Preterite and Imperfect Tenses
How do you know when to use preterite and imperfect tenses?
2 Answers
Preterite is viewed as a single, bounded event. A past and complete view that is why preterite is also called perfect. Imperfect is viewed as a single, unbounded event. Like you got interupted and never finished
Another way of putting this is that the preterit is used for things that begin and end in a specific time frame in the past. You might say this is a "dot" in the past. The imperfect is used for habitual or repeated things, that are of a continuous nature. You might say this is a "line" in the past. A comparison can be made to the English "was ...ing" or "used to ..."
Example: I was running through the park yesterday. Ayer corría por el parque. I used to go to concerts when I was young. Iba al conciertos cuando era joven.
