- Understand when to use preterite for completed, specific past actions
- Know when to use imperfect for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive past situations
- Recognise signal words that indicate which tense to use (ayer vs siempre)
- Learn the "snapshot vs video" concept for choosing the right past tense
- Use both tenses together in narratives to create context and action
- Avoid common mistakes like translating "used to" literally or misusing time expressions
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Expanding VerbsIntermediate
Preterite vs Imperfect: When to Use Each
Choose the Right Spanish Past Tense
What You'll Learn
Overview
One of the most challenging aspects of Spanish grammar is knowing when to use the preterite versus the imperfect tense. Both describe past actions, but they paint very different pictures of how those actions unfolded.
Think of it Like Movies
Preterite = Snapshot
Caminé a la escuela
I walked to school (specific, completed action)
Imperfect = Video
Caminaba a la escuela
I was walking to school (ongoing scene or habit)
Understanding this distinction will help you choose the right tense and communicate more precisely about past events.
Structure & Formation
When to Use Each Tense
Use Preterite For:
Completed Actions
Ayer comí pizzaYesterday I ate pizza
Specific Time/Duration
Estudié por tres horasI studied for three hours
Sequence of Events
Llegué, abrí la puerta y entréI arrived, opened the door and went in
Use Imperfect For:
Habitual Actions
Siempre comía pizzaI always used to eat pizza
Ongoing Actions
Estudiaba cuando llegasteI was studying when you arrived
Descriptions
La casa era grande y bonitaThe house was big and beautiful
Signal Words That Help You Decide
Preterite Signals
ayeranocheanteayerla semana pasadael mes pasadoel año pasadohace + timeuna vezdos vecesde repenteen ese momentoprimeroluegodespuésfinalmentepor fin
Imperfect Signals
siemprenuncaa vecesa menudofrecuentementetodos los díascada semanacada añomientrasde niño/acuando era jovenen aquella épocageneralmentenormalmenteantes
Examples
See how the same situation can be expressed differently depending on your perspective:
Eating
Preterite
Comí tacos ayer
I ate tacos yesterday (completed)
Imperfect
Comía tacos todos los días
I used to eat tacos every day (habitual)
Studying
Preterite
Estudié por dos horas
I studied for two hours (completed duration)
Imperfect
Estudiaba cuando sonó el teléfono
I was studying when the phone rang (interrupted)
Complete Story
Context
Era una noche oscuraIt was a dark night
Ongoing
Caminaba por el parqueI was walking through the park
Interruption
De repente escuché un ruidoSuddenly I heard a noise
Action
Me volví y corrí a casaI turned and ran home
Common Mistakes
Don't Use Wrong Time Signals!
"Ayer" (yesterday) indicates a specific completed time, so use preterite:
✗ Wrong: Ayer comía pizza
✓ Correct: Ayer comí pizzaYesterday I ate pizza
No "Usar" for "Used To"
Spanish doesn't use "usar" for "used to" - just use the imperfect tense:
✗ Wrong: Usé vivir en Madrid
✓ Correct: Vivía en MadridI used to live in Madrid
Age Usually = Imperfect
Age is usually an ongoing state (imperfect), but birthdays are events (preterite):
Tenía 10 años cuando...I was 10 when... (ongoing state)
Cumplí 18 años ayerI turned 18 yesterday (event)
Conocer Changes Meaning!
The tense changes the meaning of "conocer":
Conocí a MaríaI met María (first meeting)
Conocía a MaríaI knew María (ongoing knowledge)
Saber Too!
"Saber" also changes meaning with tense:
Supe la verdadI found out the truth (moment of discovery)
Sabía la verdadI knew the truth (ongoing knowledge)
Time on Clock = Imperfect
Telling time is always imperfect (ongoing state):
Eran las ocho cuando salíIt was eight o'clock when I left
"Eran" (imperfect) for time, "salí" (preterite) for the action
Quick Test
Test your ability to choose between preterite and imperfect in context!
1. Choose the correct tense: Cuando _____ niño, siempre _____ al parque.
Afui / fui
Bera / iba
Cfui / iba
Dera / fui
2. Complete: Ayer _____ a la tienda y _____ leche.
Aiba / compraba
Bfui / compré
Ciba / compré
Dfui / compraba
3. Which sentence is correct?
AMientras estudiaba, sonó el teléfono
BMientras estudié, sonaba el teléfono
CMientras estudiaba, sonaba el teléfono
DMientras estudié, sonó el teléfono
4. Choose the right tense: La casa _____ grande y _____ tres dormitorios.
Afue / tuvo
Bera / tenía
Cfue / tenía
Dera / tuvo
5. Complete: Todos los veranos _____ a la playa, pero el año pasado _____ a las montañas.
Aíbamos / fuimos
Bfuimos / íbamos
Cíbamos / íbamos
Dfuimos / fuimos
6. Which expresses 'I met her yesterday'?
ALa conocía ayer
BLa conocí ayer
CLa sabía ayer
DLa supe ayer
7. Choose the correct option: _____ las ocho cuando _____ de casa.
AFueron / salí
BEran / salí
CFueron / salía
DEran / salía
8. Complete the story: De niña _____ muy tímida, pero un día _____ hablar en público.
Afui / decidía
Bera / decidí
Cfui / decidí
Dera / decidía
Want more in-depth practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises with 3 progressive lessons covering regular verbs, irregular verbs, and verbs that change meaning!