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This lesson explains how to use the pretérito imperfecto and pretérito indefinido to describe past actions in Spanish, featuring core words like aprobar (to pass), enseñar (to teach), and llamar (to call). Learn to differentiate habitual actions with imperfecto and completed events with indefinido for clearer storytelling.
  1. The simple past is used for actions that started and finished in the past and to narrate a series of events that happened in the past.
  2. The imperfect past tense is used to describe situations or actions in progress in the past.
  3. The imperfect tense can be used for the background or context, and the simple past for specific actions.

 

Tiempo verbal (Verb tense)Regla (Rule)Ejemplo (Example)
Pretérito IndefinidoUna acción que pasó y terminó en el pasado (An action that happened and ended in the past)Aprobé el máster en 2022 (I passed the master's in 2022)
Pretérito IndefinidoEvento en el pasado (Event in the past)El profesor suspendió la clase por la lluvia (The teacher cancelled the class because of the rain)
Pretérito ImperfectoAcción habitual o repetida en el pasado (Habitual or repeated action in the past)Siempre enseñaba en la escuela primaria (I always taught in primary school)
Pretérito ImperfectoCómo era un lugar o situación en el pasado (How a place or situation was in the past)La escuela era antigua y tenía patio grande (The school was old and had a large playground)
Pretérito Imperfecto + Pretérito IndefinidoEl imperfecto describe la situación y el indefinido dice qué pasó (The imperfect describes the situation and the simple past tells what happened)Mientras veníamos de clase, llamó mi madre (While we were coming from class, my mother called)

 

Exceptions!

  1. Both tenses can appear in the same narrative.

Exercise 1: ¿El pretérito imperfecto o el pretérito indefinido?

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

encontré, suspendimos, explicaba, organizó, enseñabas, venía, aprobé, escribían, venían, tenía

1. Aprobar:
El año pasado ... el máster en biología.
(Last year I passed the master's degree in biology.)
2. Venir, Encontrar:
Mientras ... del instituto, me ... con Ana.
(While I was coming from school, I met Ana.)
3. Enseñar:
¿Tú también ... en la escuela primaria?
(Did you also teach at primary school?)
4. Organizar:
El director ... un viaje muy divertido el año pasado.
(The director organised a very fun trip last year.)
5. Venir:
Ellos ... todos los días en bicicleta.
(They used to come every day by bike.)
6. Suspender:
Nosotros ... la prueba de matemáticas.
(We failed the maths test.)
7. Tener:
La escuela secundaria ... un gimnasio muy grande.
(The secondary school had a very large gym.)
8. Explicar, Escribir:
Mientras el profesor ..., los alumnos ... notas.
(While the teacher was explaining, the students were taking notes.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence according to the use of the imperfect past tense or the simple past tense in each context.

1.
Error: 'jugué' is in simple past, it is not used for habitual actions; the imperfect 'jugaba' should be used.
Error: 'fui' is in simple past indicating a punctual action, but the action is habitual; the imperfect 'era' should be used.
2.
Error: 'tomaban' (imperfect) indicates habitual action, but here it is a punctual event; the simple past 'tomaron' should be used.
Error: 'explicaba' (imperfect) indicates action in progress, but here it is a punctual event; the simple past 'explicó' should be used.
3.
Error: 'sonaba' (imperfect) indicates ongoing action, but the phone rang at a specific moment; the simple past 'sonó' should be used.
Error: 'estudié' (simple past) indicates finished action, but here it is an ongoing action; the imperfect 'estudiaba' should be used.
4.
Error: 'ayer' indicates a specific moment, incompatible with 'siempre' and the imperfect; it should be simple past without 'siempre'.
Error: 'desayuné' is in simple past, incompatible with 'siempre' which indicates a habit; the imperfect 'desayunaba' should be used.

Understanding the Spanish Past Tenses: Pretérito Imperfecto vs. Pretérito Indefinido

This lesson focuses on distinguishing two fundamental Spanish past tenses: the pretérito imperfecto and the pretérito indefinido. These tenses are essential for telling stories, describing past events, and expressing habitual actions in Spanish.

Key Uses of the Pretérito Indefinido

  • Describes actions that started and finished in the past.
    Example: "Aprobé el máster en 2022." (I passed the master's degree in 2022.)
  • Reports specific events that happened at defined moments.
    Example: "El profesor suspendió la clase por la lluvia." (The teacher cancelled the class because of the rain.)

Key Uses of the Pretérito Imperfecto

  • Describes habitual or repeated actions in the past.
    Example: "Siempre enseñaba en la escuela primaria." (I always taught at the primary school.)
  • Provides descriptions of places, people, and situations in the past.
    Example: "La escuela era antigua y tenía patio grande." (The school was old and had a big playground.)

Using Both Tenses Together

It's common to combine both tenses to set a scene and then describe what happened:

  • Imperfecto for background or ongoing actions.
    Example: "Mientras veníamos de clase, llamó mi madre." (While we were coming back from class, my mother called.)

Brief Summary of Differences

The pretérito indefinido is for completed actions or sequences of events in the past. The pretérito imperfecto describes ongoing or habitual past actions and sets scenes. Combining them helps narrate clearly.

Instruction Language vs. Spanish Notes

Since English is the instruction language and Spanish is the learning language, this explanation provides translations and notes for clarity. Unlike English, where past tenses often rely on auxiliary verbs, Spanish verbs change their endings to indicate the type of past action. For example:

  • Jugaba (I used to play) – imperfect tense showing habitual past action.
  • Jugué (I played) – simple past indicating a completed action.

Useful phrases and words:

  • Siempre – always (indicates habitual actions, paired with imperfect).
  • Ayer – yesterday (usually paired with pretérito indefinido).
  • Mientras – while (often used with imperfect for ongoing actions).

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