Préteritum vs. Nedokonalá: Concept

Často kladené otázky o španělském préteritu vs. imperfektu: Koncept

What is the difference between the Spanish preterite and imperfect tenses?

The preterite tense in Spanish is used for actions that are completed or happened at a specific moment, while the imperfect tense describes ongoing, habitual, or background actions in the past. Choosing the correct tense depends on whether the action had a clear beginning or end, or was repetitive or descriptive.

How can I help students easily remember when to use preterite vs. imperfect?

Use a T chart to visually compare examples: list completed actions with specific time frames under preterite, and ongoing, repeated, or descriptive actions under imperfect. Linking each tense to keywords like "yesterday" (preterite) or "always" (imperfect) also helps students remember.

What are some quick classroom activities to teach preterite vs. imperfect?

Try activities like making a T chart with example sentences, creating storyboards for each tense, or role-playing scenarios where students choose the correct past tense. These interactive exercises reinforce understanding through practice and visualization.

When should I use the preterite tense instead of the imperfect in Spanish?

Use the preterite tense for actions that are completed, have a clear start and finish, or happened once at a defined time. For example: "Ayer comí pizza" (Yesterday I ate pizza). Avoid it for background descriptions or ongoing actions.

Can you give examples of sentences using preterite and imperfect tenses?

Sure! Preterite example: "El año pasado viajé a México." (Last year I traveled to Mexico). Imperfect example: "Cuando era niño, jugaba con mis amigos todos los días." (When I was a child, I used to play with my friends every day).