[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":820},["ShallowReactive",2],{"indefinido-vs-imperfecto-en":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":789,"extension":790,"meta":791,"navigation":815,"path":816,"seo":817,"stem":818,"__hash__":819},"content\u002Findefinido-vs-imperfecto\u002Fen.md","Preterite vs Imperfect in Spanish: When to Use Each + Quiz",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":776},"minimark",[9,159,166,170,233,296,369,414,529,595,650,762],[10,11,12,13,12,42,12,47,12,72],"section",{},"\n  ",[14,15,16,17,21,22,26,27,21,30,33,34,37,38,41],"p",{},"\n    Spanish has two simple past tenses, and choosing between them is the classic stumbling block for learners:\n    the ",[18,19,20],"strong",{},"preterite"," (",[23,24,25],"em",{},"pretérito indefinido",") and the ",[18,28,29],{},"imperfect",[23,31,32],{},"pretérito imperfecto",").\n    English often uses one form for both (",[23,35,36],{},"I ate",", ",[23,39,40],{},"I was","), so the rule has to come from meaning, not from translation.\n  ",[14,43,44],{},[18,45,46],{},"The short answer:",[48,49,50,51,50,62,12],"ul",{},"\n    ",[52,53,54,57,58,61],"li",{},[18,55,56],{},"Preterite"," = what happened. A finished event, like a photo: ",[23,59,60],{},"Ayer llamé a mi madre"," (Yesterday I called my mother).",[52,63,64,67,68,71],{},[18,65,66],{},"Imperfect"," = how it was or what used to happen. The background, like a video: ",[23,69,70],{},"Hacía sol y los pájaros cantaban"," (It was sunny and the birds were singing).",[73,74,50,75,12],"div",{},[76,77,78,79,78,96,50],"table",{},"\n      ",[80,81,82,83,78],"thead",{},"\n        ",[84,85,86,87,86,90,86,93,82],"tr",{},"\n          ",[88,89],"th",{},[88,91,92],{},"Preterite (indefinido)",[88,94,95],{},"Imperfect (imperfecto)",[97,98,82,99,82,111,82,122,82,133,82,144,78],"tbody",{},[84,100,101,105,108],{},[102,103,104],"td",{},"Answers the question",[102,106,107],{},"What happened?",[102,109,110],{},"What was it like? What used to happen?",[84,112,113,116,119],{},[102,114,115],{},"Type of action",[102,117,118],{},"Finished, with a clear end",[102,120,121],{},"Ongoing, repeated or descriptive",[84,123,124,127,130],{},[102,125,126],{},"In a story",[102,128,129],{},"The events that move the plot",[102,131,132],{},"The scene and the background",[84,134,135,138,141],{},[102,136,137],{},"Typical words",[102,139,140],{},"ayer, anoche, en 2020, de repente, una vez",[102,142,143],{},"siempre que, cada día, de niño, mientras, antes",[84,145,146,149,154],{},[102,147,148],{},"Example",[102,150,151],{},[23,152,153],{},"Compré un coche.",[102,155,156],{},[23,157,158],{},"Mi coche era azul.",[10,160,12,161],{},[162,163,165],"h2",{"id":164},"preterite-vs-imperfect-practice-quick-quiz","Preterite vs imperfect practice: quick quiz",[167,168],"tense-quiz",{"set":169},"indefinido-imperfecto",[10,171,12,172,12,176,12,183],{},[162,173,175],{"id":174},"when-to-use-the-preterite-indefinido","When to use the preterite (indefinido)",[14,177,178,179,182],{},"Use the preterite for actions you see as ",[18,180,181],{},"complete",": they started and ended in the past, and the speaker treats them as a single event.",[184,185,50,186,50,196,50,205,50,214,50,224,12],"ol",{},[52,187,188,191,192,195],{},[18,189,190],{},"A finished action at a specific time."," ",[23,193,194],{},"El martes visité a mis tíos."," (On Tuesday I visited my aunt and uncle.)",[52,197,198,191,201,204],{},[18,199,200],{},"A sequence of events.",[23,202,203],{},"Llegó a casa, se quitó los zapatos y encendió la tele."," (She got home, took off her shoes and turned on the TV.)",[52,206,207,191,210,213],{},[18,208,209],{},"A sudden action that interrupts.",[23,211,212],{},"Dormíamos cuando sonó la alarma."," (We were sleeping when the alarm went off.)",[52,215,216,219,220,223],{},[18,217,218],{},"A closed period of time",", even a long one. ",[23,221,222],{},"Estudié en Salamanca cuatro años."," (I studied in Salamanca for four years.)",[52,225,226,191,229,232],{},[18,227,228],{},"A counted number of times.",[23,230,231],{},"Vimos esa película dos veces."," (We saw that movie twice.)",[10,234,12,235,12,239,12,246],{},[162,236,238],{"id":237},"when-to-use-the-imperfect-imperfecto","When to use the imperfect (imperfecto)",[14,240,241,242,245],{},"Use the imperfect when the action is ",[18,243,244],{},"not framed as finished",": you describe it from the inside, as a habit, a state or something in progress.",[184,247,50,248,50,258,50,268,50,278,50,287,12],{},[52,249,250,253,254,257],{},[18,251,252],{},"Habits and repeated actions"," (English \"used to\" \u002F \"would\"). ",[23,255,256],{},"En verano nos bañábamos en el río."," (In summer we used to swim in the river.)",[52,259,260,263,264,267],{},[18,261,262],{},"Descriptions"," of people, places, weather and feelings. ",[23,265,266],{},"El pueblo era pequeño y tranquilo."," (The village was small and quiet.)",[52,269,270,273,274,277],{},[18,271,272],{},"An action in progress"," when something else happened. ",[23,275,276],{},"Cruzaba la calle cuando me llamaste."," (I was crossing the street when you called me.)",[52,279,280,191,283,286],{},[18,281,282],{},"Two actions going on at the same time.",[23,284,285],{},"Mientras yo planchaba, él fregaba los platos."," (While I was ironing, he was washing the dishes.)",[52,288,289,191,292,295],{},[18,290,291],{},"Time and age in the past.",[23,293,294],{},"Era medianoche. Mi abuelo tenía ochenta años."," (It was midnight. My grandfather was eighty.)",[10,297,12,298,12,302,12,305],{},[162,299,301],{"id":300},"signal-words-preterite-or-imperfect","Signal words: preterite or imperfect?",[14,303,304],{},"Time expressions are the fastest clue. They are not absolute rules, but in 9 cases out of 10 they point to the right tense.",[73,306,50,307,12],{},[76,308,78,309,78,319,50],{},[80,310,82,311,78],{},[84,312,86,313,86,316,82],{},[88,314,315],{},"Usually preterite",[88,317,318],{},"Usually imperfect",[97,320,82,321,82,329,82,337,82,345,82,353,82,361,78],{},[84,322,323,326],{},[102,324,325],{},"ayer, anteayer, anoche",[102,327,328],{},"siempre que, cada vez que",[84,330,331,334],{},[102,332,333],{},"el lunes, el año pasado, en 2019",[102,335,336],{},"todos los días, cada semana",[84,338,339,342],{},[102,340,341],{},"hace dos años",[102,343,344],{},"de niño, de pequeño, de joven",[84,346,347,350],{},[102,348,349],{},"de repente, de pronto",[102,351,352],{},"mientras",[84,354,355,358],{},[102,356,357],{},"una vez, tres veces",[102,359,360],{},"a menudo, normalmente, a veces",[84,362,363,366],{},[102,364,365],{},"durante dos horas, toda la noche",[102,367,368],{},"antes (= in the old days), en aquella época",[10,370,12,371,12,375,12,382],{},[162,372,374],{"id":373},"both-tenses-in-one-sentence-background-and-event","Both tenses in one sentence: background and event",[14,376,377,378,381],{},"\n    The most useful pattern to learn: ",[18,379,380],{},"imperfect for the scene, preterite for what happens in it",".\n    Think of the imperfect as a film that is playing and the preterite as the moment someone presses pause.\n  ",[48,383,50,384,50,394,50,404,12],{},[52,385,386,389,390,393],{},[23,387,388],{},"Llovía"," (background) ",[23,391,392],{},"cuando salimos del cine"," (event). (It was raining when we came out of the movie theater.)",[52,395,396,399,400,403],{},[23,397,398],{},"Mientras hablaba por teléfono"," (background), ",[23,401,402],{},"se quemó la cena"," (event). (While I was on the phone, dinner burned.)",[52,405,406,409,410,413],{},[23,407,408],{},"Eran las siete y todavía no había nadie en la oficina"," (scene). ",[23,411,412],{},"Entonces llegó el jefe"," (event).",[10,415,12,416,12,420,12,423],{},[162,417,419],{"id":418},"verbs-that-change-meaning","Verbs that change meaning",[14,421,422],{},"A few verbs shift meaning between the two tenses. This is where translation helps most:",[73,424,50,425,12],{},[76,426,78,427,78,438,50],{},[80,428,82,429,78],{},[84,430,86,431,86,434,86,436,82],{},[88,432,433],{},"Verb",[88,435,56],{},[88,437,66],{},[97,439,82,440,82,457,82,474,82,491,82,512,78],{},[84,441,442,445,451],{},[102,443,444],{},"conocer",[102,446,447,450],{},[23,448,449],{},"conocí"," = I met (for the first time)",[102,452,453,456],{},[23,454,455],{},"conocía"," = I knew (someone)",[84,458,459,462,468],{},[102,460,461],{},"saber",[102,463,464,467],{},[23,465,466],{},"supe"," = I found out",[102,469,470,473],{},[23,471,472],{},"sabía"," = I knew (a fact)",[84,475,476,479,485],{},[102,477,478],{},"poder",[102,480,481,484],{},[23,482,483],{},"pude"," = I managed to",[102,486,487,490],{},[23,488,489],{},"podía"," = I was able to, could",[84,492,493,496,506],{},[102,494,495],{},"querer",[102,497,498,501,502,505],{},[23,499,500],{},"quise"," = I tried; ",[23,503,504],{},"no quise"," = I refused",[102,507,508,511],{},[23,509,510],{},"quería"," = I wanted",[84,513,514,517,523],{},[102,515,516],{},"tener",[102,518,519,522],{},[23,520,521],{},"tuve"," = I got, received, had (an event)",[102,524,525,528],{},[23,526,527],{},"tenía"," = I had (possession, age)",[10,530,12,531,12,535],{},[162,532,534],{"id":533},"common-mistakes-english-speakers-make","Common mistakes English speakers make",[48,536,50,537,50,550,50,562,50,578,12],{},[52,538,539,191,542,545,546,549],{},[18,540,541],{},"\"Was\" is not automatically imperfect.",[23,543,544],{},"The concert was great"," as a verdict on a finished event is ",[23,547,548],{},"El concierto fue genial",".",[52,551,552,191,555,558,559,549],{},[18,553,554],{},"\"Used to\" and \"would\" (habits) are always imperfect.",[23,556,557],{},"We would go to the beach every summer"," = ",[23,560,561],{},"Íbamos a la playa cada verano",[52,563,564,567,568,37,571,574,575,549],{},[18,565,566],{},"A long duration does not make it imperfect."," If the period is closed (",[23,569,570],{},"for ten years",[23,572,573],{},"all day","), use the preterite: ",[23,576,577],{},"Viví diez años en Lima",[52,579,580,583,584,558,587,590,591,594],{},[18,581,582],{},"\"Was\u002Fwere + -ing\" is a strong hint for the imperfect",": ",[23,585,586],{},"I was cooking",[23,588,589],{},"Cocinaba"," (or ",[23,592,593],{},"Estaba cocinando",").",[10,596,12,597,12,601,12,639],{},[162,598,600],{"id":599},"a-short-story-with-both-tenses","A short story with both tenses",[14,602,50,603,606,607,610,611,614,615,618,619,622,623,626,627,630,631,634,635,638],{},[23,604,605],{},"Era"," un sábado de agosto y ",[23,608,609],{},"hacía"," muchísimo calor. Mis amigos y yo ",[23,612,613],{},"estábamos"," en la terraza\n    y ",[23,616,617],{},"tomábamos"," limonada. De repente, ",[18,620,621],{},"empezó"," a soplar el viento, el cielo se ",[18,624,625],{},"puso"," negro\n    y ",[18,628,629],{},"cayó"," una tormenta enorme. ",[18,632,633],{},"Recogimos"," todo en dos minutos y ",[18,636,637],{},"entramos"," corriendo en casa.\n  ",[14,640,641,642,645,646,649],{},"\n    The imperfect forms (",[23,643,644],{},"era, hacía, estábamos, tomábamos",") paint the scene. The preterite forms\n    (",[18,647,648],{},"empezó, se puso, cayó, recogimos, entramos",") are the events that move the story forward.\n  ",[10,651,12,652,12,656,12,740],{},[162,653,655],{"id":654},"endings-at-a-glance","Endings at a glance",[73,657,50,658,12],{},[76,659,78,660,78,673,50],{},[80,661,82,662,78],{},[84,663,86,664,86,667,86,670,82],{},[88,665,666],{},"Person",[88,668,669],{},"Preterite -ar \u002F -er, -ir",[88,671,672],{},"Imperfect -ar \u002F -er, -ir",[97,674,82,675,82,686,82,697,82,707,82,718,82,729,78],{},[84,676,677,680,683],{},[102,678,679],{},"yo",[102,681,682],{},"-é \u002F -í",[102,684,685],{},"-aba \u002F -ía",[84,687,688,691,694],{},[102,689,690],{},"tú",[102,692,693],{},"-aste \u002F -iste",[102,695,696],{},"-abas \u002F -ías",[84,698,699,702,705],{},[102,700,701],{},"él, ella, usted",[102,703,704],{},"-ó \u002F -ió",[102,706,685],{},[84,708,709,712,715],{},[102,710,711],{},"nosotros",[102,713,714],{},"-amos \u002F -imos",[102,716,717],{},"-ábamos \u002F -íamos",[84,719,720,723,726],{},[102,721,722],{},"vosotros",[102,724,725],{},"-asteis \u002F -isteis",[102,727,728],{},"-abais \u002F -íais",[84,730,731,734,737],{},[102,732,733],{},"ellos, ustedes",[102,735,736],{},"-aron \u002F -ieron",[102,738,739],{},"-aban \u002F -ían",[14,741,742,743,746,747,750,751,756,757,761],{},"\n    The imperfect has only three irregular verbs (",[23,744,745],{},"ser, ir, ver","), while the preterite has many\n    (",[23,748,749],{},"tener → tuve, hacer → hice, ir\u002Fser → fui","). Full tables:\n    ",[752,753,755],"a",{"href":754},"\u002Fen\u002Findefinido-past","Spanish preterite"," and ",[752,758,760],{"href":759},"\u002Fen\u002Fimperfecto-imperfect","Spanish imperfect",".\n  ",[14,763,764],{},[752,765,775],{"href":766,"className":767},"\u002Fdashboard",[768,769,770,771,772,773,774],"btn","btn-primary","btn-lg","px-4","py-2","d-inline-block","mb-4","Practice past-tense conjugation",{"title":777,"searchDepth":778,"depth":778,"links":779},"",2,[780,781,782,783,784,785,786,787,788],{"id":164,"depth":778,"text":165},{"id":174,"depth":778,"text":175},{"id":237,"depth":778,"text":238},{"id":300,"depth":778,"text":301},{"id":373,"depth":778,"text":374},{"id":418,"depth":778,"text":419},{"id":533,"depth":778,"text":534},{"id":599,"depth":778,"text":600},{"id":654,"depth":778,"text":655},"Preterite (indefinido) or imperfect? Clear rules, signal words, a cheat sheet and an interactive quiz that explains every answer.","md",{"keywords":792,"faq":799},[793,794,795,796,797,798],"preterite vs imperfect","when to use preterite vs imperfect","preterite vs imperfect practice","indefinido vs imperfecto","spanish past tense","preterite and imperfect quiz",[800,803,806,809,812],{"q":801,"a":802},"What is the main difference between the preterite and the imperfect?","The preterite (pretérito indefinido) tells what happened: a finished event with a clear end. The imperfect (pretérito imperfecto) describes how things were or what used to happen: background, descriptions, habits and actions in progress.",{"q":804,"a":805},"Does 'was' or 'were' always mean the imperfect?","No. 'I was in Barcelona once' is preterite (estuve), because it is a finished, counted event. 'I was tired' as a description of the scene is imperfect (estaba cansado). Look at the meaning, not the English verb.",{"q":807,"a":808},"Is 'used to' always the imperfect?","Yes, 'used to' and 'would' for past habits are translated with the imperfect: De niño jugaba al fútbol (As a kid I used to play soccer).",{"q":810,"a":811},"Can both tenses appear in one sentence?","Yes, and it is very common. The imperfect sets the background and the preterite brings the event: Leía un libro cuando sonó el timbre (I was reading a book when the doorbell rang).",{"q":813,"a":814},"Which verbs change meaning in the preterite?","The most common are conocer (conocí = I met, conocía = I knew), saber (supe = I found out, sabía = I knew), poder (pude = I managed, podía = I was able), querer (no quise = I refused, no quería = I didn't want) and tener (tuve = I got\u002Freceived, tenía = I had).",true,"\u002Findefinido-vs-imperfecto\u002Fen",{"title":5,"description":789},"indefinido-vs-imperfecto\u002Fen","LPh7Qk0zGoE0f88zMIBZfuXdwLw6MeYP5zJqtkxcofU",1791896319515]