Preterite vs. Imperfect

Spanish has two everyday past tenses because “past” can mean two different things.

Use the preterite for a completed event.

Use the imperfect for background, description, ongoing action, or habit.

Event vs. background

Llegué a las nueve.

I arrived at nine. Finished event.

La oficina estaba cerrada.

The office was closed. Background state.

Pagué en el banco.

I paid at the bank. Finished event.

Había mucha gente.

There were many people. Background scene.

The story pattern

Most simple stories use both:

Break it down:

Era lunes.

It was Monday: background.

llovía

it was raining: ongoing background.

Llegué

I arrived: event.

Había mucha gente.

There were many people: scene.

fue rápido

it was quick: completed evaluation of the event.

Habit vs. single event

Vivía en Texas.

I used to live in Texas.

Viví en Texas por dos años.

I lived in Texas for two years, completed block.

Iba al mercado los domingos.

I used to go to the market on Sundays.

Fui al mercado ayer.

I went to the market yesterday.

Do not freeze

If you choose the wrong past tense, people will usually understand you. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to tell a comprehensible story.

Start with this rule:

¿Qué pasó?

What happened? Use preterite.

¿Cómo era?

What was it like? Use imperfect.

Drill: tell one mixed story

Finished actions: fui , esperé , pagué , recibí . Background: estaba , hacía .