Uso del preterito e imperfecto para expresar el pasado

1. Using the preterite and imperfect verbs tenses

2. Preterite in context
 We use the preterite to express a single action in the
past. Such as:
 La semana pasada fuí a la playa.
 Cuando fuí a la casa de mi abuela el mes pasado
nosotros fuimos al cine.
 Nosotros jugamos al fútbol la semana pasada.
 Ellas cocinaron para la cena del Día de Gracias.
 Mi hermano y yo compramos los regalos ayer.

3. Imperfect in context
 The imperfect tense is used when you want to express
a continuous action in the past. (comparable to the use
of “used to…” and “were…” in the English language.
 For example:
 I used to play football
 Yo jugaba al fútbol.
 We used to go to the beach in the summer
 Nosotros ibamos a la playa en el verano
 She used to sing and dance
 Ella cantaba y bailaba

4. Preterite and Imperfect in context
 Mientras María jugaba con Juan, yo me caí del arbol.
( jugaba implies a continuos action while me caí (I fell)
Indicates a single action event)
 Cuando yo era niño, fuí con mi familia al museo de arte.
(again, using the imperfect tense “era” implies a continuos
action (childhood) and during that time we have a single
action event “fuí”)

5. Práctica
 You try it!
While John and Mary were playing, I spoke to my
mother.
___________________________________________
While they were talking, I wrote the letter.
____________________________________________
When I was a child, we used to go to the beach and there
I learned to swim.
_____________________________________________

6. Respuestas:
Mientras Juan y María jugaban, yo hablé con mi madre.
Mientras ellos hablaban, yo escribí la carta.
Cuando era niño ibamos a la a playa y allí aprendí a
nadar.

7. Using the preterite and imperfect
in context
I hope this explanation on the two past tenses will help
you understand their use in oral and written
expression!
Now, to become proficient we need practice!
I encourage you to used them!
Gracias!