2. Preterite
You have already learned to
talk about the past using the
preterite tense for actions that
began and ended at a definite
time.
3. Preterite
Ana cantó en la fiesta
anoche.
Ana sang at the party last
night.
(Completed past action.)
4. Imperfect
The imperfect tense is
another way to talk about the
past. We use it to *describe
actions without any
indication of their beginning
or end.
6. Imperfect
We use the imperfect to talk
about actions that happened
repeatedly in the past. In
English we often say
“used to” or “would” to
express this idea.
22. ¿Cuándo lo usamos?
To describe actions that have no clear
beginning or end
Ex: Emilio siempre iba al parque.
Emilio always used to go to the park.
Ex: Los chicos comían pizza.
The boys used to eat pizza.
23. ¿Cuándo lo usamos?
To describe actions that happened
repeatedly in the past
Ex: Cada día íbamos a la guardaría infantil.
Every day we used to go to daycare.
Ex: Los chicos se peleaban mucho.
The boys used to fight a lot.
24. ¿Cuándo lo usamos?
To describe people or places in the past
Ex: Emilio era muy travieso.
Emilio was very mischievous.
Ex: Los chicos eran obedientes.
The boys were obediant.
25. To describe time or weather in the past
Ex: Hacía frío.
It was cold.
Ex: Eran las once de la noche.
It was eleven a night.
¿Cuándo lo usamos?
26. Imperfect—trigger words
a veces—sometimes
usualmente—usually
generalmente—generally
siempre—always
a menudo—often
de vez en cuando—once in a while
muchas veces—all the time
nunca—never
todos los días—everyday
