Preterite vs imperfect: the short version
Both tenses describe the past. The preterite treats an action as a finished event: it happened, and it’s done. The imperfect describes the past as it was unfolding: what used to happen, what was going on, or what things were like. A useful picture is a film: the imperfect sets the scene, and the preterite is the action that moves the plot forward.
Use the preterite for…
- Completed actions at a set time: Ayer comí paella.
- A sequence of events: Abrió la puerta y salió.
- Actions with a clear beginning and end: Llovió todo el día.
- Sudden events and interruptions: De repente, sonó el teléfono.
Use the imperfect for…
- Habits and repeated actions: De niño, comía mucho chocolate.
- Actions in progress: Mientras yo cocinaba…
- Description, weather and feelings: Hacía frío. Estaba cansada.
- Time and age: Eran las diez. Tenía veinte años.
Words that point to each tense
Time expressions are the fastest clue. Ayer, anoche, el año pasado, una vez, de repente, en 2015 and hace dos días usually signal the preterite. Siempre, todos los días, cada mañana, normalmente, de niño, cuando era pequeño and mientras usually signal the imperfect. They’re strong hints, not guarantees, so always ask what the sentence is doing: reporting an event, or painting the background?
The classic pattern: one action interrupts another
When one past action interrupts another, the ongoing action takes the imperfect and the interruption takes the preterite: Yo leía cuando tú llamaste (“I was reading when you called”). Many sentences in this drill use that pattern, because it’s where learners get mixed up most often.
Common forms to know
| Verb | Preterite (yo) | Imperfect (yo) |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablé | hablaba |
| comer | comí | comía |
| ir / ser | fui | iba / era |
| tener | tuve | tenía |
| hacer | hice | hacía |
| estar | estuve | estaba |
The imperfect has only three irregular verbs: ser (era), ir (iba) and ver (veía). The preterite has many more, so spend extra time on it in typing mode.
Teachers: there’s a free printable preterite vs imperfect worksheet with an answer key, and more classroom ideas on the teacher resources page.
Example sentences with answers
15 sentences from this drill, with the answer in bold and the reason it is correct. Cover the bold words and try to say each answer before you read it, then play the drill to see how many you can get right in 60 seconds.
- Ayer yo comí (comer) paella.A completed action at a specific time (ayer, anoche, el año pasado) → preterite
- De niño, yo comía (comer) mucho chocolate.A repeated or habitual past action (siempre, cada, de niño) → imperfect
- Cuando era pequeña, ella vivía (vivir) en Lima.An ongoing action or background scene → imperfect
- Eran (ser) las diez de la noche.Telling the time in the past → imperfect
- Cuando se casó, mi abuelo tenía (tener) veinte años.Description, weather, feelings or age in the past → imperfect
- De repente, sonó (sonar) el teléfono.A sudden event (de repente) → preterite
- Yo leía cuando tú llamaste (llamar).The action that interrupts something in progress → preterite
- Ayer llovió (llover) todo el día.An action with a clear start and end (todo el día, por tres años) → preterite
- Ella abrió (abrir) la puerta y salió.One completed step in a sequence of events → preterite
- Anoche nosotros vimos (ver) una película.A completed action at a specific time (ayer, anoche, el año pasado) → preterite
- Todos los veranos, mi familia iba (ir) a la playa.A repeated or habitual past action (siempre, cada, de niño) → imperfect
- Mientras yo cocinaba (cocinar), mi hermano llegó.An ongoing action or background scene → imperfect
- Cuando vivíamos en Sevilla, siempre hacía (hacer) calor en agosto.Description, weather, feelings or age in the past → imperfect
- Mientras ella dormía, su gato rompió (romper) un vaso.The action that interrupts something in progress → preterite
- Tú trabajaste (trabajar) en ese banco por tres años.An action with a clear start and end (todo el día, por tres años) → preterite
Quick answers
When do you use the preterite vs the imperfect in Spanish?
Use the preterite for completed actions at a specific time, sequences of events and sudden interruptions. Use the imperfect for habits, background descriptions, ongoing actions, feelings, weather, time and age in the past.
What words signal the preterite?
Ayer, anoche, el año pasado, una vez, de repente, hace dos días and specific dates usually signal the preterite.
What words signal the imperfect?
Siempre, todos los días, cada mañana, normalmente, de niño, cuando era pequeño and mientras usually signal the imperfect.
Where can I practice preterite vs imperfect for free?
VerbSprint has a free 60-second preterite vs imperfect drill with 40 sentences. It works on phones, needs no sign-up, and explains the rule for every mistake.