When do I use Preterite or Imperfect (past tense)? What are the differences between the two?

Answer 1

Hello! The preterite and imperfect are both used to talk about actions in the past. The preterite is used to talk about finished, completed actions, while the imperfect is used for reoccurring events in the past.

Examples:

Fui al supermercado anoche= I went to the supermarket last night (preterite, it happened once and finished)

Cuando era niña, siempre iba al supermercado con mi papá= when I was a little girl, I always used to go to the supermarket with my dad (imperfect- this happened over and over, reoccurring)

Answer 2

The easiest way to think of it is this: Was it a 1 time, finished action? Such as, Naci el 8 de febrero de 1986.

Then you use the preterite. If you can put an exact day and time on the action - it needs to go in the preterite.

The imperfect us used for habitual past actions.

Things you used to do.

Or were doing when another action interrupted it.

And descriptions that have no active person.

If you can say a frequency adverb, like always, sometimes, never, similar to the present tense, then use the imperfect.

Also, descriptions, weather, dates, age, etc. always go in the imperfect.

Answer 3

While both are used to talk about the past, the preterite is used for actions that are finished in the past, and the imperfect can be used for repeated or recurring actions, or actions that were unfinished in the past. For example, when you use imperfect, it's like you're describing a scene or a situation in which something else happened. When you used the preterite, that verb is more sudden and then finished at that point in the past.

Example: Caminaba el en bosque cuando un oso apareció - I was walking in the forest when a bear appeared.