¿Pretérito o imperfecto?
"I used to go skating."
Imperfecto - repeated past action; not sure of the beginning or end
I was/I went
Fui
I would cheer.
(Yo) animaba.
It was hot. (already happening; not limited by time)
Hacía calor.
You have a scene where something was happening, and then something interrupted it. The interruption would be in the _____.
preterite
"I skated last night."
Pretérito - Limited by time; completed action
They managed to study.
Pudieron estudiar.
They used to collect dolls.
Coleccionaban muñecas.
There was an accident (un accidente).
Hubo un accidente.
nursery
la guardería infantil
"They would go camping in the summer."
Imperfecto - Repeated past action; not sure which summer nor how many summers; not sure of beginning or end
We refused to work.
No quisimos trabajar.
Cuando era un niño/De niño/De pequeño, era travieso.
She met him in San Juan.
Lo conoció en San Juan.
What are two ways to say "as a child?"
De pequeño
De niño
"We camped at Yellowstone last summer."
Pretérito - completed action; limited by time; specific time indicated
You all (Spain) received the news.
Tuvisteis las noticias.
You (informal) used to go to Madrid.
Ibas a Madrid.
He was tall and athletic. (somewhere in the past)
Era alto y atlético.
Name two instances when one would use the IMPERFECT.
Repeated past actions; habitual actions
"Would"
"Used to"
Setting up the background and circumstances
Actions that were going on for an indefinite period of time
"She was tall and elegant." (She is dead.)
Depends:
Pretérito - you did not know her; you want to show finality of her death
Imperfecto - she was close to you; you are keeping her memory alive; it is not limited by time
You (formal) found out the truth.
Ud. supo la verdad.
You all (Spain) were spoiled.
Érais consentidos.
It was hot when we arrived.
Hacía calor cuando llegamos.
Traduce al español:
"They were afraid of the dark and of spiders and they used to jump rope."
Tenían miedo de la oscuridad y de las arañas y saltaban la cuerda.