enseñar
teaching
Caminar
to walk
This type of action is suggested when something used to happen regularly but no longer occurs.
What is a Habitual Action?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the HABITUAL ACTION.
SENTENCE:Yo siempre tomaba chocolate caliente cuando nevaba. (I always drank hot chocolate when it snowed.)
HABITUAL ACTION: Yo siempre tomaba chocolate caliente
ONGOING ACTION:cuando nevaba.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE: Ellas abrían los regalos cuando llegó su abuelo.(They were opening the presents when their grandfather arrived.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:llegó su abuelo.
ONGOING ACTION:Ellas abrían los regalos
preparado
prepared-equiped
hablar
to talk
This tense is used to describe actions that are completed and have a clear start and end.
What is the Preterite Tense?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the HABITUAL ACTION.
SENTENCE: Yo siempre escribía cartas a mi abuela mientras la casa estaba tranquila. (I used to write letters to my grandmother while the house was quiet.)
HABITUAL ACTION: Yo siempre escribía cartas a mi abuela
ONGOING ACTION:mientras la casa estaba tranquila.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE: Yo leía un libro interesante cuando sonó el teléfono. (I was reading an interesting book when the phone rang.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:sonó el teléfono.
ONGOING ACTION:Yo leía un libro interesante
Toda la escritura
All Scripture
escuchar
to listen
This tense is used to describe actions happening right now.
What is the Present Tense?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the HABITUAL ACTION.
SENTENCE: Tú siempre practicabas deportes cuando el entrenador no estaba ocupado. (You used to practice sports when the coach wasn’t busy.)
HABITUAL ACTION:Tú siempre practicabas deportes
ONGOING ACTION:cuando el entrenador no estaba ocupado.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Ella ayudaba a su hermana cuando su papá llamó por teléfono. (She was helping her sister when her dad called on the phone.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando su papá llamó por teléfono.
ONGOING ACTION:Ella ayudaba a su hermana
inspirada por Dios
inspired by God
mirar
to look
This type of action implies something that was continuous or ongoing in the past.
What is an Ongoing Action?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the HABITUAL ACTION.
SENTENCE: Ella frecuentmente leía libros interesantes porque la biblioteca tenía una gran colección. (She frequently read interesting books because the library had a large collection.)
HABITUAL ACTION:Ella frecuentmente leía libros interesantes
ONGOING ACTION: porque la biblioteca tenía una gran colección.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Nosotros llegábamos a la escuela cuando vimos el accidente. (We were arriving at school when we saw the accident.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:vimos el accidente.
ONGOING ACTION:Nosotros llegábamos a la escuela
instruir en justicia
training in righteousness
estudiar
to study
This type of action is described by the preterite tense because it occurred only once or has a specific duration.
What is a One-time Event?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the HABITUAL ACTION.
SENTENCE:Nosotros a menudo visitábamos el museo mientras los guías explicaban la historia. (We often visited the museum while the guides explained the history.)
HABITUAL ACTION:Nosotros a menudo visitábamos el museo
ONGOING ACTION: mientras los guías explicaban la historia.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Él tomaba un café cuando su amigo entró al restaurante. (He was drinking a coffee when his friend entered the restaurant.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando su amigo entró al restaurante.
ONGOING ACTION:Él tomaba un café
hombre de Dios
man of God
trabajar
to work
The imperfect tense is used to describe this combination of an ongoing action and a specific event in the past.
What is Background Information?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the HABITUAL ACTION.
SENTENCE: A menudo, yo miraba películas de acción mientras mis hermanos jugaban videojuegos. (Often, I used to watch action movies while my siblings played video games.)
HABITUAL ACTION: A menudo, yo miraba películas de acción
ONGOING ACTION: mientras mis hermanos jugaban videojuegos.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Yo trabajaba en la oficina cuando recibí un mensaje importante. (I was working in the office when I received an important message.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando recibí un mensaje importante.
ONGOING ACTION:Yo trabajaba en la oficina
Buena obra
good work
tomar
to drink/to take
This tense is used to describe habitual or ongoing actions in the past, while the other tense is used for actions that are completed in the past.
What are the Imperfect and Preterite tenses?
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE: El viento soplaba fuerte mientras cerrábamos las ventanas. (Translation: The wind was blowing hard while we were closing the windows.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: El viento soplaba fuerte
ONGOING ACTION:mientras cerrábamos las ventanas.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Los estudiantes estudiaban para el examen cuando empezó la tormenta. (The students were studying for the exam when the storm started.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando empezó la tormenta.
ONGOING ACTION:Los estudiantes estudiaban para el examen
llegar
to arrive
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE: Hacía calor afuera, y los niños jugaban en la piscina. (Translation: It was hot outside, and the children were playing in the pool.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:Hacía calor afuera
ONGOING ACTION: los niños jugaban en la piscina.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Tú mirabas la televisión cuando tu mamá te llamó. (You were watching TV when your mom called you.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando tu mamá te llamó.
ONGOING ACTION:Tú mirabas la televisión
ayudar
to help
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE:El restaurante estaba lleno, y los meseros trabajaban rápido. (Translation: The restaurant was full, and the waiters were working quickly.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:El restaurante estaba lleno
ONGOING ACTION:los meseros trabajaban rápido.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Nosotros escuchábamos música clásica cuando se cerró la puerta. (We were listening to classical music when the door closed.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando se cerró la puerta.
ONGOING ACTION:Nosotros escuchábamos música clásic
cerrar
to close
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE: La música sonaba en la fiesta, y todos bailaban. (The music was playing at the party, and everyone was dancing.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:La música sonaba en la fiesta" (The music was playing at the party).
This sets the scene and provides the context or environment of the party. It describes something that was happening continuously in the background.
ONGOING ACTION: Y todos bailaban" (And everyone was dancing).
This indicates the ongoing activity taking place within that background context. It describes what people were actively doing during the event.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Ellos hablaban con sus amigos cuando llegó el maestro. (They were talking to their friends when the teacher arrived.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:Ellos hablaban con sus amigos
ONGOING ACTION:cuando llegó el maestro.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE:Era una noche tranquila, y las estrellas brillaban. (It was a calm night, and the stars were shining.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:Era una noche tranquila.
ONGOING ACTION:las estrellas brillaban
Identify and type the part of each sentence that INDICATES OVER AND DONE ACTION and the part that shows ONGOIN ACTIONS IN THE PAST.
SENTENCE:Ellos comían pizza cuando empezó la película. (They were eating pizza when the movie started.)
OVER AND DONE ACTION:cuando empezó la película.
ONGOING ACTION:Ellos comían pizza
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE: El cielo estaba despejado mientras caminábamos por el parque.(The sky was clear while we were walking through the park.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:El cielo estaba despejado
ONGOING ACTION:mientras caminábamos por el parque.
Identify and type the part of each sentence that provides BACKGROUND INFORMATION and the part of each sentence that shows the ONGOIN ACTION.
SENTENCE: El cielo estaba despejado mientras caminábamos por el parque.(The sky was clear while we were walking through the park.)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: El cielo estaba despejado
ONGOING ACTION: mientras caminábamos por el parque