Preterite vs. ImperfectPreterite vs. Imperfect

Spanish 3Spanish 3

Unidad 4.1Unidad 4.1

Sra. HymanSra. Hyman

What is the imperfect?What is the imperfect?

MeaningMeaning Used to do somethingUsed to do something Something was happeningSomething was happening

EndingsEndings aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abanaba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -aban ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íanía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -ían

What is the imperfect?What is the imperfect?

IrregularsIrregulars SerSer

• era, eras, era, éramos, eranera, eras, era, éramos, eran IrIr

• iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, ibaniba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban VerVer

• veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíanveía, veías, veía, veíamos, veían

When do we use it? - WATERSWhen do we use it? - WATERS

Weather – Weather – HacíaHacía sol . . . sol . . .Age – Age – TeníaTenía cinco años . . . cinco años . . .Time – Time – EranEran las dos de la tarde las dos de la tardeEmotions – Yo Emotions – Yo estabaestaba muy triste. muy triste.Repeated actions – Todos los Repeated actions – Todos los

lunes, lunes, escribíamosescribíamos los diarios. los diarios.Setting a scene – Setting a scene – EraEra una noche una noche

muy oscura . .muy oscura . . . .

Clue Words: ImperfectClue Words: Imperfectsiempresiempre muchas vecesmuchas veces

a veces a veces a menudo a menudo

todos los…todos los… frecuentementefrecuentemente

tenertener estarestar

serser hacerhacer(weather)(weather)

sabersaber querer querer

What is the preterite?What is the preterite?

MeaningMeaning Did something in the pastDid something in the past It’s done and over withIt’s done and over with

EndingsEndings é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -aroné, -aste, -ó, -amos, -aron í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -ieroní, -iste, -ió, -imos, -ieron

What is the preterite?What is the preterite?

IrregularsIrregulars Stem-changersStem-changers Double vowelDouble vowel Completely irregularsCompletely irregulars car/gar/zarcar/gar/zar u groupu group uv groupuv group i groupi group j groupj group

When do we use it? - SPICYWhen do we use it? - SPICY Specific time – A las dos y media de Specific time – A las dos y media de

la tarde nosotros la tarde nosotros salimossalimos. . Past and done – ¿Qué Past and done – ¿Qué hicistehiciste

anoche?anoche? Interruption (of the imperfect) – Yo Interruption (of the imperfect) – Yo

caminaba y caminaba y me caíme caí. . Completed – Ella Completed – Ella terminóterminó su tarea. su tarea. Yesterday (or specific past time) – El Yesterday (or specific past time) – El

mes pasado mes pasado fuifui al concierto. al concierto.

Clue Words: PreteriteClue Words: Preterite

de repente ayer/anoche

inmediatamente el___ pasado

una vez llegar/salir

por fin/finalmente empezar/terminar

luego,entonces decidir nacer

antes/después pedir venir oir/ver

Some verbs change meaningSome verbs change meaning

PreteritePreterite ImperfectImperfect

ConocerConocer MetMet KnewKnew

SaberSaber Found outFound out KnewKnew

QuererQuerer TriedTried WantedWanted

No quererNo querer RefusedRefused Didn’t wantDidn’t want

TenerTener GotGot HadHad

To sum up: To sum up:

PreteritePreterite SPICYSPICY Done, over withDone, over with

Action in a storyAction in a story

ImperfectImperfect WATERSWATERS Ongoing, Ongoing,

repeated, Used repeated, Used toto

Background in a Background in a storystory

Which past tense would you use?Which past tense would you use?

Write P or I to indicate which past Write P or I to indicate which past tense you would use in Spanish for tense you would use in Spanish for the underlined word. the underlined word.

Which past tense would you use?Which past tense would you use?1.1. My brother and I always My brother and I always readread

stories. stories. 2.2. My favorite legend My favorite legend waswas about a about a

princess.princess.3.3. The princess The princess was namedwas named Frida. Frida.4.4. She She was in lovewas in love with Diego. with Diego.5.5. Every day, Frida Every day, Frida sawsaw Diego from her Diego from her

window, he window, he waswas always with his always with his friends.friends.

IMPIMP

IMPIMP

IMPIMPIMPIMP

IMPIMPIMPIMP

Which past tense would you use?Which past tense would you use?

1.1. Frida Frida knewknew that Diego’s friends were that Diego’s friends were mean.mean.

2.2. Diego Diego was goingwas going to ask her out. to ask her out.

3.3. But, Diego’s friends But, Diego’s friends tooktook him to a him to a party.party.

4.4. All night, Frida All night, Frida criedcried a lot. a lot.

5.5. She She didn’t sleepdidn’t sleep well. well.

6.6. Diego Diego leftleft the party. the party.

IMPIMP

IMPIMP

PRETPRET

PRETPRET

IMPIMP

PRETPRET

Which past tense would you use?Which past tense would you use?

1.1. Diego Diego arrivedarrived at Frida’s house. at Frida’s house.

2.2. Diego Diego askedasked Frida to the movies. Frida to the movies.

3.3. Frida Frida saidsaid “yes.” “yes.”

4.4. They They werewere very happy. very happy.

5.5. They They hadhad a really good time. a really good time.

6.6. They They livedlived happily ever after. happily ever after.

PRETPRET

PRETPRET

PRETPRET

IMPIMP

IMPIMP

IMPIMP

El finEl fin

El leon