What is the difference between the preterite tense and the imperfect tense?

Question

What is the difference between the preterite tense and the imperfect tense? In school I learned that both are past tenses. However, you can completely change the meaning or implication of your statement by using one or the other. I was taught that-

The preterite tense is used for an action (not a thought or description), for something that occurred at an exact moment in time in the past (something that you can pinpoint), and for something that began and was completed totally in the past and was not ongoing.

The imperfect tense is used to describe something or someone. It is also used to talk about--- how someone was feeling/ emotional state of being,about something that was a repeated action or activity,about something that was a continuous activity, and about something that was an habitual activity. It also tells time, describes the weather, and gives someone’s age (in the past)

That's a heck of alot of info. LOL That's all I was told. Yet, I'm a bit stumped

Can ya'll help me out? This is just to broaden my understanding and whatnot. Some examples would be appreciated.

Thanks

• Welcome to the forum, :) - Heidita Jan 27, 2012
• You've asked a very big question...books have been written about it. - annierats Jan 27, 2012

Answer 1

The preterite expresses an action that was completed at some time in the past (e.g. I ate my dinner.)

The imperfect generally expresses that was continuous in the past, and it's completion not indicated (e.g. I was eating while I...).

Hope this helps.

• Yes, thank you very much :) - SpanishDicto Jan 27, 2012

Answer 2

HI Spanish, you can find the search just above, below "ask a question", it looks like a google search.

If you find this confusing and you coulnd not find it easily, please report this here.

welcome to the forum

Answer 3

This question has been asked many times. Put the following into search "imperfect v preterite and you will find a lot of examples.

• Thanks for responding :) But um... where is the search? Is it on this site or Google? Thx :D - SpanishDicto Jan 27, 2012