Preterite imperfect and preterite and imperfect tenses.

Question

What is the difference between the preterite tense and the preterito imperfect and the imperfect. In my learn spanish grammar book it states the different between the preterite and the imperfect but in my spanish modelos de conjugacion del verbos it puts the preterito imperfecto copreterito as one. The spanish text also has preterito perfecto.

Answer 1

Comparing The Preterit (Pretérito) and The Imperfect (Imperfecto)

Preterit – Pretérito (Past - Completed)	?	Imperfect – Imperfecto (Past - Continuous)
-----------------------------------------------------	?	-------------------------------------------------------------
This tense expresses an action in the past that was completed at some time in the past. The specific past actions will have been performed (1)- at a fixed point in time (2)- a specific number of times in the past (3)- during a specific amount of time in the past	?	This tense expresses an action or a state of being in the past that was ongoing or continuous in the past. The action(s) in the past will have these qualities (1)- they took place repeatedly in the past (2)- they were ongoing or continuous in the past (3)- they occurred over an extended period of unspecified time in the past
	?

This is a basic comparison. There is certainly more detail and in particular, regarding the imperfect. For the additional more detailed information and examples, see Paralee Whitmire's Reference Pages by following these links
For the preterit ----> El Pretérito , and
For the Imperfect ----> El Imperfecto

 

You will also find that our teacher Paralee Whitmire explains the Preterite and the Imprefect in her lesson 2.10, found here ----> Preterite & Imperfect

Answer 2

Follow thislinkand go to lesson 10 for a full explanation of the preterit vs. the imperfect.