Preterite versus Imperfect

The most important lecture you will have this year

(so pay attention)

Back in the day before Disney used computer animation, all animated movies were hand

drawn using a technique called “cel animation”

The bottom layer was the background for the entire scene. It

was used over and over because the background didn’t change. Additional cells for the actual

“movement” of the characters were hand-drawn and painted. It was those “movement” cells that

told the story.

What does this have to do with verb conjugation?

The imperfect can be thought of as “the background”. It doesn’t tell the story but helps support it.

The preterite would be the cells that showed movement. The preterite keeps the story moving forward.

Even though the Imperfect and the Preterite are both past

tenses you will use them for different reasons.

The imperfect describes past actions in the process of

happening with no reference to their beginning or end.

I was eating dinner when the doorbell rang.

Use the imperfect to express time in the past.

It was 7:30 when I arrived.

The imperfect sets the stage upon which other actions take

place (setting).

We were at the movies when we found out.

The imperfect refers to repeated/habitual actions in the

past.

She used to go swimming every day.

The imperfect describes physical/ emotional/ mental

conditions in the past.

She was excited when he proposed.

I was four years old when we moved to Arizona.

The imperfect is used to tell age in the past.

The imperfect is used for gossip, hearsay and rumors.

The people of the town said that the big house at the end of the street was haunted.

The imperfect is used to express the way things used to be.

When we were little, my cousins and I used to sneak cookies from Grandma’s cookie jar.

The imperfect is used to express simultaneous actions.

We listened to the music while we sang along.

While, or mientras in Spanish, indicates a simultaneous action.

But we can’t forget about the preterite!

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The preterite is used to express one time events.

What time did you call last night?

The preterite is used to express an interrupting action.

Marcos was taking a shower when the power went out.

The action (preterite) will interrupt an action in progress (imperfect).

When, or cuando in Spanish, is an indicator of a preterite verb.

The preterite is used to express a sequence of events.

He left the house, got in his car and drove away.

The preterite is used to express cause and effect.

When he saw the fire, he ran inside to save his neighbor.

The preterite is used to refer to the beginning or end.

The movie began at 7:00 sharp.

Four verbs are usually conjugated in preterite tense:

empezar comenzar terminar cesar

The preterite is used when there’s a specific time frame.

Last weekend we shopped at the mall from open to close.

The preterite is used when there’s a sudden change of

events.

Suddenly, the acrobat fell to the floor.

The preterite is used for the verb that expresses a direct

quote.

“I want another piece of cake,” she screamed/cried/yelled/bellowed/whined/answered/stated

Each tense has clue wordsPreterite

• ayer• anteayer• anoche• anteanoche• esta mañana• una vez• cuando

Imperfect

• siempre• nunca• todos los días• cada día• de vez en cuando• los domingos• todos los veranos• was/were + -ING

Each tense has clue wordsPreterite

• de repente• el/la _____

pasado/a•mes• hora• semana• fin de semana • año• siglo

Imperfect

• cada semana • a menudo• generalmente• con frecuencia• frecuentemente• muchas veces• por lo general• mientras• cuando era niño

Try to translate:

• When it was cold, we had soup for dinner.

• Cuando _______frío, ____________ sopa para la cena.

hacíateníamos

• John was very sick yesterday.

• Juan ________ muy enfermo ayer.

estuvo

• I used to read every night while I listened to music.

• ________ todas las noches mientras ____________ música.

Leía

escuchaba

• Were you doing your homework when I called you?

• ¿_________ tu tarea cuando te _________?

Hacías

llamé

¿Comprendiste?• Preterite and imperfect both indicate the

_____ tense.• _________ is used with actions viewed as

completed.• _________ is used for repeated actions.• _________, which means “while”, indicates

_________ tense.• “Ayer” is a clue word for _________ tense.

This is not easy! And there is no shame in asking for help.

There is help available during both lunches. Please makes arrangements

to come in if you need to.