El pretérito y cómo se usa
The uses of one of the two past tenses in Spanish
La bebé empezó a llorar.
There was a definite starting point when the baby started to cry.
Finished action in the past
La pelota le pegó en la cara.
The ball hit him and then the action was done
(rather than it happening over and over again).
El chico hablaba cuando su amigo le asustó y el chico le pegó.
There was an action going on (the guy talking), and it was interrupted
by the scaring and the hitting.
El perro bailó por 10 segundos.
The action happened for a specific amount of time.
Katy Perry dejó de tocar la flauta.
We know just when the action stopped.
Preterit Definite beginning
Finished action in the past
An action that interrupted another action
A specific amount of time
Definite ending