How do you decide between preterite and imperfect?

Generally speaking, the preterite is used for actions in the past that are seen as completed, while the imperfect tense is used for past actions that did not have a definite beginning or a definite end.

Do you use preterite or imperfect for age?

To Talk About Ages Or The Time In The Past: Whenever you want to refer to someone’s age in the past or tell what was the time when something happened, also use the imperfect tense.

Do you use imperfect or preterite to describe someone?

Description vs. As you know, the preterite is frequently (although not always) used to talk about actions and events in the past. In contrast, the imperfect is most often used for descriptions also in the past tense, known in Spanish as pretérito imperfecto.

Is suddenly preterite or imperfect?

Preterite vs. Imperfect – Uses

A	B
When something happens suddenly or immediately	Preterite
An ongoing action in the past (I was listening to the radio)	Imperfect
A list of completed actions	Preterite
When something happened for the first time(It began to rain)	Preterite

Can you use imperfect and preterite in the same sentence?

The preterite and imperfect tenses are often used together in the same sentence. Two vocabulary words that are necessary to join two past tense verbs in the same sentence are mientras (while) and cuando (when).

Is age always imperfect?

The imperfect tense is generally used for actions in the past that do not have a definite end. actions that set the stage for another past tense event. time and dates. a person’s age in the past.

Do you use imperfect for location?

We use the imperfect to describe the setting or provide background information such as what people, places, or conditions were like at some unspecified time in the past: La ciudad era vieja y sucia. The city was old and dirty.

Do you use imperfect to describe weather?

The only time you use the imperfect tense is if you can add “at that moment.” Say you were telling a story about something that happened in regards to the weather. For this particular sentence (In Spanish) you would need to use the imperfect because you are talking about a weather condition that occurred in the moment.

Do you use imperfect for emotion?

The imperfect is used to describe past actions that have no clear beginning and end. This includes descriptions, age, weather, time, and emotions. It also refers to repeated action (translated as “used to”) such as, “iba todos los veranos” (I used to go every summer). Learn more about conjugating the imperfect tense.

Do you use imperfect for suddenly?

Use the imperfect to set the stage for another past action. This second past action will normally need the preterite. It’s usually used to say that someone was doing such and such a thing (imperfect), when all of a sudden something happened (preterite).

What’s the difference between imperfect and preterite tenses?

The imperfect tense refers to an ongoing or recurring past action, while the preterite tense is used for one-off past actions and sequential events in the past. Learn the difference between the imperfect and preterite tenses in Spanish grammar with Lingolia’s tense comparison, then put your knowledge to the test in the free exercises.

When to use’preterite’and’perfecto’in Spanish?

However, it is common that people use the expression ‘Preterite’ on its own, or ‘Spanish Preterite’, to refer to the verb tense known as ‘Spanish Simple Past’. This can get even more complicated because Spanish Simple Past’s real name in Castilian is ‘Pretérito Perfecto Simple’.

When to use the imperfect tense in Spanish?

Furthermore, verbs used to discuss events with a certain beginning and end are almost always used in the preterite. Por ejemplo: On the other hand, you’ll be using the imperfect tense to talk about past actions without a definite end. Perhaps they are yet to be completed or they refer to a general time in the past.

How are verbs conjugated in the preterite tense?

As with many languages, some verbs (often the most commonly used) are conjugated differently in the preterite tense. For these verbs, you’ll simply have to memorize all of their preterite forms in order to master them. The Difference Between Preterite and Imperfect – Which Is Which?