General Preterit Uses
Generally, the preterit is used for actions considered completed, actions that have definite beginning and end points. These can be actions that can be viewed as single events, actions that were part of a chain of events, actions that were repeated a very specific number of times, or actions that specifically state the beginning and end of an action.
Useful Phrases that Trigger the Preterit. Some words and phrases are very helpful in indicating specific time frames and therefore signal the use of the preterit.
a esa hora at that time
ayer por la tard eyesterday afternoon
en ese momento at that moment
anoche last night
ayer por la noche last night
hace (dos) años/días (two) years/days ago
ante anoche the night before last
el año pasado last year
hoy por la mañana this morning
ante ayer the day before yesterday
el (lunes) pasado last (Monday)
la semana pasada last week
ayer al mediodía yesterday at noon
el mes pasado last month
una vez one time
ayer por la mañana yesterday morning
el otro día the other day
General Imperfect Uses
Generally used for actions in the past that do not have a definite end. These can be actions that are not yet completed or refer to a time in general in the past. They can be actions that were repeated habitually, actions that set the stage for another past tense event, for time and dates in the past, for telling a person’s age in the past, to describe people (characteristics) in the past, and to communicate mental or physical states in the past. For descriptions, think of describing what people used to be like in a photograph.
Useful Phrases that Trigger the Imperfect
a menudo often
frecuentemente frequently
rara vez rarely
a veces sometimes
generalmente usually
siempre always
algunas veces at times
mientras while
tantas veces so many times
cada día/semana/mes/año every day/week/month/year
muchas veces many times
todas las semanas every week
con frecuencia frequently
todos los años every year
casi nunca almost never
por lo general generally
todos los días everyday
de vez en cuando once in a while
Generally, the preterit is used for actions considered completed, actions that have definite beginning and end points. These can be actions that can be viewed as single events, actions that were part of a chain of events, actions that were repeated a very specific number of times, or actions that specifically state the beginning and end of an action.
- Fui al baile anoche. (I went to the dance last night.)
- Caminé al mercado, compré unos plátanos, y regresé a casa. (I walked to the market, bought some bananas, and returned home.)
- Te llamó tres veces. (He called you three times.)
- Hablé con mi madre de las dos hasta las tres. (I spoke with my mother from two o’clock until three o’clock.)
Useful Phrases that Trigger the Preterit. Some words and phrases are very helpful in indicating specific time frames and therefore signal the use of the preterit.
a esa hora at that time
ayer por la tard eyesterday afternoon
en ese momento at that moment
anoche last night
ayer por la noche last night
hace (dos) años/días (two) years/days ago
ante anoche the night before last
el año pasado last year
hoy por la mañana this morning
ante ayer the day before yesterday
el (lunes) pasado last (Monday)
la semana pasada last week
ayer al mediodía yesterday at noon
el mes pasado last month
una vez one time
ayer por la mañana yesterday morning
el otro día the other day
General Imperfect Uses
Generally used for actions in the past that do not have a definite end. These can be actions that are not yet completed or refer to a time in general in the past. They can be actions that were repeated habitually, actions that set the stage for another past tense event, for time and dates in the past, for telling a person’s age in the past, to describe people (characteristics) in the past, and to communicate mental or physical states in the past. For descriptions, think of describing what people used to be like in a photograph.
- Cuando era niña, jugaba con muñecas. (When I was a child, I played with dolls.)
- Los chicos hablaban en español. (The boys used to speak in Spanish.)
- Estaba durmiendo cuando el teléfono sonó. (I was sleeping when the telephone rang.)
- Cuando tenía tres años, era muy pequeño. (When he was three years old, he was very small.)
Useful Phrases that Trigger the Imperfect
a menudo often
frecuentemente frequently
rara vez rarely
a veces sometimes
generalmente usually
siempre always
algunas veces at times
mientras while
tantas veces so many times
cada día/semana/mes/año every day/week/month/year
muchas veces many times
todas las semanas every week
con frecuencia frequently
todos los años every year
casi nunca almost never
por lo general generally
todos los días everyday
de vez en cuando once in a while