el pretérito o el imperfecto

Question

When one is stating facts about things that happened in the past, do you use the preterite or the imperfect? I am still very confused about the differences in using the preterite versus the imperfect.

Answer 1

From the English speakers point of view, The peterite Is used to speak of actions COMPLETED in the past. I spoke to my teacher yesterday. I broke my arm--and so forth.

Imperfecto is used to speak generally of INCOMPLETE action in the past or ongoing actions in the past, or to translate "used to"

Example: (Incomplete action) I was reading a book when my friend called. Yo leía un libro cuando mi amiga me llamó. Llamó is in the preterite--a completed action whereas "leía" is in the imperfect. She never got to finish her reading, at least at that moment.. Ongoing action in the past: Every summer we went camping (sometimes said as "we would go camping) at the beach. Cada verano acampábamos en la playa.

"Used to" Carlos y Luisa used to be friends but not any more.. Carlos y Luisa eran amigos pero ya no.

There are a bunch of others uses but this is enough to get you started.

Buena Suerte

Dani.

I wish some of you people would get back to us who try to get answers to you. - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

That's what the "Add Comment" button is for! A little thanks is always appreciated. Thank goodness not all who are on this site are discourteous. - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014