Preterite/Imperfect clarification

Question

Hi all!

I have been wondering -- Preterite and Imperfect are somewhat confusing... so plase correct me if I am wrong in saying the following things:

1. Preterite is very specific about things in the past, and is also used for saying what interrupted something else.
2. Imperfect is more general, like for repeated actions or things you are unsure of when they happened or how many times they happened...
3. For some funny reason Imperfect is used for time, even though time is specific

If you have any suggestions in helping me study/learn this stuff, feel free to post an answer!

Thanks,

5555

Answer 1

Remember that the imperfect is always used for both time and age:

Tenía dos año cuando mi papá se fue.

Era niña cuando mi papá se fue.

Eran las dos de la tarde cuando mi papá se fue.

Thanks! - espanol5555, Oct 1, 2011