Preterite vs imperfect
A2Grammar path · Lesson 28 of 86 · Stage A2 · The past
Spanish has two simple past tenses, and almost every story uses both. Use the preterite for actions that happened and finished at a specific moment (comí, fue, llegaron). Use the imperfect for what was going on, what used to happen, or how things were (comía, era, llegaban). Regular imperfect endings are -aba for -ar verbs and -ía for -er/-ir verbs, while the preterite uses -é, -ó or -í, -ió. A handy test: if it answers 'what happened next?', choose the preterite; if English would say 'was ...ing' or 'used to', choose the imperfect.
Practise this lesson · 9 sentences
Form
sujeto + verbo en indefinido + momento concretosujeto + verbo en imperfecto + costumbre o descripciónverbo en imperfecto + cuando + verbo en indefinidoWhen to use it
One specific time vs a past habit
Something that happened once at a definite time takes the preterite. Something repeated, like 'used to', takes the imperfect.
Background vs events in a story
The imperfect sets the scene: weather, time, feelings, surroundings. The preterite moves the story forward with events.
An ongoing action interrupted
The action in progress takes the imperfect, and the action that cuts in takes the preterite.
One verb, two past tenses
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
That page teaches the preterite endings (-é, -aste, -ó...). Here you need to know when to use them: only for finished actions with a clear start or end, not for habits or descriptions.
Imperfect tense (pretérito imperfecto)That page teaches the imperfect forms (-aba, -ía). When telling a story, use them for the background and ongoing actions, then switch to the preterite as soon as a new event happens.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use the preterite and when the imperfect?
Use the preterite for actions finished at a specific moment. Use the imperfect for habits, descriptions and actions in progress in the past.
Does ayer always take the preterite?
Usually for events, as in Ayer fui al médico. But to describe the background of yesterday you still use the imperfect: Ayer hacía mucho frío.
What is the difference between era and fue?
Era describes: La casa era grande. Fue sums up a finished event: La fiesta fue genial.
Which tense goes with cuando?
The ongoing action takes the imperfect and the interrupting one takes the preterite: Dormía cuando sonó la alarma.
Why do conocí and conocía mean different things?
In the preterite some verbs mark the moment something started: conocí means 'I met', supe means 'I found out'. In the imperfect they describe a state: conocía means 'I knew someone', sabía means 'I knew'.
How do I say 'used to' in Spanish?
Use the imperfect of the main verb, as in jugaba al fútbol, or use solía + infinitive: solía jugar al fútbol.