Preterite vs. Imperfect when do I use them?

Question

I am still confused after reading SpanishDict's explanation of which is used when and in what context. I just don't understand how to tell if the preterite form or the imperfect form of the verb needs to be used. I know that preterite is past and imperfect is like frequently but can anyone explain that better to me? I just don't understand what is frequently and past and how do I recognize that in a paragraph?

Answer 1

Anything that you can say "I used to" is the imperfect. It has no date on it, it's just... in the past. Also when you say "I was" doing etc.

The preterite is something that has a date on it. Yesterday, last year etc. Or something that happened ONCE... like... being born.

Nací = I was born

It's just gonna be in the preterite.

I have another lesson set you should look at.

13 segment unit on the preterite vs. imperfect

"y en el mar, naufragó, una bolsa que nunca zarpó" - At sea, it wrecked (shipwrecked), a boat that never set sail. The fact that it wrecked (is telling about this one time brand of event) naufragó - it wrecked - sinsonte, May 22, 2012

The fact that it never set sell, is also a one time event, to this wrecked ship. 'una bolsa que nunca zarpó' ..zarpó = set sell (it never did, and never will..that past event is DONE) - sinsonte, May 22, 2012

Answer 2

Here's a couple of tips:

Use the preterite to present an action or state as completed, instantaneous or as being a 'one time' action:

But

Use the Imperfect for: Actions in Progress in the Past

This is just for starters though, if you want to learn all the uses of each tense I hope that lesson might help Pret vs Imperfect

Awesome site - sinsonte, May 22, 2012

Gracias :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 22, 2012

Answer 3

The preterit merely reports a fact about a completed action. I came, I saw, I conquered.

Llamamos = We called

The imperfect tells what use to, or would happen.

Todos los domingos visitábamos a los abuelos. Every Sunday we would visit the grandparents. This is what we would do as a general rule.

Tells what was going on (imperfect) when another event happen (preterite). As you can see, I can use them together in a sentence.

Lamaba (imperfect) a mi novia cuando gané (preterit) la lotería. I was calling my girlfriend when I won the lottery.

Bailaban (imperfect) cuando entró (preterit). They were dancing (imperfect) when he entered. (preterit)

The imperfect is the living past while the preterit merley reports a one time (happened) (fact).

If I’m trying to paint a picture of what was going on/ what use to happen in the past, I will choose the living, breathing imperfect.

If I merely want to state/report what happened, I will use the preterit.

viejito