Imperfect or the preterite
How do I know when to use the Imperfect or the preterite.
3 Answers
The preterit is quite easy to understand.
To help simplify and explain the imperfect have a look at the following.
I used to walk every day. - Yo caminaba cada día.
I used to eat paella frequently. - Yo comía frecuentemente paella.
I used to live in Bolivia - Yo vivía or Yo solía vivir en Bolivia.
It can also be used in this way.
We were coming home when we saw Juan. - Veníamos para casa cuando vimos a Juan.
So in English we use the Modal "use to" and the past continuous.
Also used for age, "Cuándo era joven." or to give descriptions that set a scene. "La universidad tenía muchas personas que caminaban por las calles"
Preterit is used when you describe a singular thing with the word 'was', or to indicate a single event, or so note a completed action.
"El viaje fue muy divertido"
"la pelicula terminó a las siete por la noche" ~singluar event (movie), completed (
"Ellos ganaron la guerra" ~completed (won)
with a few exceptions:
Preterit is for verbs that happened instantly in the past or were completed. I became sad, this happened instantly so use preterit. My dog died from old age, this death is completed.
Imperfect is used for something that is in progress in the past, or is repeated. I was sad, this is ongoing sadness so use imperfect. When you were young.... you were young for a long time. It was 10:30 pm ... it was 10:30 pm for a certain amount of time. Everyday I ate potatoes, you eat them repeatedly, the action was ongoing in the past, use the imperfect.
