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spanish imperfect and preterite endings
Spanish – past/preterite/imperfect help?
Ok, so I’ve got all my vocab down. It’s just the past participle/preterite/imperfect that’s confusing me.
Here’s an example off my review sheet:
Yo (almorzar) con Juan la semana pasada.
I know it’s supposed to read “I ate lunch with Juan last week,” but do I use past, preterite, or imperfect?
And which is which (endings)?
How do I know which I’m supposed to use?
I’d really appreciate if anyone could completely help me understand this!
You have to use preterite “almorcé” : “Yo almorcé con Juan la semana pasada.”
It can’t be past participle (he almorzado) because this usually reffers to an action just finished. (Ex: Ya he almorzado, no quiero comer más = I already ate lunch, I don’t want more food).
It could be imperfect, but it would need another sentence for context. EX. (Yo almorzaba con Juan la semana pasada, cuando nos enteramos de tu llegada = I ate lunch with Juan last week, when we knew about your arrival)
spanish imperfect and preterite endings
Spanish 2 exam tomorrow and I’m having problems with telling the difference with imperfect and preterit.?
I know how to do the verb endings between the two but does anyone know any good ways to remember the difference between the two, or any tips?
Thanks
*The preterite is used to describe completed actions in the past:
Pasó una semana. – A week went by.
Hablé con el director. – I spoke with the director.
Hice mi tarea. – I did my homework.
*The imperfect is used for ongoing past actions. These actions tend to be interrupted by another action. For example:
Caminaban por la calle cuando empezó a llover.
They were walking down the street when it began to rain.
Juan se bañaba cuando llegaste.
Juan was taking a shower when you arrived.
*The imperfect is used to give background information which sets the stage for the principal action:
Era un día muy bonito, no hacía calor y había una brisa muy fresca.
It was a very nice day, it wasn’t hot and there was a very fresh breeze.
Todos estábamos preocupados por el examen: Adolfo sudaba, Gabriel repasaba su tarea y Lupe no podía dejar de hablar.
We were all nervous about the exam: Adolfo was sweating, Gabriel was reviewing his homework, and Lupe couldn’t stop talking.
-Simultaneous actions are expressed with the imperfect:
Mientras pescaban, hablaban del partido de fútbol.
While they were fishing they talked about the soccer game.
-When you want to refer to habitual past actions in situations that would require “used to” or “would” in English (e.g. I used to smoke; we would always meet at the arcade) use the imperfect in Spanish.
Yo jugaba tenis cada fin de semana cuando era niño.
I used to play tennis every weekend when I was a child.
Siempre hacíamos excursiones en bicicleta.
We would always go for bike rides.
*If it is a verb which indicates a state of mind or feelings, rather than a change of state of mind, then use the imperfect:
Yo no me sentía bien. – I didn’t feel well.
No sabíamos quien era. – We didn’t know who it was.
Estaban muy enojados. – They were very angry.
Legit Spanish Project
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