Common Spanish verbs conjugated in preterite and imperfect with a usage cue for when each past tense applies. Front: the Spanish verb form in context. Back: English meaning and which past tense rule it illustrates.
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- Ayer fui al cine.
- I went to the movies yesterday. (Preterite: completed, specific action)
- Cuando era niño, iba al cine cada semana.
- When I was a child, I used to go to the movies every week. (Imperfect: habitual, repeated action)
- Hizo un viaje a Europa el año pasado.
- He took a trip to Europe last year. (Preterite: specific action in past)
- Hacía mucho calor ese día.
- It was very hot that day. (Imperfect: background condition)
- Tuvieron un accidente ayer.
- They had an accident yesterday. (Preterite: completed event)
- Tenía miedo de viajar solo.
- I was afraid to travel alone. (Imperfect: mental/emotional state)
- Cuando entré, ella salió.
- When I entered, she left. (Preterite: two sequential completed actions)
- Mientras yo estudiaba, él dormía.
- While I was studying, he was sleeping. (Imperfect: ongoing background actions)
- Viajé a México por dos semanas.
- I traveled to Mexico for two weeks. (Preterite: action with defined duration that ended)
- Vivía en Barcelona cuando me casé.
- I lived in Barcelona when I got married. (Imperfect: background circumstance at a past moment)
- Vimos una película anoche.
- We watched a movie last night. (Preterite: completed action in past)
- Veíamos películas todos los viernes.
- We used to watch movies every Friday. (Imperfect: habitual, repeated pattern)
- Comí pasta para la cena.
- I ate pasta for dinner. (Preterite: completed meal/action)
- Comía verduras cada día en mi niñez.
- I used to eat vegetables every day in my childhood. (Imperfect: habitual practice)
- Conocí a mi mejor amigo en la universidad.
- I met my best friend at university. (Preterite: the moment of meeting occurred)