When do you use preterite vs. Imperfect?

Question

I'm not really sure on when to use preterite and imperfect. Like they are very similar and I`m not exactly sure if I used the correct form whenever i do use them.

Answer 1

Happy St. Paddy's day and welcome to the forum. It would help if we could see your completed profile and understand which is your native language and what level you are at in learning English or Spanish. A short, simple answer is that the Spanish imperfect is used for past actions that do not have a clear ending such as on-going or habitual routine activities. There is a little more to that but, that is a start.

Answer 2

Click here to view a bunch of helpful reference articles about Spanish. They give examples and cases in which to use the Imperfect and Preterit.