preterito imperfecto vs preterito indifinido

Question

Can someone explain the difference between these two tenses? Please include a couple of examples.

Thanks, Garrett

Hi Garrett have you worked it out or do you need more help? - Mardle, Jul 2, 2017

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum. Do you have a teacher? Are you based in Europe or elsewhere?

I ask, because if you are concentrating on the Spanish from Spain they also use the present perfect for some events we would see as past.

Basically you look at a timeline. A one off event starting and ending in the past is preterite whilst something you usually did is imperfect. Of course it is more complicated than that I

Here is a guide on this site

Guide

Read it then try writing some sentences here and asking for advice/corrections. NB you can have 2 different tenses in one sentence. Eg. sitting doing something when the phone goes.

He votado por ti. :) I thought I'd show a little example of the Spanish immediate past tense. :) - DilKen, Jul 1, 2017

Gracias - Mardle, Jul 1, 2017

Answer 2

Garrett:

Choose the option Learning Guide in the main menu, then choose "browse articles" under the Verbs heading. There you will find articles on preterite, imperfect and preterite vs. imperfect with many examples.

After reading them let us know if you have any questions about how to say something in particular, providing the English and your best effort at the Spanish.

I was obviously typing same time as you! Basically same answer too, - Mardle, Jul 1, 2017

Right Mardle. I'm starting to think it helps the learner more to tell them how to find the information than to give them the link when it is on SD, not that there is anything wrong to do so, I've done that a lot myself. - DilKen, Jul 1, 2017