Preterite vs Imperfect Help?

Question

I am in Spanish 2 and I have no idea when I should use the preterite or when I should use the imperfect. Our teacher told us when you use the preterite and imperfect, but it's still not helping me.

Worksheet: http://imgur.com/y7Vr6pV

Welcome to the forum , we want to help you so fill out your profile If you have a problem PM a mod Bienvenido al foro. Queremos ayudarle, entonces hay que llenar su perfil. Si hay un problema, envíe un mensaje personal (PM) - ray76, Jan 4, 2016

Answer 1

In the simplest thoughts:

Preterit- once and done- I did it

Imperfect- either background- while I was doing it; or habitual/repetitive- I used to do it, I would do it (or I did it every...)

If those are your answers, it doesn't look so good, my thoughts would be:

moved- preterit

got, became- preterit

used to spend- imperfect

went- preterit

used to visit- imperfect

was born- preterit

went- preterit

would spend every- imperfect.

These were not terribly hard ones. Note the preterit all happened once- single events, the imperfect more than once- happened more than once. At least if I got them right.

Now please fill out your profile.

Thanks. We're supposed to do more practice I think so hopefully I'll get it down. - Le_Penguin, Jan 4, 2016

De nada. You will improve with practice. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 4, 2016

You got (preterit) 100%, Bosque. :) - Daniela2041, Jan 4, 2016

Thanks, Daniela. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 4, 2016

It's mostly just fue vs. era (or any preterit/imperfect choice with ser) that gets me. Although some of the other less clear ones I still get wrong. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 4, 2016

Answer 2

I know you have already selected your best answer but I wanted to add a website which may be of some help.

Also I urge you to put in your profile your gender and levels of English and Spanish. You may also add any more information you care to share about yourself especially if you would like to use this forum regularly. We are friendly and helpful and we care about returning learners. By the way in future questions if you hold off on selecting the best answer you may receive more helpful information in other answers. Having said all this I am of course assuming that you are fluent in English.

Click below for the website on Preterite and Imperfect Contrasted:

Preterite and Imperfect Contrasted

Thank you. I will be looking at this website for more practice. - Le_Penguin, Jan 4, 2016

I use this sometimes but often forget - Mardle, Jan 5, 2016

Nice site, that is why I said in the simplest thoughts- your site adds a bit more complexity. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 5, 2016