Regular Preterite Conjugations
Irregular Preterite
Imperfect
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Trigger Words
100

Conjugate the verb "hablar" (to speak) in the yo form of the preterite.

hablé

100

Conjugate the verb "ir" (to go) in the yo form of the preterite.

fui

100
How does the imperfect differ from the preterite in Spanish? How do we generally interpret it?

Answers vary. "Used to"

100

Which tense is used for completed actions in the past: preterite or imperfect?

Preterite
100

Does the phrase "ayer" (yesterday) typically indicate preterite or imperfect?

Preterite

200

What are the preterite endings for regular -AR verbs?

-é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -aron

200

What are the preterite conjugations of the verb "ser" (to be)?

fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron

200

What are the imperfect endings for regular -ER and -IR verbs?

-ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -ían

200

Which tense is used to describe habitual or repeated past actions: preterite or imperfect?

Imperfect

200

Does the phrase "todos los días" (every day) usually signal preterite or imperfect?

Imperfect

300

Conjugate the verb "comer" (to eat) in the ellos form of the preterite.

Comieron

300

Conjugate the verb "tener" (to have) in the nosotros form of the preterite.

Tuvimos

300

Conjugate the verb "ver" (to see) in the nosotros form of the imperfect.

veíamos

300

Fill in the blank with the correct verb form: "Anoche, yo __________ (dormir) temprano porque estaba cansado."

dormí (preterite, completed action)

300

Choose the correct verb form: "De niño, siempre __________ (ver) dibujos animados los sábados."

veía (imperfect, habitual action – "siempre" suggests repetition)

400

Choose the correctly conjugated verb: "Ayer, nosotros (vivir) en un hotel."

Viviste, Vivieron, Vivimos

Vivimos

400

Fill in the blank with the correct preterite conjugation: "Ayer, ellos __________ (hacer) la tarea antes de cenar."

hicieron

400

Fill in the blank with the correct imperfect conjugation: "Cuando era niño, mi familia __________ (vivir) en una casa grande."

vivía

400

Choose the correct conjugation: "Cuando éramos niños, siempre __________ (jugar) en el parque después de la escuela."

jugábamos (imperfect, habitual action)

400

Which tense is usually used with the phrase "una vez" (one time)?

Preterite (because it indicates a single completed action)

500

Fill in the blank with the correct preterite conjugation: "El verano pasado, ella __________ (trabajar) en un restaurante."

trabajó

500

What is the stem change for "decir" in the preterite, and what is the ellos form?

Stem change: dij-
Ellos form: dijeron

500

What are the three irregular verbs in the imperfect and their yo forms?

ser → era

ir → iba


ver → veía

500

Conjugate and explain why the imperfect and preterite are both used in this sentence: "Mientras ella __________ (leer), su amigo __________ (llegar) a la casa."

"Leía" (imperfect) describes an ongoing action, while "llegó" (preterite) marks a completed action that interrupted it.

500

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION:


Final Jeopardy Question:

Rewrite the following passage using the correct forms of preterite or imperfect. Pay attention to the context and the time markers.


"Cuando era niño, mi familia (ir) a la playa todos los veranos. Un día, mientras mi madre (preparar) la comida, mi hermano y yo (jugar) en la arena. De repente, mi hermano (caer) y (romper) su brazo. Después de eso, nosotros (ir) al hospital, y mi madre (estar) muy preocupada. 

"Cuando era niño, mi familia iba a la playa todos los veranos. Un día, mientras mi madre preparaba la comida, mi hermano y yo jugábamos en la arena. De repente, mi hermano se cayó y rompió su brazo. Después de eso, nosotros fuimos al hospital, y mi madre estaba muy preocupada.