Preterit
Irregular Preterit
Imperfect
Uses
Cue Words
100

hablar - definition and yo form preterit

to speak - hablé 

100

la primera persona singular de estar

estuve

100

la tercera persona singular de vivir

vivía

100

I used to take the bus to school but now I drive.

imperfect

100

siempre - definition and tense

always - imperfect

200

lavarse - definition and tú form preterit

to wash one's... - te lavaste

200

la tercera persona singular de poder

pudo

200

la primera persona plural de hablar 

hablábamos

200

weather, age, time, date

imperfect

200

anteayer - definition and tense

the day before yesterday - preterit

300

acampar - definition and nosotros form

to camp - acampamos

300

la tercera persona plural de ¨decir¨

dijeron

300

ar imperfect endings

aba, abas, aba, ábamos, abais, aban

300

the beginning of an action

preterit

300

cada mes - definition and tense

every month - imperfect

400

Ellos _______ la cena a las seis anoche.   (comer)

comieron

400

We refused to do the homework.

No quisimos hacer la tarea.

400

er/ir imperfect endings

ía, ías, ía, íamos, íais, ían

400

Tense and reason:

The Arabs controlled Spain for 8 centuries.

preterit - specific time frame

400

hace tres semanas - definition and tense

three weeks ago - preterit

500

¿Vosotros ________ el ensayo en español? - escribir

escribisteis

500

saber - conjugated in all forms

supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supisteis, supieron

500

What are the three irregular imperfect verbs?

ir, ser, ver

500

Tense(s) and reason(s)

She was five years old when she lost her first tooth.

imperfect and preterit - age and completed action

500

nunca - definition and tense

never - imperfect