Preterite vs. Imperfect help!!
Hello all, i am in the process of leaning when to use the preterit and when to use the imperfect. To be honest, i am very very confused. I understand all of the rules and stuff but im having a hard time decyphering which actions have a specific beginning and end. (Also i know that imperfect is used for things that was/were happening or what used to happen).
These are some sentences that i have been havng a hard time with: 1.) What was in there? 2.) I had a cough. 3.) What was your name?
These sentences may seem simple enough but i am having a hard time figuring out if those things have a beginning and end.
Alguien puede ayudarme?
7 Answers
The difference in using the preterite and imperfect is something that nearly everyone struggles with in Spanish. In many situations both can be used, it just changes the meaning a little and depends on your point of view. In your examples where not much context is given, I would use the imperfect. Here is an example of how both could be used with each having a different meaning:
"I had a cough last week" - "Tenía una tos la semana pasada" In this example I am describing the state I was in sometime last week with no concern of beginning, end, or duration of the condition. If instead I say "Tuve una tos la semana pasada", the condition I was in is viewed as terminated and there is a clear implication that I am no longer sick.
I guess the best way i can also explain this is i cant decide when to use preterite vs. imperfect with no context clues.
As a child, i always ate apples. De niño, siempre comía las manzanas.
In that sentence, the context clues as a child and always gives away the usage of the imperfect.
Yesterday, i washed the car. Ayer, yo lavé el coche.
The context word ayer gives away the usage of the preterit.
-Single actions i can also make out as the preterit with no context. I wore the shirt. Llevé la camisa.
however, sentences with no context clues are quite tricky to me, as i have to find out if its completed or not, ect.
If anyone has a ny good tricks to find out when pret. or imperfect is used without context clues, i would greatly appreciate the advice.
To me this is the hardest thing i have learnt so far. I can make out simple preterit sentences and imperfect sentences stating i was doing something or i used to do something, but it seems like everything "inbetween" is a problem to me.
This is my shot at the sentences:
Que estaba en allí? -Using imperfect because there is nothing telling me any duration or a fixed point in time.
Tenía una tos. -Same as the one before.
Como te llamabas? - same as first two, could be fitted with "used to" causing the imperfect
Gracias por la ayuda.
I would translate the sentences as follows:
¿Qué estaba allí dentro? or ¿Qué estaba adentro?
Tenía una tos.
¿Cómo te llamabas?
I think all three would take the imperfect because each one focuses on the 'middle' part of an action. You don't want to refer to something being put in or taken out of something, just that it's in there. I guess it's possible that you might want to refer to giving a cough at an inopportune moment but more likely you are just referring to the fact that you were unwell with a cough. And you don't want to talk about the moment that you were called something just that you had that name.
I hope that sheds a little more light on the subject - you did very well, it really is not easy! 
I guess the best way i can also explain this is i cant decide when to use preterite vs. imperfect with no context clues.
Yesterday, i washed the car. Ayer, yo lavé el coche.
The context word ayer gives away the usage of the preterit.
Yes I agree, context is very important but things like ayer don't always mean that you should use the preterite - For example if you wanted to say 'yesterday I was washing the car when it started to rain'' then washing the car would be in the imperfect because it sets the scene for the beginning of the action of raining (pret).
Try thinking about whether you are referring to the beginning or end of an action - that will take the preterite. If you're just looking at the middle of the action that was ongoing when you refer to it, it will be in the imperfect.
Thanks for the question!! I was told that if you can put the action in figurative box, use the preterite. I am of the impression that it is a bit flexible. For number 1 I would use the preterite, 2 the imperfect, 3 preterite. I don't know why I'm trying to answer your question when I don't completely understand it myself, but I voted you and am watching the question. Be glad for corrections from those of you who actually know Spanish.
Welcome to the forum Brady, This is a tricky subject, why not give us your attempts and tell us why you chose the imp or pret in each case and then we can correct you if necessary and let you know why - that way you won't just have the answers but you would have learnt for next time
Also you might like to get some practice in with this game Pret vs Imp
