Topic arcade · Spanish grammar
Preterite vs Imperfect, learned by playing
The preterite says what happened. The imperfect says what things were like. Learn the difference the way it sticks: fast, repeated, with the clue words in every sentence, the rule after every answer and the sentence spoken aloud. 64 real sentences, two arcade games, no sign-up.
The idea in one minute
Look for the clue words. Ayer, anoche, el lunes, de repente: the PRETERITE. Siempre, todos los días, cada verano, mientras, cuando era niño: the IMPERFECT.
Finished actions, one-time events, a clear start and end.
- Finished at a set time: Ayer yo comí con mis abuelos. — Yesterday I ate with my grandparents.
- One event that moved things on: De repente el perro corrió hacia la puerta. — Suddenly the dog ran to the door.
- One thing after another: Primero nosotros comimos, y después salimos. — First we ate, and then we left.
- A bounded stretch of time: Hace dos años yo viví en Lima durante un año. — Two years ago I lived in Lima for a year.
- Changes the meaning: En 2020 yo conocí a mi esposo. — In 2020 I met my husband.
Habits, descriptions, and what was in progress.
- Habits and repeats: Todos los días yo comía en casa. — Every day I ate at home.
- How things were: Cuando yo era niño, iba al mercado con mi abuela. — When I was a boy, I went to the market with my grandmother.
- In progress at the time: Yo estudiaba cuando mi hermano llegó. — I was studying when my brother arrived.
- A state at the time: De niña, ella quería ser doctora. — As a girl, she wanted to be a doctor.
Play it
A good order: start with Rush to build the reflex, then Slice to see the words side by side. The classic quiz is a calm way to check yourself.
Preterite or Imperfect Rush
Sentences fall toward two bins. Send each one to PRETERITE or IMPERFECT before it lands, and see the rule every time.
Preterite or Imperfect Slice
Four verb forms fly up and one fits the blank. Slice the right past tense and see the rule each time.
Preterite vs Imperfect
Preterite or imperfect? Pick the right tense for each sentence, a calm multiple-choice check.
Same verb, different story
Switch the tense and the meaning changes.
| PRETERITE | IMPERFECT |
|---|---|
| Conocí a Ana en 2020. I met Ana in 2020. | Conocía a Ana en 2020. I knew Ana in 2020. |
| Supe la noticia ayer. I found out the news yesterday. | Sabía la noticia. I already knew the news. |
| Cuando llegué, ella comió. When I arrived, she ate (then). | Cuando llegué, ella comía. When I arrived, she was eating. |
Questions
What is the difference between the preterite and the imperfect?
Both are Spanish past tenses. The preterite tells what happened: a finished action at a particular time (ayer comí con mis abuelos), or one event that moved a story on (de repente sonó el teléfono). The imperfect tells what things were like: habits and repeated actions (todos los días comía en casa), descriptions, ages, the time, and what was in progress when something else happened (dormía cuando sonó el teléfono).
How do I choose quickly?
Look for the clue words. Ayer, anoche, el lunes, el año pasado, de repente and hace dos años point to the preterite. Siempre, todos los días, cada verano, antes, mientras, cuando era niño and de niña point to the imperfect.
Why do some verbs change meaning?
A few verbs mean something different in each tense. Conocí a Ana means I met Ana, while conocía a Ana means I knew her. Supe la noticia means I found out the news, while sabía la noticia means I already knew it. Pude terminar means I managed to, while podía terminar means I was able to.
Which game should I start with?
Start with Preterite or Imperfect Rush to build the reflex, then try Preterite or Imperfect Slice, where four verb forms fly up and you slice the one that fits. The classic quiz is a calm way to check yourself.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
It is free and plays in your browser with no sign-up. Sign in only if you want to save your results and add sentences to your review deck.
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