Preterite vs. Imperfect: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Spanish Learners


Choosing between the preterite and the imperfect is often the biggest hurdle for English speakers learning Spanish. In English, we often just use the simple past ("I walked"), but Spanish demands that you decide how that action happened. Was it a quick flash, or a long-lasting memory?

Think of the preterite as the dots on a timeline and the imperfect as the line itself. If you want to tell stories that sound natural and fluid, you need to know when to use each. This guide provides a clear, actionable cheat sheet to help you master these past tenses once and for all.

The Preterite: The "What Happened" Tense

The preterite (el pretérito perfecto simple) is used for actions that are completed, finished, and have a clear beginning and end. If you are reporting the news or listing chores you finished, you are using the preterite.

Use the Preterite for:

  • Completed Actions: Things that happened once and ended. (Compré un coche. - I bought a car.)

  • Specific Moments: Actions tied to a specific date or time. (Ayer fui al cine. - Yesterday I went to the cinema.)

  • Interruption: An action that "breaks" an ongoing background event. (El teléfono sonó. - The phone rang.)

  • Sequential Events: A list of actions in a story. (Llegué, comí y me fui. - I arrived, ate, and left.)

Preterite Trigger Words:

  • Ayer (Yesterday)

  • Anoche (Last night)

  • El año pasado (Last year)

  • Hace dos días (Two days ago)

  • De repente (Suddenly)

The Imperfect: The "What Was Happening" Tense

The imperfect (el pretérito imperfecto) is used for descriptions, habits, and background information. It doesn’t care when the action started or ended; it focuses on the process or the state of being.

Use the Imperfect for:

  • Habitual Actions: Things you "used to" do or "would" do. (Jugaba con mis primos. - I used to play with my cousins.)

  • Ongoing Actions: "Was/Were doing" something. (Ella leía un libro. - She was reading a book.)

  • Descriptions: Weather, time, age, and emotions in the past. (Hacía sol y yo tenía diez años. - It was sunny and I was ten years old.)

  • Setting the Scene: The background info before the "main" event happens. (Había mucha gente en la calle... - There were many people in the street...)

Imperfect Trigger Words:

  • Siempre (Always)

  • A menudo (Often)

  • Cada día (Every day)

  • Mientras (While)

  • Frecuentemente (Frequently)

Key Conjugation Comparison

To use these correctly, you must keep the endings straight. Notice how the preterite is often irregular, while the imperfect is very predictable.

SubjectPreterite (-AR)Imperfect (-AR)Preterite (-ER/-IR)Imperfect (-ER/-IR)
Yo-é-aba-í-ía
Tú-aste-abas-iste-ías
Él/Ella-ó-aba-ió-ía
Nosotros-amos-ábamos-imos-íamos
Ellos-aron-aban-ieron-ían

Side-by-Side: How Meaning Changes

The choice of tense can completely change the meaning of your sentence. Look at these examples:

  • Conocer:

    • Preterite: Conocí a María. (I met María for the first time.)

    • Imperfect: Conocía a María. (I knew María / We were already acquainted.)

  • Saber:

    • Preterite: Supe la verdad. (I found out the truth.)

    • Imperfect: Sabía la verdad. (I knew the truth all along.)

  • Querer:

    • Preterite: Quise ir. (I tried to go / I decided to go.)

    • Imperfect: Quería ir. (I wanted to go / It was a mental state.)

The "Interruption" Formula

The most common way to use both tenses in one sentence is the Interruption Formula. Use the Imperfect for the action that was already happening and the Preterite for the action that interrupted it.

[Imperfect Verb] + CUANDO + [Preterite Verb]

  • Cocinábamos (Imperfect) cuando llegaste (Preterite).

  • (We were cooking when you arrived.)

Quick Recall Cheat Sheet (ALWEPT)

If you aren't sure which one to use, check if your sentence fits ALWEPT for the Imperfect. If it doesn't, it's likely Preterite!

  1. Age (Tenía 5 años)

  2. Location (Estaba en casa)

  3. Weather (Nevaba mucho)

  4. Emotion (Estaba feliz)

  5. Physical Attributes (Era alto)

  6. Time (Eran las dos)

Summary for Success

Mastering these tenses is about shifting your perspective. Don't just ask "When did it happen?" Ask "What is the purpose of this sentence?" If you are painting a picture, use the Imperfect. If you are telling the plot of a movie, use the Preterite.

By practicing these "trigger words" and the interruption formula, you will soon find yourself navigating the past in Spanish with the confidence of a native speaker.



Mastering Spanish Imperfect Tense: Your Complete Guide to Nostalgia and Habits


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