Reasons - Preterite vs Imperfect 1
Would this sentence be in preterite or imperfect? Why?
In 2006 I moved across the state.
Preterite because it happened at a specific time in the past
Is this sentence in the preterite or the imperfect? Why?
Yo llegué al aeropuerto temprano.
Preterite because it talks about an arrival
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Nosotros ________________ (llegar) en carro.
Llegamos, Single event (arrivals)
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Yo ___________ (empezar) a correr a las seis de la mañana.
Yo (hacer) mi tarea cuando mi madre me (llamar).
hacía
llamó
Would this sentence be preterite or imperfect? Why?
My family used to spend every summer with my Grandma.
Imperfect because the action "used to" happen repeatedly in the past
Is this sentence in the preterite or the imperfect? Why?
Eran las ocho de la mañana.
Imperfect because it is telling time in the past.
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Tú siempre ___________ (comer) pizza con piña.
Comías, Repeated action in the past
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
_____________ (hacer) sol y no ___________ (estar) nublado.
Hacía, Estaba, Weather
Tú (estar) viajando a Italia cuando (haber) un accidente.
estabas
hubo
Would this sentence be preterite or imperfect? Why?
Bob and I would spend every weekend together.
Imperfect because the action "would" happen as a habit in the past
Is this sentence in the preterite or the imperfect? Why?
De repente, el perro empezó a ladrar (bark).
Preterite because it talks about the beginning of an action in the past
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Mis hermanos ____________ (ser) pelirrojos, pero yo ___________ (tener) pelo castaño.
Eran, Tenía, Physical Characteristics
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Esta mañana, nosotros _________ (levantarse) temprano y ______________ (desayunar) juntos.
Nos levantamos, Desayunamos, List of actions
Mis amigos (comer) muchos dulces mientras nosotros (celebrar) mi cumpleaños.
comieron
celebrábamos
Would this sentence be preterite or imperfect? Why?
One winter, I went to Hawaii with my family.
Preterite because it happened once in the past.
Is this sentence in the preterite or the imperfect? Why?
Yo estaba comiendo la pizza ayer.
Imperfect because it's an action that "was happening" in the past
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Mi hermana __________ (dormir) por diez horas anoche.
Durmió, Specific time in the past
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Tú ____________ (estar) frustrada en la escuela, pero yo ____________ (sentirse) feliz.
Estabas, Me sentía, Emotions
Mi familia (ir) de vacaciones mientras yo (trabajar) en la oficina.
fueron
trabajaba
Would this sentence be preterite or imperfect? Why?
I was sociable and nice as a child.
Imperfect because it gives a personality description in the past
Is this sentence in preterite or imperfect? Why?
Veíamos la televisión cuando los abuelos llegaron.
Imperfect because there was an ongoing action (watching TV) that was interrupted by a preterite action (grandparents arriving)
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
A nosotros nos ____________ (gustar) los carros cuando éramos niños.
Gustaban, Description or repeated actions in the past
Decide whether to conjugate the verb in the preterite or the imperfect. Conjugate it correctly and explain why.
Yo ______________ (hablar) por teléfono cuando la puerta ______________ (abrir).
Hablaba, Abrió, Interrupting an ongoing action
El equipo (jugar) cuando, de repente, un jugador (caerse).
jugaba
se cayó