Notes on the preterite vs. imperfect distinction (SPAN 2312-Fall 2018 ) PDF

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PRETERIT vs. IMPERFECT The preterite is used to express actions or states viewed as completed. So, in Ayer el estudiante hizo la tarea, the preterite hizo indicates that the student completed the homework. So, the focus is on completion. The imperfect, however, is used to describe an ongoing past action. That is, whether the action was completed or not is not important). So, in Yo leía una libro mientras Juan hacía la tarea, both actions (leía and hacía) as viewed as in progress. That is, I was reading a book while Juan was doing his homework. It does not matter whether I finished reading the book or whether Juan finished all his homework In addition to indicating the in-progress nature of an action in the past, the imperfect is used to convey other meanings: to express habitual actions in the past (“I used to…”); to describe mental, physical and emotional states or conditions in the past (i.e., “he was a tall man”, “she was feeling sad”, etc.); and (with ser) to tell time Ready for a quiz on the preterit vs. imperfect distinction? The answer key is below the actual quiz.

Completa estas frases correctamente con el imperfecto o el pretérito 1. El año pasado, Juan ______________ (escuchar) música clásica todos los días.

2. Ayer, tú ______________ (ir) a la discoteca, ______________ (bailar) con tus amigos y finalmente, ______________ (beber) cerveza. 3. El coche ______________ (ser) blanco y ______________ (tener) muchos accesorios.

4. Mientras mis compañeras ______________ (estudiar), yo ______________ (ver) la televisión.

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Answer key 1. El año pasado, Juan escuchaba música clásica todos los días. 2. Ayer, tú fuiste a casa, bailaste con tus amigos y finalmente, bebiste cerveza. 3. El coche era blanco y tenía muchos accesorios. 4. Mientras mis compañeras estudiaban, yo veía la televisión. Explanation In #1, the imperfect describes a habitual action. We know this because of the time expression todos los días. Look for similar expressions on the quiz, such as todos los fines de semana, cada viernes, todos los veranos, siempre, etc. In # 2, the preterite narrates a sequence of past actions. First, you went to the disco. Then, you danced with your friends, and finally, you drank some beer. In # 3, the imperfect is used to describe a car (white and with a lot of extra features) Finally, in # 4, the imperfect is used to describe actions that were going on simultaneously. The word mientras ‘while’ is the key word here because it conveys the meaning of “action in progress.” Therefore, the verb immediately following mientras must be imperfect. The other verb could be imperfect or preterite, but from the context it is clear that I was watching TV (i.e., an ongoing action).

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