trigger words
imperfect rules
preterite rules
words that change meaning
conjugations
100

What is a trigger word?

Words or phrases that help someone to know when/whether to use preterite or imperfect.

100

Él tenía 20 años.

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it imperfect?

age 

100

Ayer, yo fui al supermercado y compré leche.

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it preterite?

actions / events completed in the past

100

You knew me well, because you always used to buy me roses on Valentine’s Day.

Conjugate the verb (conocer) in the correct tense

conocías

100

jugar in the preterite, 1st person singular

jugué

200

What do trigger words for preterite have in common?

They are all a time in the past related. 

200

Ayer nevaba mucho.

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it imperfect?

weather

200

Esa mañana, mi hermano se despertó, pensó que iba a tener un buen día. 

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it preterite?

isolated action (that only happened once)

200

In 2006, astronomers found out that Pluto was not a planet.

Conjugate the verb (saber) in the correct tense

supieron que

200

ir in the imperfect, 3rd person plural

iban

300
What do trigger words for imperfect have in common?

They all happen multiple times.

300

Juan era muy alto.

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it imperfect?

physical description

300

Hace un año, hubo una tormenta invernal que fue un desastre en Texas. 

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it preterite?

preterite of hay = hubo (events, weather, something took place)

300

That day, all the children managed to recite the alphabet by memory.

Conjugate the verb (poder) in the correct tense

pudieron

300

decir in preterite, 3rd person plural

dijeron

400

What is an imperfect trigger word?

A menudo, siempre, usualmente, etc.

400

Los alumnos estaban nerviosos.

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it imperfect?

mental state

400

Mientras las chicas nadaban en la piscina, el perro brincó encima de ellas. 

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it preterite?

interrupting an action that was already happening

400

I didn’t want to call you because I knew you were sleeping.

Conjugate the verb (querer) in the correct tense

quería

400

ver in imperfect, 1st person plural

veíamos

500

What is an imperfect trigger word?

Ayer, una vez, anoche

500

Tú siempre jugabas con los trenes de juguetes. 

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it imperfect?

habitual action

500

Primero, el muchacho vio que el ladrón estaba en la casa. Luego, el entró la casa. 

What is the rule this sentence follows to make it preterite?

narrating a series of completed actions / events
500

I was 14 years old when I took biology.

Conjugate the verb (querer) in the correct tense

tenía

500

ser in preterite, 2nd person singular

fuiste