Preterite Uses
Why is the phrase "Terminaste la tarea" paired with preterite?
Finished, completed action
Why is the phrase "Estaba + -ando/-iendo" paired with imperfect?
It is the progressive
What does the word "Ayer" mean?
Yesterday
What does the word "Siempre" mean?
Always
El hombre (fue / era) alto y misterioso.
Era - background information
Why is the word "Comenzamos" or "Empezamos" paired with preterite?
Beginning of an action
Why is the phrase "Cuántos años tenías" paired with the imperfect?
Age is background info.
What does the phrase "Anoche" mean?
Last night
What does the phrase "Cada noche" mean?
Every night
El niño (murió / moría) en el accidente.
Murió - completed isolated action
Switch this sentence to preterite
David mueve su coche atrás.
David movió su coche atrás.
Switch this sentence to imperfect
Hace frío y nieva mucho
Hacía frío y nevaba mucho
What does the phrase "De repente" mean?
What does the word "Mientras" mean?
While
Los chicos (estuvieron, estaban) furiosos con el chef.
estaban - background & emotional state
Translate: I studied for three hours.
Estudié por tres horas.
Translate: I was studying for the test
Estudiaba para el examen
How do you say "Once" in Spanish?
Una vez
How do you say "Many times" in Spanish?
muchas veces
Yo (miré, miraba) la tele cuando Sr. Aubuchon me texteó
Miraba - ongoing, was + -ing
Translate: Goldilocks ate the cereal.
Goldilocks comió el cereal.
Translate: Goldilocks was sleeping in the bed
Goldilocks dormía en la cama
How do you say "The day before yesterday" in Spanish?
Anteayer
How do you say "All the days" in Spanish?
Todos los días
Nosotros (ganamos / ganábamos) todos los partidos.
Ganamos - Completed action, main event