Spanish 2 / Unit 5: Preterite vs Imperfect
5.1 The Basic Contrast
Notes
| Preterite | Imperfect |
|---|---|
| Completed action with a clear beginning or end | Ongoing action with no stated beginning or end |
| Single event | Habit or repeated action ("used to") |
| Events in a sequence | Background, descriptions, age, time, weather |
| Ayer comí pizza. | De niño comía pizza. |
- Ask: "Is this a finished event (preterite) or a background detail or habit (imperfect)?"
- Example: Cuando era niña, vivía en Cali. En 2020 me mudé a Bogotá.
Practice
Which sentence describes a completed event?
Estudié with ayer and a time limit is a completed action.
"Mi abuela cocinaba todos los domingos" uses the imperfect because...
Todos los domingos shows repetition.
The imperfect is best for...
Background and description use the imperfect.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 5 test.