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"Preterite" is a noun which is often translated as "el pretérito", and "imperfect tense" is a noun which is often translated as "el imperfecto". Learn more about the difference between "preterite" and "imperfect tense" below.
preterite(
preh
-
duhr
-
iht
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (grammar)
a. el pretérito (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The preterite is a past tense.El pretérito es un tiempo pasado.
imperfect tense(
ihm
-
puhr
-
fihkt
tehns
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (grammar)
a. el imperfecto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
It has always been hard for me to know when to use the imperfect tense instead of the preterite.Siempre se me ha hecho difícil saber cuándo usar el imperfecto en lugar del pretérito.
b. el pretérito imperfecto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The imperfect tense isn't as clear in English as it is in Spanish.El pretérito imperfecto no es tan claro en inglés como lo es en español.
c. el tiempo imperfecto (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Can you help me, professor? I don't understand the imperfect tense.¿Me puede ayudar, profesor? No entiendo el tiempo imperfecto.
