER Endings — ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Imperfect IR Endings — ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Imperfect Usage — used to / repeated or ongoing actions in the past

Imperfect Yo AR Example — hablaba (I used to talk)

Imperfect Yo ER Example — comía (I used to eat)

Imperfect Yo IR Example — vivía (I used to live)

Ir (imperfect) — iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban

Ser (imperfect) — era, eras, era, éramos, eran

Ver (imperfect) — veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veían

Preterite AR Endings — é, aste, ó, amos, aron

Preterite ER Endings — í, iste, ió, imos, ieron

Preterite IR Endings — í, iste, ió, imos, ieron

Preterite Usage — completed action in the past / specific time

Preterite Yo AR Example — hablé (I talked)

Preterite Yo ER Example — comí (I ate)

Preterite Yo IR Example — viví (I lived)

Imperfect vs Preterite — imperfect = ongoing/repeated, preterite = completed

Signal Words Imperfect — siempre, a menudo, mientras, todos los días

Signal Words Preterite — ayer, anoche, una vez, entonces