Spanish conjugation explanation

Preterite vs. imperfect

<p>The <strong>preterite</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Pretérito perfecto simple</span>) and the <strong>imperfect</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Pretérito imperfecto</span>) tenses are both used to describe actions in the past. However, their usage is quite different. Let's have a closer look at these two tenses. </p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Preterite</div>

The preterite is used when referring to an action <strong>completed in the past</strong> (an action that had a definite beginning and a definite end). The action can be:

<ul>

<li>

<div>a single event:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ella le <strong>entregó</strong> su chaqueta. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She handed him his jacket.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>part of a chain of events:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Abandonó</strong> a su familia y <strong>se fue</strong> al extranjero. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He deserted his family and went abroad.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>an action repeated a specific number of times:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Me desperté</strong> tres veces durante la noche. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I awoke three times in the night.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>an action specifically stating the beginning and end of the action:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Él <strong>trabajó</strong> desde la mañana hasta la noche. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He worked from morning till night.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Expressions that are usually used with the preterite:</p>

<ul>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">ayer</span> (yesterday)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">anoche</span> (last night)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">anteayer</span> (the day before yesterday)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">siempre</span> (always); when talking about actions that are finished or bounded in time,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_preterite_imperfect_siempre" target="_blank">click for more info</a>

</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">hace dos días</span> (two days ago)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">la semana pasada</span> (last week)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">el mes pasado</span> (last month)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">el año pasado</span> (last year)</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Imperfect</div>

<p>Using the imperfect tense implies that the past action <strong>did not have a definite beginning or a definite end</strong>. It can be used to describe:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div>a habitual or repeated action:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">A veces él <strong>actuaba</strong> como si fuera mi jefe. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Sometimes he acted as if he were my boss.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>two simultaneous actions:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Comíamos</strong> mientras <strong>llorábamos</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We were eating while weeping.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>a background action that sets the stage for other actions:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Una mujer vino a vernos mientras <strong>dormíais</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">A woman visited us while you were sleeping.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>a condition or state:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Asumí que <strong>eran</strong> felices. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I assumed that you were happy.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>someone or something:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Las bebidas <strong>eran</strong> gratis. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The drinks were free.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>time and age:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Eran</strong> las dos de la tarde. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo bebía cuando <strong>tenía</strong> 18. (<span style="font-style: italic;">When I was 18 I drank.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Expressions that are usually used with the imperfect:</p>

<ul>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">a menudo</span> (often)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">a veces</span> (sometimes)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">mientras</span> (while)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">siempre</span> (always); when referring to habitual actions in the past,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_preterite_imperfect_siempre" target="_blank">click for more info</a>

</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">de vez en cuando</span> (every once in a while)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">cada día</span> (every day)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">rara vez</span> (rarely)</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Preterite conjugations</div>

<p>Regular conjugation in the preterite tense for <strong><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">-ar</span> verbs</strong> using the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">pasar</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>pasé

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>pasaste

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>pasó

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>pasamos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>pasasteis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>pasaron

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>Regular conjugation in the preterite tense for <strong><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">-er</span> verbs</strong> using the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">deber</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>debí

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>debiste

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>debió

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>debimos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>debisteis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>debieron

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>Regular conjugation in the preterite tense for <strong><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">-ir</span> verbs</strong> using the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">partir</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>partí

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>partiste

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>partió

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>partimos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>partisteis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>partieron

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>For irregular conjugations, click on the tense name in one of the conjugation tables to open the preterite tense guide.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Imperfect conjugations</div>

<p>Regular conjugation in the imperfect tense for <strong><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">-ar</span> verbs</strong> using the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">pasar</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/15/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito imperfecto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>pasaba

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>pasabas

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>pasaba

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>pasábamos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>pasabais

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>pasaban

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>Regular conjugation in the imperfect tense for <strong><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">-er</span> verbs</strong> using the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">deber</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/15/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito imperfecto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>debía

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>debías

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>debía

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>debíamos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>debíais

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>debían

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>Regular conjugation in the imperfect tense for <strong><span style="font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;">-ir</span> verbs</strong> using the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">partir</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/15/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito imperfecto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>partía

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>partías

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>partía

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>partíamos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>partíais

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>partían

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>For irregular conjugations, click on the tense name in one of the conjugation tables to open the imperfect tense guide.</p>