What is the difference between the preterite and imperfect tenses?

This is an incredibly common query, and often the best way to ensure you can fully distinguish between the two is to read, read, read.

As a rule, however, the preterite is used to describe actions in the past that have been completed. For example, when someone asks "¿Que hiciste ayer?" ("What did you do yesterday?") the verb 'hacer' is in the preterite form. This is because they are asking about an action that has been completed - the action specifically occurred yesterday and has since terminated.

Meanwhile, the imperfect describes past actions that occurred repeatedly or were ongoing. For example, if you are discussing "cuando era joven" ("when I was young"), "ser' is placed in the imperfect tense. This is because your youth - although in the past now - was once a habitual, ongoing process and thus is less final than the preterite. 

Answered by Katie J. Spanish tutor

2723 Views

See similar Spanish GCSE tutors

Related Spanish GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Escribe un blog sobre tus vacaciones en Espana. Menciona (1) un dia de las vacaciones cuando tuviste problemas, (2) un festival en Espana en que te gustaria participar


Acabas de pasar tus vacaciones en España. Escríbele una carta a tu amiga española. Escribe aproximadamente 90 palabras en español.


Please translate the following sentence.


When should you use the imperfect rather than the pasado compuesto?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences