Preterite vs. Imperfect Translations
Translate into Spanish: "The cat drank milk."
¿Qué es...?
El gato bebió la leche.
If you were to translate this sentence into Spanish, would it be Preterite or Imperfect? Why?
"I used to play volleyball"
¿Qué es Imperfect tense?
("used to")
Conjuagte abrir in the yo form in the preterite
¿Qué es abrí?
Conjugate hablar in the ellos, ellas, ustedes form in the imperfect tense
¿Qué es hablaban?
What is the word for yesterday in spanish?
¿Qué es ayer?
Translate into Spanish: "I used to play baseball."
¿Qué es...?
Yo jugaba al beísbol.
If you were to translate this sentence into Spanish, would it be preterite or imperfect? Why?
I went to the party on Sunday.
¿Qué es Preterite tense?
(Event completed in the past at a certain time)
Conjuagte ser in the yo form in the preterite
¿Qué es fui?
Conjugate saber in the yo form in the imprefect tense
¿Qué es sabía?
How do you say never in Spanish?
¿Qué es nunca?
Translate into Spanish: I went to the movies on Monday
¿Qué es...?
Yo fui al cine el lunes.
If you were to translate this sentence into Spanish would it be preterite or imperfect? Why?
"My mom asked me if I liked scary movies."
¿Qué es Preterite tense?
(Completed action)
Conjugate servir in the él, ella, Usted form in the preterite
¿Qué es se sirvió?
Conjugate mirar in the tú form in the imperfect tense
¿Qué es mirabas?
How do you say last week in spanish?
¿Qué es semana pasada?
Translate into Spanish: "I saw the dog eat the food."
¿Qué es...?
Yo ví el perro comió la comida.
If you were to translate this sentence into Spanish would it be preterite or imperfect? Why?
He was very hungry.
¿Qué es Imperfect tense?
(Physical Description)
Conjugate tocar in the nosotros form in the preterite
¿Qué es tocamos?
Conjugate querer in the nosotros form in the imperfect tense
¿Qué es queiríamos?
What does de vez en cuando mean in spanish?
¿Qué es from time to time?
Translate into Spanish: When he was 5, he lived in New York
¿Qué es...?
Cuando él tenía cinco años vivió en Nueva York.
If you were to translate this sentence into Spanish, would it be preterite or imperfect? Why?
I was eating an apple and then my cell phone rang. (Two verbs and two reasons)
1st: ¿Qué es Imperfect tense? (key ending -ing)
2nd: ¿Qué es Preterite tense? (specific interruption)
Cuando vivía en Madrid, conocí a muchas personas interesantes, y a menudo salíamos a comer tapas, pero una vez me enfermé y no pude salir por una semana.
Explain the reason why the preterite or imperfect tense are used for each verb.
HINT: There are 4 verbs. Decipher what tense was used for each verb and why.
"Vivía" (Imperfect) is used to describe an ongoing situation or habitual action in the past ("I was living," "I used to live").
"Conocí" (Preterite) is used to indicate a specific, completed action ("I met").
"Salíamos" (Imperfect) is used for an action that was habitual or ongoing in the past ("we would go out").
"Me enfermé" (preterite) refers to a specific, completed event ("I got sick").
Conjugate ver in the tú form in the imperfect tense
¿Qué es veías?
What does de comtumbre mean in english?
¿Qué es as usual?