PRETÉRITO · Completed
Use the preterite for an action that finished completely.
Ayer comí una pizza. — Yesterday I ate a pizza.
PRETÉRITO · Sequence
A chain of completed past actions takes the preterite.
Me levanté, me duché y salí. — I got up, showered, and left.
PRETÉRITO · Specific
When the time is pinpointed — yesterday, at noon — use the preterite.
Llegué a las tres. — I arrived at three o'clock.
PRETÉRITO · Sudden
A sudden change or start of something new takes the preterite.
De repente, empezó a llover. — Suddenly, it started to rain.
PRETÉRITO · Count
Counting how many times something happened uses the preterite.
Fui al gimnasio tres veces. — I went to the gym three times.
IMPERFECTO · Habitual
For what you used to do regularly, use the imperfect.
De niño, jugaba al fútbol. — As a child, I used to play football.
IMPERFECTO · Background
The imperfect describes what was happening in the background.
Llovía cuando salí de casa. — It was raining when I left the house.
IMPERFECTO · State
Age, feelings, and mental states in the past use the imperfect.
Tenía diez años cuando aprendí a nadar. — I was ten when I learned to swim.
IMPERFECTO · Interrupted
An action in progress interrupted by something else uses the imperfect.
Leía un libro cuando sonó el teléfono. — I was reading a book when the phone rang.
IMPERFECTO · Desire
Past desires and intentions use the imperfect.
Quería ir al cine pero no pude. — I wanted to go to the cinema but couldn't.
