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This lesson focuses on past time expressions like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'de repente' (suddenly), and 'el mes pasado' (last month) and how to use them correctly with the indefinido and imperfecto past tenses in Spanish.
  1. We use ayer, de repente, el mes pasado with the preterite tense.
  2. We use muchas veces, durante, anteriormente with the imperfect tense.
  3. At principio and at final indicate beginning or ending.
Expresión (Expression)Tipo de pasado (Type of past)Ejemplo (Example)
Ayer (Yesterday)IndefinidoAyer visité la academia por primera vez. (Yesterday I visited the academy for the first time.)
Muchas veces (Many times)ImperfectoMuchas veces leía en la biblioteca por la tarde. (Many times I read in the library in the afternoon.)
De repente (Suddenly)IndefinidoDe repente cerró la puerta del aula. (Suddenly closed the classroom door.)
Durante (During)ImperfectoEstudiaba durante toda la mañana para el examen. (I was studying all morning for the exam.)
El mes pasado (Last month)IndefinidoEl mes pasado empecé un nuevo curso de máster. (Last month I started a new master's course.)
Anteriormente (Previously)ImperfectoAnteriormente, trabajaba como practicante en la academia. (Previously, worked as an intern at the academy.)
Al principio (At first)IndefinidoAl principio entró sin decir nada. (At first he entered without saying anything.)
Al final (In the end)IndefinidoAl final presentó su proyecto al grupo. (In the end, he presented his project to the group.)

 

Exercise 1: Expresiones con los tiempos del pasado: "Ayer", "De repente" , "El mes pasado" , etc...

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

prestaba, escribí, Completé, estudiaba, soñaba, parecían, tuvimos, Empezamos

1. Parecer:
: Al principio del curso, todos ... nerviosos.
(: Al principio del curso, todos parecían nerviosos.)
2. Completar (yo):
: ... el curso el mes pasado.
(: Completé el curso el mes pasado.)
3. Estudiar:
: Yo ... francés cuando empezó la película.
(: Yo estudiaba francés cuando empezó la película.)
4. Escribir (yo):
: Ayer ... una carta para pedir la matrícula
(: Ayer escribí una carta para pedir la matrícula)
5. Tener (nosotros):
: Ayer ... clase de literatura española.
(: Ayer tuvimos clase de literatura española.)
6. Soñar (ella):
: Muchas veces ... con estudiar en el extranjero.
(: Muchas veces soñaba con estudiar en el extranjero.)
7. Prestar:
: Durante años, él ... libros en la biblioteca del colegio.
(: Durante años, él prestaba libros en la biblioteca del colegio.)
8. Empezar (nosotros):
: ... las prácticas hace tres semanas.
(: Empezamos las prácticas hace tres semanas.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses time expressions with past tenses.

1.
With 'yesterday', the imperfect and habitual expressions are not used.
With 'yesterday', you should use the preterite, not the imperfect.
2.
'Suddenly' indicates a specific action, not a habitual one, so the imperfect with frequency is not used.
'Suddenly' requires the preterite, not the imperfect.
3.
'Previously' implies habitual actions and is used with the imperfect, not the preterite.
The phrase 'once' indicates a specific action and should not be used with the imperfect.
4.
'Last month' is not combined with the imperfect or habitual expressions.
With 'last month', the preterite is used, not the imperfect.

Understanding Past Expressions in Spanish: "Ayer", "De repente", "El mes pasado" and More

This lesson focuses on how certain Spanish expressions indicate different uses of the past tense. It highlights the distinction between punctual and habitual actions in the past using common time markers.

Key Past Expressions and Their Use

  • Indefinido (Preterite) indicators: Ayer, De repente, El mes pasado, Al principio, Al final. These expressions are used for actions that happened once or were completed at a specific time.
  • Imperfecto (Imperfect) indicators: Muchas veces, Durante, Anteriormente. These words signal habitual or ongoing actions in the past without a clear beginning or end.

Examples to Remember

  • Ayer visité la academia por primera vez. (Yesterday I visited the academy for the first time.)
  • De repente cerró la puerta del aula. (Suddenly, he/she closed the classroom door.)
  • Muchas veces leía en la biblioteca por la tarde. (Many times I used to read in the library in the afternoon.)
  • Durante toda la mañana estudiaba para el examen. (I used to study all morning for the exam.)

Focus on the Meaning of Expressions

Expressions like "ayer" or "de repente" point to specific moments in the past, indicating single, completed actions expressed with the indefinido tense. In contrast, expressions such as "muchas veces" or "durante" indicate repeated or ongoing past actions, fitting naturally with the imperfect tense.

Important Notes on Differences Between English and Spanish

In English, past tenses are often less strictly divided by whether the action was habitual or a single event. For example, "I was reading" and "I read" can sometimes be interchangeable depending on context. However, in Spanish, the use of preterite (indefinido) and imperfecto tenses is closely tied to certain time expressions, which help clarify meaning. Phrases like "de repente" emphasize sudden actions and always require the preterite tense, unlike English where "suddenly" does not impose such grammatical constraints.

Useful phrases:

  • Hace + time period (e.g., hace dos días): equivalent to "two days ago"
  • Solía + infinitive (e.g., solía leer): expresses habitual past actions like "used to read"
  • Terminar + de + infinitive (e.g., terminé de estudiar): expresses completion of an action, often used with preterite

Recognizing these expressions and their associated past tenses is essential for clear and natural Spanish communication.

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